IAE Graphics Design Internship - Fall 2026

IMPORTANT ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

• This internship supports U.S. Department of Defense-funded programs. Applicants must be U.S. citizens and eligible to obtain a security clearance. Applicants who do not meet this requirement cannot be considered for this position.

• Applicants must remain actively enrolled in an undergraduate degree program for the duration of the internship. Individuals who have already graduated prior to the internship start date are not eligible for this position.

Please Note: Authorization to work in the United States (including F-1 OPT/CPT, H-1B, or other employment authorization) does not satisfy this requirement. Applicants must be U.S. citizens to be eligible for this internship. Applicants who do not meet these eligibility requirements cannot be considered for this internship.

Graphic Design Internship - Fall 2026

SOFWERX is a venue operated under an agreement between the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) and DefenseWERX, designed to increase collaboration and innovation to solve the most difficult warfighter problems. SOFWERX is a forum for accelerating delivery of innovative capability, and facilitating capability refinement through exploration, experimentation, and assessment of promising technology. SOFWERX is in the heart of Ybor City, at a neutral, easily accessible facility.

The internship program is administered by USF Institute of Applied Engineering. Upon hire, you will be considered both a USF IAE Temporary Employee and a SOFWERX student intern.

Because this internship is partially funded by the U.S. Department of Defense and may involve access to Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), U.S. citizenship is required for eligibility.

Time commitment

• Hours of operation are 8:00am to 5:00pm Monday thru Friday.
• This position requires a minimum of 15 hours and a maximum of 20 hours per week during the Fall/Spring semesters and a minimum of 20 hours and a maximum of 29 hours per week during the Summer semester.
• This internship is in-person with limited remote work opportunities.

Opportunities

• Engage in employee events, such as team building
• Build resume and explore career options
• Apply skills and knowledge to the workplace
• Upon completion of the internship, a letter of recommendation can be provided upon request
• Opportunity for follow-on internship based on performance

Pay Rate

$17.00/hour

Responsibilities

• Create visually engaging graphics to support SOFWERX events, experiments, demonstrations, outreach activities, and ecosystem partners.
• Design digital and print assets for internal and external communication channels, including social media, presentations, reports, websites, and promotional materials.
• Collaborate with project teams to develop visual concepts that translate technical and operational ideas into clear, compelling designs.
• Prepare graphics for multiple formats and platforms, ensuring accuracy, accessibility, and visual consistency.
• Support basic motion graphics and visual elements (e.g., animated graphics, simple reels, or visual recaps) as needed.
• Participate in brainstorming sessions and design reviews, incorporating feedback to iterate and improve creative work.
• Must participate in weekly market research and submit minimum required entries for new capabilities, technologies, companies, organizations, etc. that could contribute to innovative ideas and solutions for the warfighter.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. citizen.
• Must be eligible to obtain a U.S. security clearance due to Department of Defense program requirements.
• Must be actively enrolled in an undergraduate program at an accredited local University
• Junior or Senior level, with current GPA of 3.0 or above
• Demonstrated experience in graphic design, visual communication, or digital media (coursework or portfolio required)
• Proficiency with design tools such as Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign); familiarity with Figma or similar tools preferred
• Basic understanding of layout, typography, color theory, and visual hierarchy
• Excellent storytelling, communication, and organizational skills
• Must participate in weekly market research and submit minimum required entries for new capabilities, technologies, companies, organizations, etc. that could contribute to the innovative ideas needed to create solutions for the warfighter.