Job Title: Cybersecurity Intern

Location: West Des Moines, IA

Terms: 12 weeks, full-time flexible 37.5 hours/week, in-office

Pay: $27/hour

Start Date: Tuesday, May 26^th, 2026 (can be flexible)

End Date: Friday, August 14^th, 2026 (can be flexible)

Ready to immerse yourself in the ever-evolving world of cybersecurity? As a Cybersecurity Intern at Merchants Bonding Company, you’ll have the opportunity to contribute to real security initiatives, help safeguard critical information, and expand your skills in a dynamic environment.

About Us:

At Merchants Bonding, we have a positive and collaborative environment where your ideas are valued, and your growth is prioritized. We work hard to deliver first-class experiences in all our relationships. Our commitment to innovation and building trust secured our spot among the top 10 surety companies in the country. Surety bonds are a vital part of industries like insurance, finance, and construction, where reliable business transactions are essential to protect all parties involved.

Curious to learn more? Visit our website and social media to explore the perks and opportunities at Merchants.

The Internship Experience:

Our internship program is truly a reflection of our overall culture. We value inclusivity and exploring new ideas, which results in a program that embraces fresh perspectives! The internship experience offers a blend of cross-departmental learning, community service projects, and opportunities for building connections through social and educational events. You’ll engage in impactful business projects, working closely with your peers and industry professionals to gain invaluable real-world experience. Embrace the chance to grow professionally and personally in a vibrant, supportive environment!

What You Will Do:

• Shadow Cybersecurity Professionals: Gain firsthand experience by working alongside seasoned experts in the field.
• Monitor Security Systems: Assist with reviewing security logs, analyzing vulnerability scan reports, and tracking potential threats.
• Support Risk and Compliance Initiatives: Participate in risk assessments and compliance audits, ensuring alignment with standards like NIST and PCI-DSS.
• Contribute to Security Awareness: Help develop and deliver security awareness training and contribute to ongoing security initiatives, including incident response improvements.
• Research Emerging Threats: Explore new cybersecurity threats, tools, and technologies, providing insights and recommendations.

Competencies You Will Use:

• Technical Skills: Apply your foundational knowledge of networking principles, operating systems, and cybersecurity concepts.
• Problem-Solving: Leverage your strong analytical abilities to identify and resolve security issues.
• Attention to Detail: Use your precision and focus to accurately document findings and support security efforts.
• Communication: Demonstrate excellent written and verbal communication skills when collaborating with the team.
• Professionalism: Demonstrate effective work habits and act in the best interest of the team.

What Sets You Apart:

• Education & Coursework: Pursuing a degree in Cybersecurity, Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field, with relevant coursework in cybersecurity such as Introduction to Cybersecurity, Network Security, Ethical Hacking, etc.
• Essential Technical Skills: Basic understanding of networking protocols (TCP/IP, DNS, etc.), familiarity with operating systems (Windows, MacOS, and Linux), and foundational knowledge of cybersecurity concepts like threats, vulnerabilities, and mitigation.
• Experience: Any prior experience in IT or security, whether through internships, projects, or coursework.
• Involvement in Extracurricular Activities: Participation in campus organizations or other activities that display your teamwork, leadership, time management, and passions.
• Leadership and Initiative: Roles or projects where you’ve taken on leadership responsibilities, demonstrated creativity, and proactively addressed challenges.
• Professional Development: Additional trainings or workshops that enhance your qualifications. Having or working towards certifications like CompTIA Security+ or similar is valued.
• Volunteer Experience: Participation in volunteer opportunities that highlight your ability to collaborate with diverse teams and contribute to community-focused goals.

Take the first step in building your career - send your resume to jobs@merchantsbonding.com or visit our careers page at www.merchantsbonding.com.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individual with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear.  The employee frequently is required to sit; walk; use hands to finger, type, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl.  The employee is infrequently required to stand.  The employee may infrequently be asked to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, and ability to adjust focus.  The employee should have complete clear speech.

Working Conditions:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to normal office working conditions that are climate controlled.  The employee would not be exposed to extreme heat or cold or other workplace hazards.  The noise level in the work environment is usually low. 

This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of skills, efforts, duties, responsibilities or working conditions associated with this position.  The intern assumes other responsibilities as assigned.