Jobs › Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago

Summer 2027 Intern-Networking and Computer Engineering

Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago · Chicago, IL · $20.00–$33.00 an hour · Full time

Posted Oct 1, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a lab, homelab or class project where something broke and you had to figure out why.

What they are checking: Hands-on curiosity and persistence, which predicts how they will handle real problems during a summer project.

Tell me about a time you worked with people outside your major to get something done.

What they are checking: Collaboration across functions, since interns work with subject matter experts, leadership and other interns.

What do you hope to learn here that you couldn't learn in a classroom?

What they are checking: Whether they have specific, realistic goals for an onsite internship rather than a vague wish for experience.

What would you do

A user says the network is slow. How would you start narrowing down the problem?

What they are checking: Whether they troubleshoot methodically with layers and evidence instead of guessing or jumping to fixes.

You're told to make a configuration change and you notice it would bypass a firewall rule. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they pause and escalate rather than quietly follow instructions that create risk in a regulated environment.

About the work

Walk me through what happens on the network when you type a website address into a browser and press enter.

What they are checking: Whether they understand DNS, TCP, routing and TLS as connected steps rather than isolated vocabulary words.

What's the difference between a switch and a router, and when does a VLAN come into the picture?

What they are checking: Core layer 2 versus layer 3 understanding that any networking intern needs on day one.

Why does security matter more on a network that supports a central bank than on a typical corporate network?

What they are checking: Whether they connect network design to the stakes of protecting financial and payment systems for the country.

How would you explain subnetting to a classmate who has never seen it?

What they are checking: Both real understanding of addressing and the ability to teach it simply to someone else.

What scripting or automation have you done, and what would you want to automate in a network team?

What they are checking: Whether they see automation as a way to reduce manual error, a growing expectation for network engineers.

Practice this interview out loud.

Offer builds a real interview for this exact role at Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago from your resume and this job description, asks the questions one at a time, and tells you what landed. The first one is free.

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The full job description

As published by Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.

Company Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago is recognized as one of the most influential, trusted and prestigious financial institutions in the world. We serve the Seventh District encompassing Iowa and most of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin, and is one of the 12 regional Reserve Banks in the United States. Together with the Board of Governors in Washington, D.C., the 12 Banks constitute the nation’s central bank. INTERNSHIP PROGRAM DETAILS : The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago Summer Intern Program is a paid internship designed to give undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students direct exposure to our Bank’s operations. Beginning in early June, interns commit to 40 hours a week for 10-12 consecutive weeks onsite. What makes this internship unique: This internship gives you the opportunity to work for a regulatory bank dedicated to the public good by engaging in project-based assignments and professional development activities aligned with our mission. You will gain insights into the Federal Reserve System while contributing to your assigned department and build relationships with subject matters experts, Bank leadership, and fellow interns. You will work in a collaborative environment that fosters inclusion, reflecting all the communities we serve. REQUIREMENTS: • U.S. Citizen or Permanent Residency • Must be a current, matriculated student in an accredited program graduating December 2027 or later • 2.75 GPA (unofficial transcripts might be asked to submit) • Ability to work 40 hours week throughout the duration of the 10–12-week internship program. PREFERRED SKILLS: • Intermediate working knowledge of Word and Excel • Strong interpersonal and communication skills • Ability to verbally present information and respond to questions from small to medium groups • Ability to interpret data and analytics to develop insights, tell stories, support the decision-making process, and measure impact • Detail-oriented and self-motivated • Ability to interact with internal and external clients professionally in a fast paced, high-energy environment • Ability to be an independent worker with a team player attitude APPLICATION PROCESS : • October - November 2026 – Applications due • November 2026 through February 2027 – Interviews conducted and offers extended • June 7, 2027, or June 14, 2027 – Internship start dates OTHER THINGS TO KNOW: Salary Range: The anticipated hourly compensation range for this internship is $20 to $33, with the specific rate offered determined by the candidate's academic level. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS: • Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States without the need for visa sponsorship now or in the future. • This position may require additional screening requirements due to the information accessed while performing the job. These additional screenings would be initiated at the time of offer acceptance. The screening covers areas such as education/employment verification, criminal history, credit history, and reaches out to your references and people that know you well. • As a condition of employment, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago employees must comply with the Bank’s ethics rules, which generally prohibit employees, their spouses/domestic partners, and minor children from owning securities, such as stock, of banks or savings associations or their affiliates, such as bank holding companies and savings and loan holding companies. If you or your spouse/domestic partner or minor child own such securities and would not be willing or able to divest them if you accepted an offer of Bank employment, you should raise this issue with the recruiter for this posting, who can provide you contact information for our ethics official if necessary. • This document indicates the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this position. It is not a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job. An employee's responsibilities, tasks, and duties might differ from those outlined in the job description, and other duties, as assigned, are a part of the job. The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago reserves the right to modify the elements of this job description, as business needs require. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression, or veteran status. Full Time / Part Time Full time Regular / Temporary Temporary Job Exempt (Yes / No) No Job Category Internship Family Group Work Shift First (United States of America) The Federal Reserve Banks are committed to equal employment opportunity for employees and job applicants in compliance with applicable law and to an environment where employees are valued for their differences. Always verify and apply to jobs on Federal Reserve System Careers ( https://rb.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/FRS ) or through verified Federal Reserve Bank social media channels. Privacy Notice

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