About Our Job

With competitive pay, great benefits, and endless opportunities, working for the City and County of Denver means seeing yourself working with purpose — for you, and those who benefit from your passion, skills and expertise. Join our diverse, inclusive and talented workforce of more than 11,000 team members who are at the heart of what makes Denver, Denver.

What We Offer

This internship is an on-call position, which means it is a part-time, hourly role. The City and County of Denver offers a competitive pay rate to commensurate with education, with the pay range for this position between $20.22 - $22.78, based on level of education. This position is eligible to enroll in the City and County of Denver’s 457b retirement plan. This position is not eligible for other additional benefits. On-call positions may have routine or variable work schedules.

Location

The City and County of Denver supports a hybrid workplace model however the ramp tower is a 24/7 operation, and we expect our intern to be in person at DEN for the hours they work (those hours can be flexible across the Monday through Friday work week). Employees are expected to work where needed to support business, at the Denver International Airport. We do not offer housing or relocation assistance for this position. Employees must work within the state of Colorado.

Internship Duration and Hours

This is a 1-year internship from Monday, June 1, 2026 - Friday, May 15, 2027, hours typically vary between 20-39 hours a week during the summer and 15-30 hours a week during school semesters. The DENtern’s work schedule will be flexible to accommodate their current academic commitments. Hours not exceeding 39 hours a week or 1,559 hours over a year.

Who We Are & What You’ll Do

Since opening on Feb. 28, 1995, Denver International Airport (DEN) has become one of the world’s busiest airports. In 2025, 82,427,962 passengers passed through DEN, making DEN 4th busiest airport in the U.S. and the world’s 10th busiest airport. DEN is Colorado’s primary economic engine, generating $47.2 billion in annual economic impact for the state. At DEN, we are committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace. We celebrate individuality and strive to keep Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Accessibility (EDIA) at the center of all that we do.

Through the DEN Intern (nicknamed “DENtern”) Program, students gain real world experience in aviation and workforce development while building professional skills. DENterns participate in a cohort-based model that emphasizes networking, collaboration, and professional growth, attending all scheduled professional development sessions, tours, and engaging in impactful projects across the airport.
 

Airport Operations division is actively seeking an Airport Security DENtern to contribute to their division. As part of DEN's Strategic Plan, Vision 100, which envisions reaching 100 million annual passengers, the Security department plays a pivotal role in transforming the aviation industry. Airport Security is responsible for enforcing 49 CFR part 1542, the Airport Security Program (ASP), TSA Security Directives, and National Amendments. Airport Security also provides badging and credentialing services to more than 40,000 badged employees working at DEN.

As a DENtern you will gain experience working on projects such as, but not limited to:

• Project #1: Support Regulatory Compliance Programs

  • Help manage the Badge Challenge Program and assist with other regulatory testing to ensure compliance with TSA requirements.

  • Learn, interpret, and apply TSA regulations in day-to-day security operations.

• Project #2: Conduct Security Inspections & Audits

  • Participate in prohibited items inspections to support compliance.

  • Assist with perimeter audits and inspections by observing and documenting security procedures.

• Project #3: Evaluate Contract Security Performance

  • Support the testing and evaluation of contract security guards, including observing performance and collecting data for reporting.

• Project #4: Collaborate with Security Partners

  • Work alongside TSA inspectors and Airport Security staff to conduct joint testing and compliance assessments.

  • Assist with projects in the Airport Security Badging Office.

• Project #5: Explore Airport Operations & Build Your Network

  • Gain exposure to a variety of airport departments, including Airport Security, Airside Operations, Terminal Operations, and the Communications Center.

  • Participate in networking opportunities within DEN and with security teams at other airports.

• Project #6: Aviation Megatrend Research

  • Collaborate with a team of fellow DENterns to conduct discovery research on a key aviation megatrend. This includes gathering data, interviewing industry experts, and analyzing findings. At the end of the summer, your team will present insights to DEN’s executive leadership to help shape strategic innovation and prepare the airport for the future.

What You’ll Bring

Our ideal candidate has some or all the following skills, characteristics, and interest:

• A current student pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Airport Operations, Aviation Management, or a related field

• An interest in learning and applying TSA regulations and understanding security compliance

• Comfortable using Microsoft Office Suite and eager to learn additional security related technology

• Strong technical reading abilities for interpreting procedures, regulatory documents, and security standards

• A self-starter who takes initiative, brings curiosity and a positive attitude to new challenges

• A collaborative teammate who contributes engagingly to group efforts

• An interest in exploring airport operations and building professional connections across Airport Security and other DEN departments

Desired Skill Set

• Data Analysis: The ability to assess data, find partners, and add to current study; meticulous care to detail in documentation and data gathering.

• Problem-Solving: Identifying and resolving complex or unexpected issues, often with creative solutions.

• Communication Skills: Strong verbal and written abilities for reports, presentations, and stakeholder engagement.

• Attention to Detail: Carefully reviews security procedures, documentation, and performance observations to ensure accuracy and compliance with TSA regulations.

• Interpersonal Skills: Building positive relationships and working effectively with others.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education Requirement: This position is open to students currently enrolled in an accredited college program leading to a certificate, licensure, associates, bachelors, higher degree, or up to one year post college graduation

• Experience: None 

• Education and Experience Equivalency: No substitution of experience for education is permitted

• Licensures/Certification(s): Requires a valid Driver's License at the time of application

• Licenses and certifications must be kept current as a condition of employment

Mandatory documentation required to be considered for this position

• 1–2-page resume.

• Transcripts – either official or unofficial; dated within your current academic term. This is only used to verify amounts of credits; grades will not influence decisions.

Optional Documents

• Cover letter detailing why you are interested in this position and 3-5 new skills, experiences, or tools you are hoping to take away from this experience.

Application Deadline 

This position is expected to stay open until Monday, February 23, 2026. Please submit your application as soon as possible and no later than February 22nd at 11:59 PM.

The City and County of Denver provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetic information, age, or any other status protected under federal, state, and/or local law. 

FBI Background Check: FBI criminal background check is required for all positions at Denver International Airport (DEN). Employees are also required to report any felony convictions and/or moving violations to maintain this clearance and be eligible for continued employment. By position, a pre-employment physical/drug test may be required.

For information about right to work, click here for English or here for Spanish.

About Everything Else

Job Profile

TA3181 Professional Administration Intern

To view the full job profile including position specifications, physical demands, and probationary period, click here.

Position Type

Oncall

Position Salary Range

$20.22 - $22.85

Target Pay

$20.22 - $22.78 based off level of education

Agency

Denver International Airport

The City and County of Denver provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetic information, age, or any other status protected under federal, state, and/or local law. 

It is your right to access oral or written language assistance, sign language interpretation, real-time captioning via CART, or disability-related accommodations. To request any of these services at no cost to you, please contact [email protected] with three business days’ notice.

Applicants for employment with the City and County of Denver must have valid work authorization that does not require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the U.S.

For information about right to work, click here for English or here for Spanish.