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 Communi