IT Database Administrator (DBA) Intern (Summer 2026)

About the Opportunity

The Information Technology organization at FirstEnergy creates and maintains software solutions, and operates FirstEnergy data centers, service desks and voice/data networks. 

As a participant in the Co-op/Intern Professional Development Program, you will be cultivating professional skills and performing professional level work at FirstEnergy. Each participant will receive on-the-job training, and challenging assignments to refine skills and round out competencies. Summer Internships with FirstEnergy are full-time opportunities spanning 14 weeks. FirstEnergy offers paid internships to qualified students actively enrolled in an accredited university or college.

As an IT Database Administrator Intern at FirstEnergy, you will have hands on experience supporting the servers, workstations and/or mission critical application systems throughout the FirstEnergy enterprise. An IT Database Administrator Intern must be self-motivated and have a desire to learn new and proprietary systems and dig deep into unfamiliar territory.

Background technical knowledge listed below is beneficial for this position, however a truly successful DBA is one that is self-motivated to learn new systems, dig deeper into issues and challenges, and always strive to learn more. 

Note: This opportunity is on-site and will work in-person four days/week. As such, you must be local to the Cleveland/Akron/Canton (Ohio) area

Examples of possible job duties and responsibilities of a IT DBA: 

• Assist in incident management including problem resolution and tracking problems
• Utilize monitoring tools to proactively identify problems with systems, applications, and networks.
• Create, update, and execute change requests, as directed
• Develop backup/restore procedures
• Design and implement disaster recovery procedures
• This job does include some coding and data analytics, however the focus of the position is traditional DBA duties

Examples of possible roles an intern could have as a IT DBA:

• Database Adminstrator (DBA): Supporting the installation, maintenance, upgrade, and administration of Oracle/Microsoft SQL Server databases for FirstEnergy.
• Unix/Linux Server Administration: Supporting the installation, maintenance, upgrade, and administration of UNIX/Linux servers in the FirstEnergy enterprise.
• Microsoft Server & PC Administration: Supporting the installation, maintenance, upgrade, and administration of Microsoft Server and PC Administration in the FirstEnergy enterprise

Applicant Requirements:

• Currently enrolled, full time, in a Bachelor’s degree program at an accredited university/college focusing on Computer Science, MIS, Electrical Engineer or technology equivalent degree. 
• Class Standing – Sophomore (graduation date spring 2028) or Junior (graduation date spring 2027)
• Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5.
• Must have the ability to work without sponsorship (now or in the future) 
• Must be local to the Cleveland/Akron/Canton (Ohio) area

Preferred Skills/Experience

• Familiarity with the following technologies:
  • Basic network concepts (network switching, routing, management and monitoring)
  • X86 PC or server hardware maintenance
  • High Level UNIX/Linux operating system and system administration fundamentals 
  • Windows Server and Windows PC operating systems
• Experience with any kind of coding or scripting language (e.g. Perl, Python, Java, C, PowerShell, SQL etc.)
• Basic knowledge of database concepts, including basic SQL statements and database design fundamentals. Any classroom, personal project, or work experience administering any mainstream database technology such as MySQL, PostgreSQL, MS SQL Server, or Oracle is highly encouraged.
• Basic understanding of windows PC operating systems and workstation group policy

 

Ideal Candidate:

• Highly motivated to work independently, utilizing virtual technologies, and learn quickly
• Must be organized and work well with constant priority