Summer Job in Cyber Defense

The Total Defence Research Institute (FOI) is a government agency conducting world-leading research in defense and security to support Sweden's military and civil defense. The research spans several areas, including underwater, cyber defense, space, electronic warfare, sensor systems, civil defense, CBRNe (chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive substances), military platforms including weapons and protection, as well as security policy analyses. FOI's research plays a key role in building Sweden's defense capability.

Do you want a summer job that contributes to strengthening Sweden's cyber defense capability? FOI is looking for you to develop CTF challenges under the guidance of FOI researchers.

About the Position

Capture the Flag (CTF) is a competition and training format where participants are given tasks related to cybersecurity and IT system management. These types of tasks contain a flag in the form of a hidden text string. Participants must use available information to find the flag and thus earn points for the task. The tasks are typically categorized within exploitation, cryptography, reversing, forensics, networking, and web.

Your work will consist of generating ideas for tasks and implementing them. The work will be done in collaboration with other summer employees. To see examples of previous tasks, you can visit the GitHub repository for Crate-CTF: https://github.com/CrateOrg/crate-ctf (https://github.com/CrateOrg/crate-ctf)

About the Unit

You will be part of the Cyber Domain Capabilities unit, which belongs to Cyber Defense and Command Technology. We work on current as well as future challenges, primarily related to automation, methods, and evaluation within cybersecurity. We have one of the world's most advanced cyber facilities at our disposal (Crate, www.foi.se/crate (http://www.foi.se/crate)).

Do you have the skills we need?

Requirements

We are looking for someone who is studying at the university level and has:

• Previous experience with CTFs, either as a participant or organizer
• Interest and knowledge in cybersecurity and programming

For the job, you need to be creative, meticulous, quality-conscious, and able to work independently following overarching instructions.

Meritorious

It is advantageous if one or more of the following points apply to you:

• Studying with a focus on cybersecurity
• Gets an adrenaline rush from “printf(argv[1]);” in a C file
• Good academic results

What do we offer you?

The Total Defence Research Institute (FOI) is a government agency conducting world-leading research in defense and security to support Sweden's military and civil defense. We offer a unique workplace where you have the opportunity to work on what is important for total defense and society as a whole. The research is applied both within defense agencies and among civilian actors and plays a crucial role in building a relevant and effective defense capability.

We consciously work for a good working environment with a good balance between work and private life. In addition to this, we offer a range of benefits. Read more about what it is like to work with us: https://www.foi.se/jobba-hos-oss.html (https://www.foi.se/jobba-hos-oss.html)

You will be employed on a special fixed-term contract for four to eight weeks, as agreed, during the period from June to August 2026. The work will be performed in Linköping.

Do you want to be part of seeking answers for a safer world?

Welcome with your application in the form of a CV, cover letter, and transcript via the application button by February 15, 2026. Selection and interviews will be conducted on an ongoing basis.

For more information about the position, feel free to contact research engineer Lars Helgeson or unit manager Pauline Ärlebäck. Union representatives are Niclas Wadströmer (Saco-S) and Anette Frid (OFR/S – ST). All can be reached at 08-555 030 00.

As the position is classified, Swedish citizenship is required. A security clearance with a background check will be conducted prior to employment according to the Security Protection Act (2018:585). For the security clearance, certified copies of relevant education and service certificates will be requested.

FOI is an authority, and submitted application documents become public records that can be disclosed to third parties upon request in accordance with the Public Access to Information and Secrecy Act.

Offers from recruitment companies are not welcome.