Application Guide
How to Apply for Summer Internship (2026)
at Trail of Bits
🏢 About Trail of Bits
Trail of Bits is unique for its dual focus on high-stakes security consulting for major organizations and reinvesting that real-world experience into open-source tools and research that benefit the broader cybersecurity community. Working here means tackling cutting-edge security challenges while contributing to public goods like their Slither static analyzer or other published research, offering a rare blend of commercial impact and open-source ethos.
About This Role
This internship involves hands-on work with either the Software Assurance team, conducting security assessments on client code, or the Research and Engineering team, building tools for vulnerability detection and analysis. You'll directly apply skills in systems programming, program analysis, or cryptography to solve real security problems, gaining practical experience in debugging and vulnerability research that impacts both client security and public tooling.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might start with a team sync to discuss ongoing security assessments or tool development tasks, followed by hands-on work like analyzing client code for vulnerabilities using static analysis tools, reverse engineering a binary to understand its behavior, or contributing to an open-source security tool. You'll likely collaborate with senior researchers or consultants, document findings, and occasionally prepare insights for internal or public sharing, blending deep technical focus with teamwork.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Trail of Bits Is Looking For
- Has demonstrable project experience or coursework in at least one of: low-level systems programming (C/C++/Rust), program analysis (static/dynamic tools), reverse engineering (using Ghidra/IDA), or applied cryptography.
- Can point to examples (e.g., CTF participation, bug bounty reports, open-source contributions, or academic projects) showing debugging or vulnerability analysis skills.
- Is eager to share knowledge, as evidenced by previous blog posts, conference talks, or detailed project write-ups, aligning with Trail of Bits' culture of publishing research.
- Shows curiosity about real-world attacker tactics and defensive tooling, with an interest in how Trail of Bits' products like Slither or Mayhem fit into the security ecosystem.
📝 Tips for Applying to Trail of Bits
Tailor your resume to highlight specific projects or experience in systems programming, program analysis, reverse engineering, or cryptography—mention tools used (e.g., LLVM, Angr, Wireshark, cryptlib) and outcomes.
Include links to a GitHub profile with relevant code samples, especially any contributions to security tools or open-source projects, as Trail of Bits values practical, public work.
If you have no formal experience, detail a security-related project you've done independently, like analyzing a malware sample, solving a CTF challenge, or auditing a small codebase for vulnerabilities.
Mention specific Trail of Bits research or tools (e.g., their work on blockchain security, Slither, or a recent blog post) in your cover letter to show genuine interest in their technical direction.
Prepare to discuss how you've shared technical insights before—even a class presentation or a detailed README can demonstrate your ability to contribute to their blog/presentation culture.
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
['Explain which team interests you more (Software Assurance or Research and Engineering) and why, linking to your skills in systems programming, program analysis, reverse engineering, or cryptography.', 'Describe a specific project or experience where you applied debugging or vulnerability analysis, detailing the tools used and what you learned.', "Express enthusiasm for Trail of Bits' mission of blending client work with open-source tool development, citing a piece of their research or a tool you admire.", 'Highlight any past technical writing or presentations to show you can contribute to their culture of sharing knowledge through blogs and talks.']
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Read Trail of Bits' blog and research publications to understand their technical focus areas, such as blockchain security, static analysis, or hardware vulnerabilities.
- → Explore their open-source tools on GitHub (e.g., Slither, Mayhem, or other projects) to see how they're used and consider how your skills might align.
- → Look into their client work and case studies to grasp the real-world security problems they solve, which often involve high-profile targets in tech or finance.
- → Review their company culture and values, emphasizing open-source contribution and research reinvestment, to tailor your application to their mission.
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Submitting a generic application without mentioning specific Trail of Bits tools, research, or how your skills match their focus on systems programming, program analysis, reverse engineering, or cryptography.
- Failing to provide concrete examples of hands-on security work—vague claims about 'interest in cybersecurity' without project details or code samples.
- Overlooking the requirement to share insights; not highlighting any experience with technical writing, presentations, or collaborative knowledge sharing in your application.
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!