On his first day at Trideum Corporation, Isaias Nuno-Galindo, a software developer intern, walked into the company’s Central Texas office with the same expectations many interns have: sit through onboarding, shadow a few employees, and gradually ease into his role. Instead, he found himself in a team-wide Sprint Review, where his ideas would soon be tested in a real defense technology project. By his fifth month, he was presenting his own solutions—not to fellow interns, but to full-time engineers.
Nuno-Galindo, a computer science major, is taking advantage of the internship opportunity available with Trideum through its partnership with Texas A&M University–Central Texas.
Internships were once the golden ticket to full-time employment, but in 2025, they’re just as likely to be a source of frustration. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), only 53% of students who interned in 2023 received job offers, a sharp decline from 68% in 2019. Meanwhile, 43% of internships remain unpaid, limiting access to those who can afford to work for free.
At Trideum, a defense technology company headquartered in Huntsville, Ala., with a growing presence in Central Texas, internships are anything but an afterthought. Since launching its internship program in 2022 at Texas A&M University–Central Texas, Trideum has embedded interns directly into operational teams from day one.
Unlike conventional internships that emphasize observation, Trideum’s interns engage immediately in software testing, data analytics, system engineering, and technical writing.
“The students arrive hungry, excited, and ready to contribute on day one,” said Ron McNamara, Trideum’s Operations Manager. “They bring fresh energy, new perspectives, and an incredible aptitude for problem-solving. Their impact is immediate.”
This investment in early-career talent is a part of Trideum’s broader mission to bridge the gap between academia and industry, ensuring that A&M–Central Texas students graduate with real-world skills in high-demand technology fields. Unlike traditional programs that treat internships as temporary assignments, Trideum sees them as an investment in future talent, with three interns already transitioned into full-time employees, and more in the pipeline.
Internships have historically been viewed as entry points into professional fields, but for many students, they have failed to deliver. According to NACE, students who complete paid internships are significantly more likely to land jobs—receiving an average of 1.4 job offers compared to 0.9 for unpaid interns.
Yet, many companies still offer internships that are either unpaid, lack meaningful work, or fail to create clear employment pathways. Trideum’s model flips that outdated formula.
“Internships today aren’t just about exposure,” said Lisa Standley, Integration & Test Manager at Trideum. “We place interns in active roles where they contribute immediately, and that’s what sets our program apart.”
Instead of observing, interns own projects. Instead of assisting, they solve real problems.
Trideum interns work in mission-critical roles supporting the U.S. Army, national defense, and advanced research initiatives. They develop software, conduct systems testing, analyze technical data, and support engineering teams tackling complex defense solutions.
Nuno-Galindo’s story is just one example of how Trideum’s interns break conventional expectations.
“His solutions are often highlighted during Sprint Reviews,” Standley explains. “He briefs the entire team on his work and has already established himself as a leader.”
Few companies offer interns this level of trust and responsibility, but at Trideum, it’s the standard.
“I can’t overstate the impact this program has on Trideum,” McNamara says. “We gain valuable contributors and future employees, while interns gain real-world experience in high-stakes engineering and technology fields.”
As Trideum continues to grow its presence in Texas and beyond, its internship model is setting a new industry benchmark. If more companies redefined internships as serious workforce investments, the future of early-career talent development could look a lot less like an outdated resume checkbox—and a lot more like a launchpad for real careers.