2027 Summer Intern - AI Engineer - Reston - VA

As an AI Engineer Intern, you will join ICF’s AI research and development team to work on real-world AI challenges. You will collaborate with AI researchers, machine learning engineers, data engineers, and data scientists to design, develop, and implement machine learning models, including large language models. The internship offers hands-on technical mentorship and the opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge to AI projects. This is an entry-level, 10-week, full-time internship expected to begin in June and end in August. Work will be hybrid, with a minimum of two days per week in ICF’s Reston, Virginia office. Pay is expected to be $32 per hour. Housing and relocation assistance are not available. ## What you will do - Support the end-to-end AI product and machine learning lifecycle, including data acquisition and collection, preprocessing, model design and development, training, optimization, deployment, monitoring, and evaluation. - Design, develop, and train machine learning models, including deep learning and large-scale models, for challenges in natural language processing, computer vision, and generative AI. - Analyze large, semi-structured datasets and perform feature engineering to extract insights and improve model performance. - Write clean, production-ready code using languages such as Python, Java, C++, R, and JavaScript, and work with AI development frameworks such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, Keras, and Scikit-learn. Participate in system design discussions, code reviews, and testing. - Research and prototype AI and machine learning methods, including emerging areas such as explainable AI, federated learning, and multimodal models. - Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including product and project managers, data engineers and scientists, and software engineers, to define requirements and deliver AI-driven solutions. ## Basic qualifications - At least 9 completed graduate-level credit hours in Computer Science, Machine Learning, AI Engineering, Data Science, or a related technical field. - A completed bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Machine Learning, AI Engineering, Data Science, or a related technical field. - Must be a U.S. citizen, reside in the U.S., be authorized to work in the U.S., and perform all work in the U.S. as required by contract. ## Preferred qualifications - Strong foundation in computer science concepts, including object-oriented design, data structures, algorithms, and complexity analysis. - Proficiency in at least one general-purpose programming language, preferably Python. - Experience with machine learning frameworks such as PyTorch, TensorFlow, or Scikit-learn. - Experience with large-scale datasets and data preprocessing. - Strong problem-solving, communication, and collaboration skills. - Experience with version control systems such as Git is a plus. ## Perks of working with us - Dedicated mentor to support your growth and development throughout the internship. - Practical experience working on impactful, real-world AI projects. - Access to training resources and workshops for technical and professional development. - Opportunities to network with scientists, engineers, and other professionals.