2027 Summer Intern, AI Engineer (Reston, VA)

ICF is seeking an AI Engineering Intern to support the design, development, testing, and responsible use of AI-enabled solutions. Working with technical, data, security, and business or program specialists, you will help translate defined needs into practical, repeatable solutions. Depending on the assignment, your work may focus on AI application development, data engineering, cloud and platform services, automation, AI governance, or a combination of these areas.

This is a hands-on learning opportunity with guidance and feedback from experienced team members. You may write code, prepare and evaluate data, prototype AI-assisted workflows, test controls and outputs, document technical processes, and communicate findings to technical and nontechnical audiences.

This is a 10-week, full-time internship expected to begin in June and end in August. This role will be hybrid from Reston, VA (2x per week). At this time, we are unable to provide housing nor relocation assistance for this position.

Potential Areas of Alignment

• Applied AI and intelligent automation: Build or enhance workflows that use approved large language models, machine learning, APIs, agentic tools, or automation technologies.

• AI and data engineering: Collect, clean, validate, transform, and combine approved structured or unstructured data for AI applications, analytics, databases, or reporting.

• Enterprise AI platforms and governance: Support secure and responsible AI environments, including access controls, data protection, usage oversight, validation, documentation, and lifecycle practices.

• Business- or domain-focused solutions: Apply AI engineering skills to operational, corporate, client, or program needs in collaboration with subject matter experts.

What You Will Do

• Collaborate with technical and business or program stakeholders to understand user needs, workflows, requirements, assumptions, constraints, and success criteria.

• Write, test, and maintain code or scripts to support data processing, AI applications, integrations, automation, validation, or reporting.

• Prepare and evaluate approved datasets, investigate missing or inconsistent information, and document data sources and processing steps.

• Help prototype AI-enabled solutions using approved models, APIs, cloud services, low-code tools, or related technologies.

• Create test cases and evaluate results against source data, expected outcomes, control requirements, or established baselines; record errors, risks, and limitations.

• Support responsible AI, privacy, security, and governance practices, including appropriate data access, human review, documentation, and use of approved tools.

• Use version control and team development practices to organize code, configuration, documentation, and incremental changes.

• Prepare clear technical documentation, runbooks, demonstrations, analyses, or presentations so others can understand, reproduce, and build on the work.

• Participate in project check-ins and reviews, communicate progress and blockers, track assigned work, and incorporate feedback.

• Recommend practical improvements to workflows, tools, controls, data quality, testing, or user experience.

What You Bring

We welcome skills developed through coursework, personal projects, student research, prior internships, employment, or other applied learning. You do not need experience with every technology or focus area listed in this description.

Basic Qualifications

• 30-completed college credit hours by start date in computer science, data science, information systems, engineering, analytics, cybersecurity, or a related field.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• A completed bachelor’s degree and enrollment verification or 9 credit hours completed in a graduate program related to computer science, data science, information systems, engineering, analytics, cybersecurity, or a related field.

• Experience with programming or scripting languages such as Python, PowerShell, JavaScript, SQL, or comparable languages, including experience with scripting, data manipulation, querying, analysis, or reusable code development.

• Experience completing technical projects involving coding, data, artificial intelligence, automation, cloud technology, or systems work through coursework, personal projects, research, internships, or other applied experience.

• Familiarity with databases, data schemas, data pipelines, and extract, transform, and load processes, as well as structured configuration formats such as JSON and YAML.

• Exposure to artificial intelligence and machine learning concepts, including large language model applications, agentic workflows, computer vision, natural language processing, or model evaluation.

• Familiarity with APIs, cloud platforms, enterprise data tools, low-code platforms, workflow automation, or business intelligence tools such as Azure, Power Platform, or Power BI.

• Experience using Git, Claude Code, or another version-control system, including familiarity with collaborative development, code review, or other review-based workflows.

• Knowledge of or interest in responsible AI, data privacy, information security, identity and access management, data classification, and AI or data governance.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to test assumptions, evaluate technical outputs, identify limitations, and review work for accuracy and completeness.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to document technical work, communicate progress or changes, and explain technical concepts to both technical and nontechnical audiences.

• Effective organization and time management skills, with the ability to prioritize work, manage defined assignments, meet agreed deadlines, ask thoughtful questions, and seek guidance or communicate blockers when needed.

• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with distributed, cross-functional teams.

• A practical and adaptable approach to learning and problem-solving, including openness to feedback, willingness to revise work, and interest in learning unfamiliar tools, technologies, or business domains.

• Professional judgment when working with data, technical tools, documentation, and AI-generated outputs, including an understanding of appropriate review, accuracy, privacy, security, and governance considerations.

How You Will Work and Learn

You will work alongside technical practitioners and business or program specialists, receive feedback on your work, and share progress with your team. Assignments will be based on project priorities and may align to specific AI engineering skill areas, technologies, business functions, or client and program contexts.

You will use approved tools and data, follow applicable privacy, security, and governance requirements, and clearly document assumptions and limitations. AI-generated outputs that may inform business or program decisions will remain subject to appropriate human review.

Bot and Third-Party Applications

Please note that this application must be submitted directly by the applicant for consideration. Failure to do so may result in the application being excluded for consideration. Applicants needing an accommodation for disability or religious purposes in connection with the application process should contact [email protected] for assistance.

Working at ICF

We can only solve the world's toughest challenges by building a workplace that allows everyone to thrive. We are an equal opportunity employer.Together, our employees are empowered to share theirexpertiseand collaborate with others to achieve personal and professional goals. For more information, please read our EEO policy.

We will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Reasonable Accommodations are available, including, but not limited to, for disabled veterans, individuals with disabilities, and individuals withsincerely heldreligious beliefs, in all phases of the application and employment process. To requestan accommodation,please email [email protected] and we will be happy toassist. All information you provide will be kept confidential and will be used only to the extentrequiredto provide needed reasonable accommodations.

Read more about workplace discrimination rights or our benefit offerings which are included in the Transparency in (Benefits) CoverageAct.

Candidate AI Usage Policy

At ICF, we are committed to ensuring a fair interview process for all candidates based on their own skills and knowledge. As part of this commitment, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools to generate orassistwith responses during interviews (whether in-person or virtual) is notpermitted. This policy is in place tomaintainthe integrity and authenticity of the interview process.

However, we understand that some candidates may require accommodationthat involves the use of AI. Ifsuch anaccommodation is needed, candidates are instructed to contact us in advance at [email protected]. Weare dedicated to providingthe necessary support to ensure that all candidates have an equal opportunity to succeed.

Pay Range - There are multiple factors that are considered in determining final payfor a position, including, but not limited to, relevant work experience, skills, certifications and competencies that align to the specified role, geographic location, education and certifications as well as contract provisions regarding labor categories that are specific to the position.

The pay range for this position based on full-time employment is: