AI Software Engineer Intern

Job Description

Job Title: AI Software Engineer Intern

Company: Westat

Location: Bethesda, Maryland (Hybrid – minimum three days per week on-site)

Program Duration: 11 Weeks

Hourly Rate: $25/hr

About the Westat Summer Internship Program

Westat invites motivated and curious students to join our 11-week summer internship program, designed to provide valuable hands-on experience in a professional environment. This program is based at our Bethesda, Maryland office, requiring on-site participation at least three days per week. Interns will work 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday.

The internship will commence on Monday, June 1, 2026, and conclude by August 14, 2026. During your time with us, you will be assigned a project deliverable and will present on your experience during the final week. Beyond your project work, you will also have the opportunity to attend educational programs and networking events, fostering both professional and personal growth. We are seeking candidates who possess a strong interest in AI and technology and are eager to learn about working at Westat.

About the Role: AI Software Engineer Intern

We are actively seeking a highly motivated and curious AI Software Engineer Intern to join our innovative team. This role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to significant advancements within the healthcare sector, specifically focusing on the cancer clinical trial lifecycle for a large clinical trials system.

As an AI Software Engineer Intern, you will play a crucial role in supporting the creation of proofs of concept, development, testing, and deployment of AI solutions aimed at improving efficiencies and outcomes. This internship provides invaluable hands-on experience with modern AI frameworks and real-world application development. You will work closely with senior engineers, collaborating to transform innovative ideas into functional prototypes and ultimately, production-ready features.

Key Job Responsibilities

• Collaborate closely with assigned mentors to develop proofs of concept, exploring novel AI capabilities that directly enhance clinical trial processes within a large system supporting cancer clinical trials.
• Partner with senior software engineers on the design, implementation, and testing phases of AI-driven solutions.
• Actively gain proficiency in AI technologies, Python, and other essential coding techniques to develop straightforward yet impactful solutions.
• Support the integration of AI models into existing applications, APIs, or cloud services (e.g., AWS).
• Contribute to collaborative development practices, including code reviews and comprehensive documentation.
• Execute experiments, analyze results, and effectively communicate findings and insights to engineering teams.
• Continuously stay current with emerging AI technologies, tools, and best practices to foster innovation.

Basic Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in a master’s program in Computer Science, AI, Data Science, or a closely related technical field.
• Foundational knowledge or relevant coursework experience with Python, Java, and/or other scripting language(s).
• Demonstrated understanding of AI technologies and approaches.
• Foundational knowledge or relevant coursework experience with development tools such as Git, APIs, or cloud platforms (e.g., AWS).
• Familiarity with key AI sub-fields including Machine Learning (ML), Natural Language Processing (NLP), or Large Language Models (LLMs).
• Demonstrated SQL skills for querying, data manipulation, and visualization tasks.

Preferred Qualifications

• Successful completion of a small, practical AI project that addresses a real-world, non-academic need.
• Demonstrated problem-solving and critical thinking skills.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to articulate technical concepts effectively.
• Possesses curiosity, eagerness to learn, adaptability to innovative technologies, and openness to feedback.

Employment Details and Disclosures

• Pay Rate: This role offers a competitive hourly pay rate of $25/hr.
• Bonus Eligibility: No bonus eligibility for this role.
• Career Area: Computer Systems and Applications.
• Application Window: This opportunity will be posted for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis.
• Background Screening: Any offer of employment may be contingent upon receipt of acceptable results from a post-offer background screening, if required for the specific position. This may include, for example, identity verification, employment history, motor vehicle driving record history, and criminal or sexual offender records history. All screening results will be evaluated through an individualized assessment based on the individual’s specific record and the duties and requirements of the position.
• Employment Eligibility: This is a U.S.-based position. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. Westat does not offer employment-based visa sponsorship (including H-1B sponsorship) for this role. Depending on project requirements, some positions may require employees to meet specific residency criteria.
• Equal Opportunity Employer: Westat is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship status, genetic information, or any other protected status under applicable law. It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.