2027 Summer Intern, AI Engineer (Reston, VA)

ICF • Reston, VA

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

The HPHS Technology Office at ICF is seeking a motivated intern with programming fundamentals and an interest in using modern AI-enabled technology to solve practical problems. The office partners with domain experts and delivery teams across ICF’s Health, People, & Human Services operating group to identify how technology can accelerate mission delivery and improve client outcomes, from rapid proofs of concept to production-ready platforms.

This is a full-time, 10-week internship beginning in early June 2027. The position is hybrid in Reston, Virginia, with on-site work two days per week. Relocation or housing assistance is not available. The expected pay is $27 per hour; the posting also lists a full-time employment pay range of $37,855 to $64,354.

The intern will work with senior engineers and technology partners to develop prototypes, build lightweight interfaces and services, and integrate, test, and demonstrate capabilities in real workflows. The internship is intended to provide hands-on experience and exposure to practical AI engineering challenges. The intern may have the opportunity to present learning or deliverables to leadership before the internship concludes.

Requirements

• Have completed a minimum of 30 college credit hours toward a bachelor's degree in computer science or a relevant discipline.
• Be a U.S. citizen due to contract requirements.

Nice To Haves

• Demonstrated interest, knowledge, or early experience using AI coding assistants such as GitHub Copilot, Claude Code, or ChatGPT for software development tasks.
• Familiarity with at least one programming language, such as Python, JavaScript/TypeScript, or Java.
• Familiarity with GenAI/LLM tooling, such as prompt frameworks, vector databases, modern LLM APIs (Anthropic or OpenAI), or Model Context Protocol (MCP).
• Experience with version control systems such as Git.
• Exposure to cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with an interest in data and systems thinking.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.
• Enthusiasm for learning new technologies and applying them to real-world challenges.

Responsibilities

• Support rapid prototype development using AI tools and frameworks.
• Build lightweight front ends and back ends that allow stakeholders to interact with prototypes.
• Apply responsible LLM usage, prompt design, and practical grounding patterns, such as grounding responses in authoritative client data.
• Collaborate with senior engineers and technology partners to integrate, test, and demonstrate capabilities in real workflows.
• Contribute to work intended to deliver measurable impact and potentially present learning or deliverables to leadership.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Intern