Data & AI Engineer Intern

The Organization

At USAFacts, we believe facts deserve to be heard. We are on a mission to provide a comprehensive and unbiased look at our country by the numbers. Democracy thrives on serious, reasoned, and informed debate. And we’re here for it.

Founded and funded by Steve Ballmer, former CEO of Microsoft, USAFacts answers questions around government spending and outcomes. While these are basic questions, finding the answers is hard. But it’s also pretty exciting. We pull together data from thousands of jurisdictions to normalize, contextualize, and visualize these metrics so the data is approachable and understandable.

Every day, we learn something about our country, how to make complex data understandable, and how to make the American people interested in the numbers. We’re a collaborative group and are always learning from each other, too. The team is mission driven, with no political agenda nor commercial incentive; we do this work purely as a public service.

Oh, and to top it off? USAFacts was named to Fast Company’s List of the World’s Most Innovative Companies for 2025! Learn more about us at usafacts.org and linkedin.com/company/usafacts.

We’d love for you to bring your talents and your curiosity to come make a difference!

The Opportunity

As a Data Engineering Intern at USAFacts, you’ll play a hands-on role in transforming raw government data into reliable insights that inform millions of people. You’ll learn how to design and scale real-world data pipelines, ensure data quality, and integrate diverse sources at a national scale. Along the way, you’ll also have opportunities to contribute to AI initiatives, from preparing datasets for machine learning to experimenting with new tools that make data easier to explore and understand. You’ll work side by side with experienced engineers and product managers who are passionate about making government data accessible and transparent. This isn’t just an internship,  it’s a chance to grow your skills, learn from industry experts, and make a tangible impact on how Americans engage with facts about their country.

Key Priorities and Responsibilities

• In consultation with other engineers, research, design, implement, and test engineering solutions that directly support USAFacts’ mission.
• Collaborate with engineers and product managers to deliver high-quality data products that meet user needs and expectations.
• Develop and scale data pipelines that collect, clean, and transform large, complex government datasets into reliable, accessible formats.
  Experiment with data transformations at scale, learning how to optimize performance, monitor quality, and support downstream applications.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate diverse external data sources and write efficient, well-documented code to support data-driven initiatives.
• Contribute to AI-focused experiments by preparing AI-ready datasets, prototyping with emerging tools, and helping evaluate results to ensure accuracy, fairness, and transparency.
• Maintain comprehensive documentation, identify performance bottlenecks, and prioritize data security best practices in our data ecosystem.
• Research and learn new technologies and tools to enhance your technical skills and apply them to real-world problems.
• Provide feedback and suggestions to improve the quality and performance of our software products and data pipelines.
• Share and present your work at the end of the internship, highlighting both your technical contributions and impact.

The Ideal Candidate

• Currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, Data Science, or a related field. 
• Strong programming skills in one or more core languages (e.g., Python, SQL) and an eagerness to apply them to real-world data problems.
• Basic understanding of databases, data modeling, and data quality concepts.
• Interest in building and scaling data pipelines, with knowledge of data warehousing and ETL/ELT processes as a plus.
• Curiosity about AI/ML applications, with familiarity in researching, building, or experimenting with machine learning and AI pipeline tools, platforms, or algorithms.
• Exposure to cloud platforms such as Microsoft Azure or a willingness to learn them quickly.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills with a growth mindset.
• Passion for learning new technologies, experimenting with emerging tools, and creating innovative solutions that make data more accessible and impactful.

Additional Information

The position is based in Bellevue, Washington and our organization practices intentional hybrid work​. All USAFacts employees are expected to work on-site Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays during overlapping core hours of 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Mondays and Fridays remain flexible work-from-home or office workdays. 

This intern position is a not-exempt role located in Bellevue, WA. The intern role is paid at a rate of $30 per hour. It is not eligible for company benefits but will be provided with an ORCA card for transportation to and from work or parking in/near the building. The internship is available from May-September, depending on school schedule and we do not coordinate credits through the intern’s institution. 

Nonpartisan Commitment

USAFacts is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization dedicated to making government data accessible and understandable as a free public service. Consistent with our Political Activity Policy, and to preserve the trust and neutrality essential to our mission, all employees must refrain from political activity that could compromise our impartiality. This includes making political donations, volunteering for or publicly supporting political candidates, parties, or campaigns. Additionally, employees are expected to avoid expressing partisan views on public platforms where they are identifiable as affiliated with USAFacts. This policy helps ensure our work—and our organization—remains trusted, fact-based, and free from political influence.

USAFacts is an equal-opportunity employer and is dedicated to building an inclusive workforce where diversity is valued. Individuals seeking employment at USAFacts are considered without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, martial status, ancestry, physical or mental disability, veteran status, gender identity, or sexual orientation.