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Intern (PBS KIDS Product & Technology)

PBS
United States
Mar 05, 2026
Position Title: Intern Department: Product & Technology Corporate Area: PBS KIDS Status: Temporary, Part time NonExempt Manager Title: Sr. Manager, Technology Position Overview: The PBS KIDS, Product and Technology team is seeking an undergraduate intern to join us for a summer internship developing a privacy-first recommendation system for children's educational content. This is a research and prototyping project focused on helping children discover PBS KIDS content that matches their interests. The intern will work directly with a technical manager to design and prototype a recommendation algorithm that runs on the local device, using session viewing habits to suggest content while keeping personal data client-side. This position offers hands-on experience building a recommendation system with a focus on preserving privacy. Key responsibilities will include, but are not limited to: Research and evaluate recommendation algorithms suitable for client-side, privacy-first implementation Design a data collection approach that captures viewing history locally without external tracking Prototype recommendation algorithms in JavaScript/React Native environment Design and implement an API that client applications can interact with to receive personalized content recommendations Work with content metadata from our CMS to understand the content catalog and features available for recommendation Document research findings, approaches, and implementation decisions Collaborate with the technical team to ensure the solution aligns with PBS KIDS' privacy standards and mission Requirements for success: Currently enrolled as a Junior or Senior pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Data Science, or related technical field Skills and Abilities: Strong foundation in algorithms and data structures Proficiency in JavaScript/TypeScript Interest in machine learning, recommendation systems, or personalization algorithms Ability to work independently on research while collaborating with mentors Strong written and verbal communication skills for documenting findings Preferred Qualifications: Coursework or project experience in machine learning or recommendation systems Experience with React Native or mobile development Familiarity with principals of privacy or ethical AI Passion for education, child development, or public media Experience working with APIs or content management systems Skill Intern may gain: Hands-on experience designing and implementing recommendation algorithms Understanding of privacy-first engineering approaches Client-side data collection and processing techniques API design principles for content recommendation services Experience working with content management systems and metadata Research-to-prototype development process Direct mentorship from an experienced technical manager in a mission-driven organization Additional Information: Time Commitment: June 1, 2026 - August 21, 2026 Compensation: Undergraduate students receive $15/hour, graduate students receive $17/hour PBS is an Equal Opportunity Employer in accordance with the EEOC and the Commonwealth of Virginia.