Intern (PBS KIDS Product & Technology)

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.