AI/ML Engineer Intern, Summer 2026

Job Description
In this position, you will participate in BAE Systems' nationwide LEAP Internship & Co-op Program, where you will Learn, Engage, Apply, and Progress within the company. The LEAP Program will provide you with the opportunity to work alongside experienced professionals on impactful projects, engage in career development opportunities, and network with our business leaders and the other students in the program.
The Opportunity
BAE Systems is seeking an AI/ML Engineer Intern for Summer 2026 with a Computer Science, Data Engineering, Software Engineering, or Computer Engineering background. Join our AI-Enabled Digital Engineering Team and become a member of a diverse, enthusiastic, and highly productive team, where each employee has the opportunity to grow their skills and work on rewarding projects. The selected candidate will contribute to the design, development, and deployment of intelligent systems that can learn from data, make predictions, classify objects, and generate insights. As an AI/ML Engineer, you will play a critical role in developing high-quality analytic algorithms that drive business value and mission-critical use cases in support of the US Navy's Strategic Systems Programs-a program that keeps our nation safe with a credible sea-based nuclear deterrent. The selected candidate will work closely with the AI-Enabled Digital Engineering Team to support the development of AI/ML tools by performing the following functions:

• Design, develop, and deploy AI/ML models using popular libraries and frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow, Pytorch, Scikit-learn, Keras).
• Conduct feature engineering and feature selection to optimize model performance.
• Collaborate with Data Engineers to prepare data for AI/ML model development, ensuring that the data is in a suitable format for model training.
• Implement AI/ML algorithms, including design, training, testing, verification, and validation activities.
• Develop and implement data pipelines to enable retrieval of data from federated data systems (e.g., cloud storage or on-premises databases).
• Develop and implement monitoring systems to ensure AI/ML model reliability and performance, using tools such as Prometheus, Grafana, or New Relic.
• Stay up to date on best practices and emerging technologies in AI/ML, including advancements in deep learning, natural language processing, and computer vision.

Who You Are

• You are driven by mission.
• You love learning how to use and administer new tools and technologies.
• You enjoy working with people and collaborating across teams.
• You have a high degree of personal drive, initiative, and the ability to drive change.
• You can explain complex subjects concisely in person and in email.
• You love finding new and creative ways to solve problems.
• You constantly ask questions and love learning.
• You are always anticipating your customers' needs and working to exceed their expectations.
• You live for details.
• You are willing to put in the time and effort it takes to get the job done.
• You are always looking for ways to do things better and faster.
• You are constantly updating your to-do list and planning ahead.
• You are more interested in getting the job done right than who gets credit.
• You are a good judge of how long projects take to complete, and always alert others if things get off track.

Required Education, Experience, & Skills

• Enrolled student at an accredited 4-year college / university having completed a minimum of three years (Junior) by start of internship.
• Pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Data Engineering, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering or a related STEM field.
• Some understanding of the AI/ML development process and its applications.
• Knowledge of AI/ML libraries and frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow, Pytorch, Scikit-learn).
• Knowledge in programming languages (e.g., Python, JSON/XML, structured and unstructured query languages).
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, interpersonal skills, and ability to work effectively with others.
• Demonstrated self-starter with organizational, planning, and follow-up skills.

Preferred Education, Experience, & Skills

• Familiarity with containerization technologies (e.g., Docker) and orchestration tools (e.g., Kubernetes).
• Knowledge of data visualization tools (e.g., Matplotlib, Seaborn) and data storytelling techniques.
• Familiarity with natural language processing (NLP) and computer vision libraries (e.g., NLTK, spaCy).
• Experience with ETL/TS tools and frameworks (e.g., Apache Beam, AWS Glue).
• Familiarity with big data technologies like Hadoop, Spark, and Kafka.

Pay Information
Full-Time Salary Range: $49592 - $68993
Please note: This range is based on our market pay structures. However, individual salaries are determined by a variety of factors including, but not limited to: business considerations, local market conditions, and internal equity, as well as candidate qualifications, such as skills, education, and experience.
Temporary employees generally are not eligible for BAE Systems benefits, but can elect to participate in the 401(k) savings plan. Temporary employees working 20+ hours per week are eligible for medical benefits, the employee assistance program, and business travel accident insurance.
About BAE Systems Intelligence & Security
BAE Systems, Inc. is the U.S. subsidiary of BAE Systems plc, an international defense, aerospace and security company which delivers a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology solutions and customer support services. Improving the future and protecting lives is an ambitious mission, but it's what we do at BAE Systems. Working here means using your passion and ingenuity where it counts - defending national security with breakthrough technology, superior products, and intelligence solutions. As you develop the latest technology and defend national security, you will continually hone your skills on a team-making a big impact on a global scale. At BAE Systems, you'll find a rewarding career that truly makes a difference.
Intelligence & Security (I&S), based in McLean, Virginia, designs and delivers advanced defense, intelligence, and security solutions that support the important missions of our customers. Our pride and dedication shows in everything we do-from intelligence analysis, cyber operations and IT expertise to systems development, systems integration, and operations and maintenance services. Knowing that our work enables the U.S. military and government to recognize, manage and defeat threats inspires us to push ourselves and our technologies to new levels.
This position will be posted for at least 5 calendar days. The posting will remain active until the position is filled, or a qualified pool of candidates is identified.