2027 Summer Internship (US) - AI

Zebra Technologies; Lincolnshire (IL); Hybrid; USD 50,000 - 61,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid in-office (Lincolnshire, IL) 3+

Intern Allowance

Job summary

Zebra Technologies invites students to join its CTO’s Solutions Startup team for an internship focused on building an AI-driven analytics engine. You will ingest diverse data sources, develop Claude-driven commands, and craft robust prompts while learning to orchestrate data pipelines and governance.

This hybrid role is based in Lincolnshire, IL. You will gain hands-on experience with Python, APIs, and data formats while collaborating across teams to deliver actionable insights and supporting

Qualifications

• Pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in AI/ML/CS/Data Science, etc.
• Anticipated graduation May 2027–May 2028.
• Authorization to work in the US without sponsorship now or in the future.

Responsibilities

• Ingest diverse data sources into the ingestion pipeline with mapping and refresh cadence.
• Develop and test Claude-driven commands for analysis and synthesis.
• Build and test source connectors with authentication and parsing capabilities.
• Automate data pipeline workflows and generate summary documents.
• Refine prompts and orchestration scripts for production readiness.
• Create automation utilities and dashboards to reflect data insights.
• Maintain data governance, metadata taxonomies, and API documentation.

Skills

Python

APIs

LLMs

Prompt engineering

Git

JSON

Education

Undergraduate/Graduate degree in AI/CS/Data Science or related

Tools

REST APIs

PowerPoint

Git

Job description

Overview

At Zebra, we are a community of innovators who come together to create new ways of working. United by curiosity and a culture of caring, we develop smart solutions that anticipate our customer’s and partner’s needs and solve their challenges.

Overview

At Zebra, we are a community of innovators who come together to create new ways of working. United by curiosity and a culture of caring, we develop smart solutions that anticipate our customer’s and partner’s needs and solve their challenges.

Being part of Zebra Nation means you are seen, heard, valued, and respected. Drawing from our unique perspectives, we collaborate to deliver on our purpose. Here you are part of a team pushing boundaries today to redefine the work of tomorrow for organizations, their employees, and those they serve.

You’ll have opportunities to learn and lead in a forward-thinking environment, defining your path to a fulfilling career while channeling your skills toward causes you care about—locally and globally.

Come make an impact every day at Zebra.

What We're Looking For

The purpose of this internship is to prepare students for entry into the business world by providing a thorough understanding of the various functions of the Zebra Technologies organization. The program is designed to provide students with experiences that provide insights into a career with Zebra. Students will be positioned for success with training and hands-on experiences, invited to social and development activities, and provided a professional mentor relationship.

The CTO’s Solutions Startup team exists to identify, evaluate, and incubate new business ventures for Zebra — spotting emerging pain points across industry verticals, validating them against real customer evidence, and developing the most promising into new solutions and markets. To do this at scale, the team is building an AI engine powered by Claude — an intelligent knowledge base and analysis pipeline that ingests source material (customer interviews, market and competitive research, internal strategy documents) and turns it into structured, cross-linked intelligence. On top of that knowledge base, a suite of Claude-driven commands performs repeatable analyses end-to-end: pulling data, summarizing large documents, extracting findings, synthesizing them into analysis write-ups, and generating charts and briefs that feed real venture decisions.

US Summer Internship Benefits

• Summer Fridays, As Applicable with Your Team
• 30+ Social and Professional Events in 12 Weeks
• Global Immersion with Your Teams and Interns
• Intern Allowance (when applicable)

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Onboard New Data Sources: Integrate and ingest diverse data sources (document libraries, interview transcripts, market/competitive documents, third-party feeds) into the ingestion pipeline, including mapping structures, access paths, and refresh cadences.
• Build & Test Source Connectors: Develop robust connectors handling modern authentication, change/delta detection, and parsing of attachments and binary files.
• Run & Refine Ingestion Workflows: Automate and orchestrate pipeline runs, generating summary/synthesis pages and utilizing version tracking to reconcile potential drift or contradictions between sources.
• Develop Claude-Driven Commands: Design and write automated analysis commands that manage advanced knowledge tasks (such as document chunking, extraction of core findings, and structured synthesis).
• Optimize Prompt Engineering: Research, draft, and rigorously test prompt templates and orchestration scripts, moving candidate prompts from draft to robust production environments.
• Build Supporting Automation: Create utility scripts in Python, establish seamless data-refresh flows, update reporting dashboards (e.g., via PowerPoint or Power Automate), and render dynamic HTML/PDF briefs.
• Maintain System Quality & Governance: Curate metadata taxonomies (industry verticals, solution capabilities), execute routine connector and schema health audits, and document APIs to ensure long‑term system sustainability.
• Develop planning, organizational and leadership skills
• Increase technology knowledge and skills, especially as it relates to Zebra's product portfolio.
• Manage team-based work assignments
• Practice interpersonal skills to connect with day-to-day business contacts through follow-up activities

Minimum Qualifications

• Current enrollment in an undergraduate/graduate (MS/MA) degree program in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Computer Science, Data Science, Software Engineering, Business Administration or similar
• Must have an anticipated graduation date between May 2027-May 2028
• Must be authorized to work in the US without requiring sponsorship now or in the future

Preferred Qualifications

• Python Programming & APIs: Strong command of Python and hands‑on experience interacting with REST APIs and standard authentication flows (OAuth, Microsoft Graph, etc.).
• LLMs & Prompt Engineering: High interest and demonstrated project experience working with LLMs (such as Claude, GPT, or similar models) and crafting modular, robust prompts.
• Familiarity with software revision control systems, preferably git.
• Structured Data Formats: Comfort and familiarity with parsing and managing structured data formats (JSON, YAML) and using Markdown‑based documentation tools.
• Knowledge of workflow orchestration frameworks and automated data pipeline scheduling.
• Basic familiarity with business analysis/strategy concepts (e.g., Total Addressable Market [TAM/SAM/SOM], customer value propositions, and customer pain validation).
• Exceptional technical writing, sharp attention to detail, and a strong sense of self‑direction when dealing with ambiguous tasks.
• Communication Skills – Clear and effective verbal and written communication
• Adaptability and Learning Agility – Willingness to learn quickly, embrace new tools or methods, and thrive in a dynamic, fast‑paced environment
• Technical Skills – Basic proficiency in Microsoft Office tools (e.g., Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and basic familiarity with technology solutions)
• Integrity – Commitment to ethical behavior and confidentiality

THIS IS A HYBRID INTERNSHIP LOCATED IN LINCOLNSHIRE, IL. THE EXPECTATION IS AT LEAST 3 DAYS OF IN-OFFICE ATTENDANCE.

Salary: USD $36.00- USD $44.50 Hourly

Equal Opportunity Employer

Zebra is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability and protected veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by law. If you are an individual with a disability and need assistance in applying for a position, please contact us at [e-mail].

Pay Range

$0.00 - $0.00 Hourly

Zebra Total Rewards

Zebra Total Rewards includes more than just pay and is structured to meet the needs of our changing global business and evolving talent. We are committed to providing our employees with a benefits program that is comprehensive and competitive – including healthcare, wellness, inclusion networks, and continued learning and development offerings. We offer community service days, in addition to the traditional insurances, compensation, parental leave, employee assistance program and paid time off offerings depending on the country where you work. Salary offered will vary depending on your location, job‑related skills, knowledge, and experience. Additionally, all Zebra roles are eligible for cash incentive programs. For example, sales roles have additional opportunity to earn substantial variable compensation tied to quota achievement. In most other roles, the Zebra annual cash incentive program links Company and individual performance together. Some roles may also be eligible for long‑term incentive equity awards.