Applied AI Intern

First Citizens BancShares; Raleigh (NC); Hybrid; USD 28,000 - 41,000; Full time

Job summary

First Citizens BancShares invites students to join its summer internship program in a hybrid setting, gaining hands-on experience with data science, AI governance, and enterprise AI challenges. You will work with Python and SQL, develop prototypes, evaluate models, and present findings to mentors and division leaders.

This internship emphasizes practical, regulated AI work, with mentorship, a dedicated program manager, and a project designed to improve a real bank process.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED and 1 year of experience.
• Currently enrolled at an accredited collegiate institution (during the time of the summer program).
• Ability to work 40 hours per week during the duration of the program.
• Rising senior, or currently enrolled in a master’s program, in computer science, data science, statistics, applied mathematics, engineering, or a related quantitative field.
• Working proficiency in Python and SQL; familiarity with ML libraries and Git.

Responsibilities

• Build and test components of a real AI or analytics solution.
• Prepare, explore, and analyze data using Python and SQL in approved bank environments.
• Develop model prototypes, features, prompt and retrieval configurations, scripts, and notebooks under mentor guidance.
• Help create evaluation datasets and run evaluations; test accuracy, relevance, groundedness, or content safety.

Skills

Adaptability

Communication

Critical Thinking

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Currently enrolled at an accredited collegiate institution

GPA 3.0 minimum

Tools

Python

SQL

Git

Job description

Overview

This is a hybrid role, with the expectation that time working will regularly take place inside and outside of a company office.

First Citizens Bank offers an exciting summer internship program that provides development opportunities and hands‑on work experience while creating a talent pipeline for the Bank. Our interns will apply classroom knowledge in a corporate environment while making a positive impact across the organization and the communities we serve. Come help First Citizens build for the future!

The Applied AI team sits within Enterprise AI, which brings together data science, applied AI, Responsible AI, and AI governance for the bank. We build the machine learning and AI solutions used across the General Bank, Commercial Bank, and Enterprise Functions — and we are responsible for testing and evidencing that those solutions work before they reach production.

This is an early and fast‑moving area at First Citizens. Evaluation practices, delivery patterns, and the bank’s AI platform are all being built now, and the team works across U.S. and India locations. We use machine learning, advanced analytics, and generative AI where each is the right fit — we do not assume every problem needs a generative AI solution. An intern joining this team will see what it takes to build AI that holds up in a regulated environment, which is a more exacting standard than most coursework prepares you for.

Responsibilities & Qualifications

Duties & Responsibilities In this role, you will:

• Build and test components of a real AI or analytics solution — work the team would otherwise do itself, not a side exercise
• Prepare, explore, and analyze data using Python and SQL in approved bank environments
• Develop model prototypes, features, prompt and retrieval configurations, scripts, and notebooks under the direction of an assigned mentor
• Help create evaluation datasets and run evaluations — depending on the project, testing accuracy, relevance, groundedness, retrieval quality, or content safety
• Document assumptions, limitations, and test results clearly enough that someone else can pick the work up after the summer ends
• Learn how an AI use case moves through the bank’s governance and Responsible AI review, and what evidence it has to produce along the way
• Take part in team code reviews, technical discussions, and knowledge‑sharing sessions
• Be part of a dynamic team with interesting projects.
• Accountabilities can and may include areas such as research, analytics, projects, strategy, process review and improvement, as well as technology enhancements and support.
• Attend professional development sessions, informational sessions, networking and community service events.
• Have a dedicated manager and program manager to help you navigate the bank and the internship program.
• Be assigned a project, designed to improve a specific process or solve a problem that you will present at the close of the internship.
• Prepare a wrap‑up presentation to be shared with the division leader and other key stakeholders in the company to outline your accomplishments and experience during the internship

Internship dates: 5/24/27 - 7/30/27

Position Specific Skills:

• Adaptability
• Communication (Written & Verbal)
• Critical Thinking Skills

Required qualifications:

• High School Diploma or GED and 1 year of experience
• Currently enrolled at an accredited collegiate institution (during the time of the summer program)
• Ability to work 40 hours per week during the duration of the program

Preferred qualifications:

• Rising senior, or currently enrolled in a master’s program, in computer science, data science, statistics, applied mathematics, engineering, or a related quantitative field
• Working proficiency in Python and SQL
• Coursework, personal projects, or prior internship experience in machine learning, data science, NLP, or generative AI — with evidence of having built and tested something real
• Familiarity with common data science or machine learning libraries, notebook environments, and version control (Git)
• Some exposure to model evaluation and test design — how you know a solution works, not only how to build one
• Genuine interest in both conventional machine learning and generative AI, with the judgment to choose methods based on the problem rather than novelty
• Clear written communication — able to explain technical work, results, and open questions to someone who was not involved in it
• 3.0 minimum GPA
• Strong desire to learn and grow
• Possess a positive attitude, naturally curious and enjoys collaborating with others
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Critical thinking skills
• Ability to multitask
• Ability to adapt and adjust priorities based on business needs
• Ability to take direction and absorb information quickly

Additional Information

Benefits are an integral part of total rewards and First Citizens Bank is committed to providing a competitive, thoughtfully designed and quality benefits program to meet the needs of our associates. More information can be found at https://jobs.firstcitizens.com/benefits.