Data Engineering Intern - Summer 2027

Raft Company Website; McLean (VA); On-site; USD 28,000 - 33,000; Part time

Job summary

Raft is seeking a Data Engineering Intern for onsite work at our McLean, VA HQ from June through August 2027. You will help onboard open-source datasets to enrich the data catalog, working with the data engineering team to integrate datasets and demonstrate the art of the possible with data.

The role targets students in Data Science, CS, or Engineering and emphasizes collaboration, dataset quality assessment, and exposure to data platforms and catalogs in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Pursuing a degree in Data Science, CS, Engineering, or related field.
• Experience with ETL concepts and data integration.
• Familiarity with Python/SQL for data manipulation.
• Ability to onboard and enrich datasets in a Data Fabric environment.

Responsibilities

• Assist on onboarding open-source datasets to enrich the data catalog.
• Collaborate with the data engineering team to integrate datasets.
• Evaluate dataset quality and relevance for catalog enrichment.

Skills

Data engineering

Open-source datasets

Python

SQL

Git version control

Team collaboration

Analytical skills

Tools

Git

SQL tooling

Job description

This is a U.S. based position. All of the programs we support require U.S. citizenship to be eligible for employment. All work must be conducted within the continental U.S.

• Your Education: What you studied, where, and what excited you most about your program.
• Your Work Experience: Any internships, co-ops, part-time roles, or meaningful projects - and what you learned.
• Your Team Experience: A specific example of working on a team, your role, and how you contributed to a successful outcome.

Who We Are:

Raft ( https://TeamRaft.com ) is a customer-obsessed non-traditional defense tech company dedicated to empowering U.S. military and government agencies with cutting-edge AI/ML and data solutions. We are a leader in autonomous data fusion and Agentic AI, with a purposeful focus on Distributed Data Systems, Platforms at Scale, and Complex Application Development. With headquarters in McLean, VA, our range of clients includes innovative federal and public agencies leveraging design thinking, cutting-edge tech stack, and cloud-native ecosystem. We build digital solutions that impact the lives of millions of Americans.

About the Role:

As a Data Engineering Intern at Raft, you’ll play a hands-on role in enhancing our Data Fabric by onboarding open-source datasets to enrich our out-of-the-box catalog. This role is ideal for someone passionate about data and eager to explore how diverse datasets can drive insight and value. You’ll work with our data engineering team to integrate new datasets, showcase “the art of the possible” with data, and contribute to a robust, enriched data catalog that supports advanced analytics and discovery.

What we are looking for:

• Passion for data engineering and working with open-source datasets.
• Basic knowledge of data integration and ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) processes.
• Familiarity with Python, SQL, or similar tools for data manipulation and analysis.
• Understanding of data structures, databases, and version control tools (such as Git) for collaborative projects.
• Ability to collaborate with team members to onboard and enrich datasets in our Data Fabric environment.
• Analytical skills to assess dataset quality and relevance for catalog enrichment.
• Currently enrolled in a Data Science, Computer Science, Engineering, or related degree program.
• U.S. citizenship is required due to potential exposure to sensitive government-related work.

Highly Preferred:

• Interest in cloud-based data platforms and big data technologies.
• Eagerness to learn about data catalogs and data discovery tools.
• Familiarity with Agile methodologies and adaptability to a fast-paced environment.
• Strong communication skills to effectively share insights and project outcomes within the team.
• Curiosity and enthusiasm for exploring new datasets and discovering new applications of data.

Work Type:

• Location: Onsite at Raft HQ in McLean, VA
• Duration: June to August 2027
• Hours: Part-time, up to 40 hours per week
• Compensation: $20 - $24 per hour, based on experience and qualifications.

Our Vision Statement:

We bridge the gap between humans and data through radical transparency and our obsession withthemission.

Our Customer Obsession:

We will approach every deliverable like it's a product. We will adopt a customer-obsessed mentality. As we grow, and our footprint becomes larger, teams and employees will treat each other not only as teammates but customers. We must live the customer-obsessed mindset, always. This will help us scale and it will translate to the interactions that our Rafters have with their clients and other product teams that they integrate with. Our culture will enable our success and set us apart from other companies.

How do we get there?

Public-sector modernization is critical for us to live in a better world. We, at Raft, want to innovate and solve complex problems. And, if we are successful, our generation and the ones that follow us will live in a delightful, efficient, and accessible world where out-of-box thinking,and collaboration is a norm.

Raft’s core philosophy isUbuntu: IAm, BecauseWe are. We support our“nadi”by elevating the other Rafters. We work as a hyper collaborative team where each team member brings a unique perspective, adding value that did not exist before. People make Raft special. We celebrate each other and our cognitive and cultural diversity. We are devoted to our practice of innovation and collaboration.

We’re an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.

As set forth in Raft Company Website’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

As set forth in Raft Company Website’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.