Data Science and Engineering Intern

Sallie Mae; Newark (DE); On-site; USD 28,000 - 41,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive base salaries

Bonus incentives

Paid time off

12 Federal Holidays observed

401k with employer match

Medical, dental, vision coverage

Disability insurance

Flexible hybrid working arrangements

Parental leave and adoption support

Gym subsidy

Job summary

Sallie Mae’s Education Services internship offers hands-on experience in data science and engineering within a fast-paced startup-like environment backed by a household name. You will work on digital marketing analytics, product analytics, and student lending projects, mentored by senior leaders and exposed to real business decisions.

Open to undergraduate and graduate students with a focus in data-related fields, this 12-week paid internship requires a 40-hour work week and offers in-office

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in a university pursuing a degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Statistics, Business Analytics, Mathematics, Data Engineering, AI, or related field.
• Expected graduation Dec 2027 - May 2028.

Responsibilities

• Use SQL and Python to prepare, transform, and analyze data from multiple sources.
• Translate business requirements into technical solutions with team input.
• Support the development of data pipelines, analytics, and reporting tools.
• Contribute to predictive models, time series forecasts, and AI enablement.
• Investigate data quality issues and validate analyses and data products.
• Document methods and findings and communicate results to nontechnical partners.
• Work with AI-assisted development tools and validate outputs.

Skills

SQL

Python

Marketing metrics

Communication

Attention to detail

Willingness to learn

Education

Data Science or related field

Tools

Snowflake

Databricks

AWS

GitHub

Job description

When you join Sallie, you become a champion for all students. Sallie’s Education Services team is a diverse group of growth-obsessed entrepreneurs, data analysts, engineers, and developers with a passion for imagining and building scalable businesses for students and families on their unique journey to-through and immediately after higher education. We’re on a mission to revolutionize how students and their families plan, pay and complete this journey with confidence. Join a team of seekers, challengers and creative thinkers to change the way students plan for their future for the better.

Sallie Mae is proud to help Americans aspiring to create the life they want, whether that means helping them make college happen, or something more. Our colleagues across departments and across the country are united in our passion and our customer-first approach. Whether you want to join a growing company, be part of an agile workforce, or gain new skills, you're in the right place.

Program Overview:

The Sallie Mae Internship program seeks to attract and develop exceptional early talent while adding value to our organization. Our goal is to tie academic learning into a practical business setting while fostering professional and personal growth within a student’s area of focus. Over the course of the summer, interns will gain exposure to senior leaders, attend meetings, work alongside mentors, and receive valuable performance feedback.

Position Summary:

Would you like to work in an exciting fast-paced start-up place with the backing of a household name company like Sallie Mae to help millions of people meet their educational needs every day? Together, we’re connected by the same drive—to be a champion for all students and help them make smart decisions with confidence. Do more than join something—change something…for students, for future generations, and for the future of education. Our new venture, Sallie, is looking for people like you who will define the future of education services for students and their families in the US. As the first education solutions company, we’re creating products and experiences that help students when they need it most. We’re connecting students to free money for school, providing tools and resources to plan for college, sharing inside advice on campus life, and so much more. Visit https://www.sallie.com/about to learn more about us.

Key Responsibilities:

The Data Science & Engineering Intern will work with our data team on projects supporting digital marketing, digital products, business analytics, and student lending. Projects may involve contributing to data pipelines, predictive analytics, dashboards, backend development, AI agents, or other data projects that enable our businesses. Responsibilities include:

• Use SQL and Python to prepare, transform, and analyze data from multiple sources.
• Work with team members to understand business requirements and translate them into technical solutions.
• Support the development of data pipelines, analytical solutions, and reporting tools.
• Contribute to predictive models, time series forecasts, and AI enablement.
• Investigate data quality issues and validate the logic and results of analyses and data products.
• Document technical methods and findings and communicate results to nontechnical partners.
• Use AI-assisted development tools while generating code and validate its outputs.

The ideal candidate is curious about both how data systems work and the businesses and products they support. They are comfortable learning unfamiliar tools, asking clarifying questions, and taking responsibility for the accuracy of their work.

Education:

Currently enrolled in an accredited university pursuing a degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Statistics, Business Analytics, Mathematics, Data Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, or related technical field. Open to undergraduate and graduate level students with expected graduation dates of Dec 2027 - May 2028

Availability:

This is a 12-week paid internship and expectations for a 40-hour work week for the following dates 6/7/2027 – 8/28/2027. We follow a flexible 3-day per week in‑office policy and open to working out of our Newark, DE or Arlington, VA offices.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Qualifications:

• Experience using SQL to query, join, filter, and aggregate data.
• Experience using Python for data analysis, machine learning, or artificial intelligence.
• Working knowledge of digital marketing measurement, including funnel metrics such as click-through rates, UTM tracking, campaign attribution, and traffic sources.
• Ability to explain analytical findings and technology solutions to a nontechnical audience.
• Strong attention to detail, communication skills, and willingness to learn.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with a cloud data platform such as Snowflake, Databricks, or AWS
• Experience with version control systems such as GitHub
• Experience analyzing website, paid media, or CRM data from platforms such as Meta, HubSpot, or Salesforce

Feeling your best helps you do your best:

Our benefits take care of the whole you—so you can build your work around your life (not the other way around!).

• Competitive base salaries
• Bonus incentives
• Generous PTO, Floating Holidays and 12 Federal Holidays observed
• Support for financial‑well‑being and retirement 401k with employer match
• Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, hospital indemnity, critical illness, pet insurance and more
• Employer paid short‑term/long‑term disability and basic life insurance
• Flexible hybrid working arrangements.
• Paid parental leave and adoption reimbursement programs
• Free access to on‑site staffed fitness centers (in Delaware) and gym subsidy (for locations outside Delaware)
• Confidential counseling support (EAP), Health Advocacy services and Wellness program with financial incentives
• Tuition Reimbursement and Family Scholarship Programs
• Career development and training opportunities

Sallie Mae is proud to be an equal opportunity (EEO) employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, genetic information, gender identity, disability, Veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. Reasonable accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities in all phases of the application and employment process. To request an accommodation please call [phone] and choose option 9. All information you provide will be kept confidential and will be used only to the extent required to provide needed reasonable accommodations.

When you join Sallie Mae, you become a champion for all students. We’re on a mission to power confidence as students begin their unique journey. To help them plan their higher education, successfully finish, and prepare for life after school. To help them Start smart. Learn big. Students need guidance navigating this important time in their life. They need someone who acknowledges that their education path is unique. They need a partner willing to evolve and not only meet but surpass their expectations. We’re changing. Because students need a better way. We’re looking for people who are excited to drive this transformation. To break barriers and think of new ways to adapt, help, and create better experiences for students—and for each other. This is where diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and perspectives matter. It’s where you’re empowered to bring your authentic self to work. Feeling your best allows you to do your best. Our benefits take care of the whole you—from physical and mental to financial and professional. You’ll get opportunities to further your education and career, support for you and your family (including your pets!), paid time off to volunteer for the things that matter to you, and more. We’re obsessed with impact and making a real difference. For us, that means putting relationships first, asking “why not?” when tackling challenges, and continuously learning new skills. Come do more than join something, change something. For students, for future generations, for the future of education.