Graduate Intern, Applied Research - Technology and Innovation (Spring 2027)

Delta Air Lines; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 18,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Delta Air Lines' Delta Innovation team seeks an Applied Research Intern to explore business opportunities by studying current experiences, user needs, and operational realities, applying qualitative methods to generate actionable insights.

You will collaborate with researchers, designers, engineers, and stakeholders to shape concepts, prototypes, and future-state solutions, while navigating ambiguity and communicating findings clearly to drive strategic innovation initiatives.

Qualifications

• Graduate student enrolled in accredited program with research focus.
• Experience with qualitative interviews and user research.
• Ability to translate findings into actionable insights.
• Interest in technology and innovation.

Responsibilities

• Partner with stakeholders to understand challenges and define research objectives.
• Design and conduct interviews, workshops, focus groups, and contextual inquiry.
• Analyze findings from interviews, documents, and industry research.
• Deliver insights through reports, briefs, personas, journey maps, and recommendations.
• Collaborate with design, engineering, and innovation teams to shape concepts.

Skills

Qualitative research

Interviews

Synthesis

Communication

Ambiguity handling

Education

Graduate student in research

Job description

How You'll Help Us Keep Climbing (Overview & Key Responsibilities) As a business unit, Delta Innovation maintains a portfolio of projects driven by fundamental research, emerging technology exploration, new product innovation, business impact, and operational goals. From investigating future opportunities and prototyping concepts to designing new interactive experiences, our research team works on real-world challenges that span the airline industry, including airport operations, customer and employee experience, and commercial applications.

As an Applied Research Intern, you will help uncover and define meaningful business opportunities by developing a deep understanding of current-state experiences, user needs, operational realities, and potential for emerging technology integration. You will leverage qualitative research methodologies to gather insights from stakeholders, subject matter experts, frontline employees, industry resources, technical documentation, standards, and other information sources.

As an Applied Research Intern, you will also contribute to the broader Delta Innovation community through knowledge sharing, intern collaboration opportunities, and special projects that support strategic innovation initiatives across the organization. You will work closely with researchers, designers, engineers, and business stakeholders to identify pain points, uncover opportunity areas, and help shape concepts, prototypes, and innovation strategies. Success in this role requires curiosity, adaptability, and the ability to navigate ambiguity while transforming complex information into actionable recommendations.

Role & Responsibilities

• Partner with stakeholders to understand business challenges and translate them into research objectives, learning plans, and actionable questions.
• Design and conduct qualitative research activities, including stakeholder interviews, workshops, focus groups, contextual inquiry, and observational research.
• Analyze and synthesize findings from diverse information sources, including interviews, operational documentation, industry research, technology assessments, and other relevant materials.
• Develop and communicate insights through research deliverables such as reports, briefs, presentations, personas, journey maps, experience maps, opportunity frameworks, and design recommendations.
• Collaborate closely with design, engineering, and innovation teams to translate research findings into concepts, prototypes, and future-state solutions.

What You Need To Succeed (Minimum Qualifications)

• Graduate student enrolled in an accredited College, University, or Institution with experience in a research-focused role (e.g., academic research, technology scouting, design research, user research, or a related field).
• Knowledge of qualitative research methodologies, including interviews, focus groups, workshops, ethnographic research, contextual inquiry, journey mapping, and experience research.
• Ability to identify, understand, and frame complex business and technology challenges as research opportunities, synthesizing information from multiple sources into meaningful insights and recommendations.
• Thrive in a fast-paced innovation environment where priorities, project scopes, and research approaches may evolve as new considerations emerge.
• Seeking student with strong work ethic, with excellent communication, organizational, attention to detail, and critical thinking skills.
• Consistently prioritizes safety and security of self, others, and personal data.
• Embraces diverse people, thinking, and styles.
• Possesses a high school diploma, GED, or high school equivalency.
• Is at least 18 years of age and has authorization to work in the United States.

What Will Give You a Competitive Edge (Preferred Qualifications)

• Interest in emerging technologies, including (but not limited to) AI, robotics, IoT, AR/VR, automation, and future technology trends.
• Familiarity with human-centered design, design thinking, service design, journey mapping, or opportunity identification frameworks.
• Experience collaborating across business, design, engineering, or innovation teams.
• Contribute to team initiatives, intern programming, knowledge-sharing activities, and collaborative projects that extend beyond assigned research efforts.