IT Intern

Life Fitness; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 26,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid holidays

Paid sick leave

Job summary

Life Fitness / Hammer Strength is seeking an IT Infrastructure & Support Intern to explore AI, automation, and emerging technologies within our IT organization. You will work on hands‑on projects aligned with your studies and gain mentorship from experienced professionals.

You will partner with IT and business teams, develop proofs‑of‑concepts using generative AI and LLMs, and contribute to knowledge retrieval, data analysis, and enterprise integration.

Qualifications

• Must reside in Chicagoland area and hybrid schedule.
• Pursuing a full‑time bachelor's degree in IT, IS, CS or related field with expected 2028/2029 graduation.
• GPA 3.2+ preferred.
• Interest in cloud technologies, endpoint management, IT operations, cybersecurity, or enterprise tech support.
• Coursework/projects in programming, data analytics, AI, ML, or automation.
• Basic programming or scripting experience (Python preferred).
• Understanding of data structures, APIs, or application integration concepts.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Curiosity about artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.
• Initiative, positive attitude and eagerness to learn.
• Excellent organizational and time‑management skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication; ability to work with technical and non‑technical stakeholders.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

Responsibilities

• Partner with IT and business teams to identify and evaluate AI use cases.
• Assist in developing proofs‑of‑concept and prototypes using generative AI, LLMs, and automation.
• Explore AI assistants and agents to streamline workflows and support business users.
• Design, test, and refine prompts and AI workflows for accurate outputs.
• Explore AI use cases involving knowledge retrieval, document analysis, summarization, and data analysis.
• Assist in integrating AI with enterprise apps, APIs, databases, and data sources.
• Analyze and prepare structured and unstructured data for AI solutions.
• Test and evaluate AI solutions for accuracy, reliability, usability and business value.
• Research emerging AI technologies and assess applicability.
• Document use cases, approaches, prototypes, results, and lessons learned.
• Develop demos and presentations to communicate AI concepts to technical and business audiences.
• Participate in discussions on responsible AI, data privacy, and AI governance.
• Collaborate with solution architects, analysts, developers, data teams, cybersecurity professionals.
• Attend and participate in team meetings and updates.
• Work on a 12‑week cross‑functional case study project culminating in a senior‑leadership presentation.

Skills

Analytical skills

Problem solving

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Adaptability

Initiative & learning

Organizational skills

Time management

AI curiosity

Stakeholder communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in IT/IS/CS

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

About the Opportunity

Join us as we empower the world to work out, creating healthier lives together.

About the Role

The Life Fitness / Hammer Strength Internship Program 2027 is designed to provide meaningful, hands‑on experience that supports both professional development and business impact. Successful interns will be assigned challenging projects aligned with their academic background and will receive ongoing mentorship from experienced professionals.

The IT Intern – Artificial Intelligence & Emerging Technology will work within the Information Technology organization to explore, prototype, and evaluate practical applications of artificial intelligence across the business. This role will collaborate with IT team members and business stakeholders to identify opportunities where generative AI, intelligent automation, AI assistants and agents, and emerging technologies can improve productivity, automate processes, enhance decision‑making, and improve employee or customer experiences.

Responsibilities for the IT Infrastructure & Support Intern

• Partner with IT and business teams to identify and evaluate potential AI use cases across business functions.
• Assist in developing proofs-of-concept and prototypes using generative AI, large language models (LLMs), intelligent automation, and related technologies.
• Explore the use of AI assistants and agents to streamline workflows, access information, automate repetitive activities, and support business users.
• Design, test, and refine prompts and AI workflows to improve the accuracy, consistency, and usefulness of AI-generated results.
• Explore AI use cases involving knowledge retrieval, document analysis, summarization, conversational experiences, data analysis, and workflow automation.
• Assist in integrating AI capabilities with enterprise applications, APIs, databases, and other data sources.
• Analyze and prepare structured and unstructured data used by AI-enabled solutions.
• Test and evaluate AI solutions for accuracy, reliability, usability, and business value.
• Research emerging artificial intelligence technologies and assess their potential applicability to the organization.
• Document use cases, technical approaches, prototypes, testing results, and lessons learned.
• Develop demonstrations and presentations to communicate AI concepts, prototypes, and recommendations to both technical and business audiences.
• Participate in discussions regarding responsible AI, data privacy, information security, appropriate use of corporate data, and AI governance.
• Collaborate with solution architects, analysts, developers, data teams, cybersecurity professionals, and other IT teams while gaining exposure to enterprise technology architecture.
• Attend and actively participate in team meetings, project discussions, and departmental updates.
• Collaborate with fellow interns on a 12‑week cross‑functional case study project, culminating in a presentation to senior leaders, stakeholders, and managers.

What Life Fitness / Hammer Strength is looking for in our IT Infrastructure & Support Intern

• Must reside in the Chicagoland area and be available to work a hybrid schedule.
• Currently enrolled in a full‑time bachelor's degree program in Information Technology, Information Systems, Computer Science, or a related field, with an expected graduation date in 2028 or 2029.
• Strong academic standing preferred, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.2.
• Interest in cloud technologies, endpoint management, IT operations, cybersecurity, infrastructure, or enterprise technology support.
• Coursework, projects, or personal experience involving programming, data analytics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, or automation.
• Basic programming or scripting experience, preferably using Python or a comparable language.
• Basic understanding of data structures, databases, APIs, or application integration concepts.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Demonstrated curiosity about artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.
• Demonstrated initiative, positive attitude, and eagerness to learn.
• Excellent organizational and time‑management skills.
• Strong analytical, critical thinking, and problem‑solving abilities.
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities and thrive in a fast‑paced environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively with both technical and non‑technical stakeholders.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Compensation & Benefits

At Life Fitness / Hammer Strength, we believe in taking care of our team with a comprehensive total rewards package that includes competitive pay and a range of valuable benefits. The base wage range for this position, intended for U.S. applicants, is $19.00 - $23.00 per hour and includes eligibility for overtime. The actual base pay will vary based on applicant’s education, experience, skills, and abilities. The range reflected is based on a primary work location of Rosemont, IL and the actual salary may vary for applicants in a different geographic location. Life Fitness / Hammer Strength provides a valuable and enriching experience for interns. Depending on the length and timing of their internship, interns may qualify for paid holidays during their assignment. They are also eligible for paid sick leave as outlined by state and local laws. Eligibility for all benefits is determined by the applicable plan documents and company policies.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Life Fitness / Hammer Strength is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants, including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans, are encouraged to apply. Life Fitness / Hammer Strength complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws regarding employment, recruitment and hiring. All qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship status, disability, protected veteran status, or any other category protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.

Company Culture & Values

Life Fitness / Hammer Strength has been inspiring the world to work out for more than 55 years. Every day, exercisers in more than 150 countries log in 1+ million workouts on the company’s connected fitness equipment – proving daily that Life Fitness / Hammer Strength is the world’s workout partner of choice. By seamlessly bringing innovative, high‑performance and reliable equipment, wherever and whenever they work out, Life Fitness / Hammer Strength aims to inspire healthier lives. Headquartered outside of Chicago, in Rosemont, Illinois, the company manufactures and sells strength and cardiovascular equipment through its iconic Life Fitness and Hammer Strength brands. Life Fitnessis synonymous with innovation and quality in the cardio and strength training arena. The company’s cutting‑edge equipment is designed to inspire and motivate, helping exercisers achieve their fitness goals with ease and efficiency. Hammer Strengthstands as a testament to raw power and durability. Renowned for its line of plate‑loaded equipment, we dominate the strength training category with machines that are built to withstand the most intense workouts, trusted by athletes and fitness enthusiasts worldwide. By integrating the best of both brands, the company provides comprehensive workout solutions for commercial and consumer customers. For more information, visit www.lifefitness.com. Our values drive how we work, grow, and win—together: We think customer first: We’re proactive, adaptable, and always improving the customer experience. We play as one team: We care, collaborate, and pick each other up—we win and lose together. We raise the bar on fitness innovation: We lead, not follow—pushing fitness further every day. We persevere and get it done: We out‑work, out‑match, and never compromise on quality or performance. We inspire each other to live healthier lives: We support well‑being, inside and outside of work, to build a healthier world—together.

Ready to make an impact? Join us and help shape the future of fitness.