Job Description

Position Title:

Intern

Department:

Product & Technology

Corporate Area:

PBS KIDS

Status:

Temporary, Part time NonExempt

Manager Title:

Sr. Manager, TechnologyThe PBS KIDS, Product and Technology team is seeking an undergraduate intern to join us for a summer internship developing a privacy-first recommendation system for children's educational content. This is a research and prototyping project focused on helping children discover PBS KIDS content that matches their interests.

The intern will work directly with a technical manager to design and prototype a recommendation algorithm that runs on the local device, using session viewing habits to suggest content while keeping personal data client-side. This position offers hands-on experience building a recommendation system with a focus on preserving privacy.

Key responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• Research and evaluate recommendation algorithms suitable for client-side, privacy-first implementation

• Design a data collection approach that captures viewing history locally without external tracking

• Prototype recommendation algorithms in JavaScript/React Native environment

• Design and implement an API that client applications can interact with to receive personalized content recommendations

• Work with content metadata from our CMS to understand the content catalog and features available for recommendation

• Document research findings, approaches, and implementation decisions

• Collaborate with the technical team to ensure the solution aligns with PBS KIDS' privacy standards and mission

Requirements for success:

• Currently enrolled as a Junior or Senior pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Data Science, or related technical field

Skills and Abilities:

• Strong foundation in algorithms and data structures

• Proficiency in JavaScript/TypeScript

• Interest in machine learning, recommendation systems, or personalization algorithms

• Ability to work independently on research while collaborating with mentors

• Strong written and verbal communication skills for documenting findings

Preferred Qualifications:

• Coursework or project experience in machine learning or recommendation systems

• Experience with React Native or mobile development

• Familiarity with principals of privacy or ethical AI

• Passion for education, child development, or public media

• Experience working with APIs or content management systems

Skill Intern may gain:

• Hands-on experience designing and implementing recommendation algorithms

• Understanding of privacy-first engineering approaches

• Client-side data collection and processing techniques

• API design principles for content recommendation services

• Experience working with content management systems and metadata

• Research-to-prototype development process

• Direct mentorship from an experienced technical manager in a mission-driven organization

Additional Information:

• Time Commitment: June 1, 2026 – August 21, 2026

• Compensation: Undergraduate students receive $15/hour, graduate students receive $17/hour

PBS is an Equal Opportunity Employer in accordance with the EEOC and the Commonwealth of Virginia.