AI Research Engineer Jobs in Virginia

About Us:

VT-ARC, a technical services and applied research company, has built an organizational culture marked by four primary values: Teamwork, Integrity, Excellence, and Service. Integral to our success is our staff’s enthusiasm for solving tough problems by working together in teams to get the job done. We foster a culture where every employee’s contribution is valued and performed with integrity while maintaining a fun work environment. VT-ARC strives for excellence in all that is done for our clients, and such achievement is recognized through service/merit awards. Moreover, we promote a sense of community larger than VT-ARC alone, where staff and institutional resources can be applied in service to our country. We are proud to be the recipient of the Best Workplace in Defense Award by Emergent Magazine, an honor that recognizes companies with positive cultures that not only impact their people but also make a meaningful difference in the community.

About You:

You are an undergraduate/graduate student who enjoys writing code, building working prototypes, and understanding how systems behave. You bring programming foundations, practical problem-solving skills, and an interest in applying artificial intelligence to real problems. You are comfortable learning unfamiliar tools, asking questions, testing your work, and responding to feedback. You want to contribute to applied research while developing the software and engineering skills needed for a future professional role.

Position Overview:

VT-ARC is seeking an Intern, Research in Applied AI & Software Development for a paid, mentored internship within the Decision Science Division (DSD). The position emphasizes Python programming, software integration, and practical artificial intelligence (AI) applications, with opportunities to support modeling, simulation, mission engineering, and analytical wargaming.

Working alongside researchers and engineers, the intern will implement and test software components, prepare data, and help turn research concepts into working demonstrations using approved unclassified information. Assignments may include AI-enabled analytical tools, simulation utilities, interactive applications, and integration of data from software or physical systems. Senior researchers will guide research questions, methods, and interpretation; the intern will contribute defined technical tasks with regular review and increasing responsibility as skills develop.

Coursework, laboratory experience, independent projects, and prior internships are relevant preparation. Prior defense employment, an existing security clearance, and advanced AI research experience are not prerequisites.

This position is a contingency hire based on a contract award expected to begin execution on or about November 01st, 2026.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Develop, test, debug, and document Python scripts, reusable software components, and small applications against agreed task requirements.
• Prepare and check data, connect software components through approved application programming interfaces (APIs) or file formats, and help automate routine analytical workflows.
• Help integrate and evaluate approved AI tools, large language models, and agentic workflows under technical guidance. Create test cases, record outputs, and flag incorrect, inconsistent, or unsupported results.
• Implement assigned simulation components, scenario inputs, execution scripts, and data collection features for modeling and analytical wargaming activities.
• Build or improve user interfaces, visualizations, and demonstration tools that help researchers and stakeholders inspect models, data, and results.
• Run planned tests and experiments, compare results with expected cases or baselines, investigate software problems, and document observations for review by the research team.
• Where relevant to assigned projects, help connect sensor or embedded-system data to analytical software and troubleshoot integration problems.
• Maintain version-controlled code, tests, setup instructions, and technical notes. Participate in code reviews and verify code produced with approved AI coding assistants, with mentor support.
• Manage assigned tasks and milestones, communicate progress and obstacles early, and support technical demonstrations and project discussions under supervision.

Required Education, Certification, Skills, Capabilities:

• Current enrollment in a bachelor’s degree or graduate degree program in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Applied Mathematics, or a related technical field.
• Basic working knowledge of Python demonstrated through coursework, laboratory work, independent projects, internships, or employment.
• Understanding of programming fundamentals, including functions, basic data structures, and modular or object-oriented design.
• Ability to build, test, debug, and explain a functioning software component or technical prototype. Academic and personal projects count as experience; no minimum years of professional employment are required.
• Interest in applied AI, modeling and simulation, or decision-support applications, with willingness to learn new tools and national security mission contexts.
• Ability to follow technical direction, document work clearly, collaborate with others, and respond constructively to review.

Desired Education, Certification, Skills, Capabilities:

Experience in one or more of the following areas is helpful:

• Exposure to AI or machine learning, large language models, agent-based modeling, or AI-assisted software development.
• Experience with data preparation, APIs, visualization, or interactive application development; familiarity with languages such as Java, MATLAB, Swift, or MicroPython.
• Experience with embedded systems, microcontrollers, sensors, robotics, controls, or hardware and software integration.
• Familiarity with Git or similar version control, automated testing, databases, or approved cloud environments such as AWS.
• Participation in a research laboratory, engineering project team, technical internship, or independent project involving iterative development and demonstration of working results.

Internship Development and Future Development: The intern and an assigned technical mentor will establish learning objectives and an achievable work plan, supported by regular feedback and code review. Development will emphasize Python proficiency, reliable software development, practical AI evaluation, and an introduction to systems and mission engineering.

The internship is intended to support continued development across academic terms and build qualifications for a future full-time role at VT-ARC following graduation. Responsibilities may expand as the intern demonstrates proficiency. Continued internship employment and any subsequent full-time appointment will depend on performance, demonstrated qualifications, available funding, organizational needs, and applicable hiring and access requirements. Conversion is not guaranteed.

Primary Work Location: Arlington, VA / National Capital Region. A combination of onsite and U.S.-based remote work may be required.

Special Work Conditions: Work hours will be coordinated around the academic schedule and agreed in advance. Additional hours during academic breaks may be available based on project needs and funding. Appointment duration and any limited, preapproved travel will be established before work begins. VT-ARC will provide or fund approved research tools and compute resources.

Security: An active security clearance is not required at hire. Internship work will use approved unclassified information and authorized systems and will remain subject to applicable data-handling, privacy, export-control, and program-access requirements. The selected candidate must meet employment authorization and applicable background-screening requirements. Future clearance sponsorship may be considered based on program needs and candidate eligibility; sponsorship, clearance, and processing timelines are not guaranteed.

Compensation: This is a 30- 40-hour-per-week internship paid at $25 per hour. The hourly rate, weekly hours, appointment duration, benefits eligibility, and overtime treatment will be specified in the offer. Availability of hours is subject to available work and funding.

Virginia Tech Applied Research Corporation: VT-ARC is a 501(c)(3), non-profit R&D organization affiliated with Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech or VT). Our mission is to provide superior analytic and technology solutions across multiple domains by leveraging Virginia Tech’s multidisciplinary research and innovation ecosystem. With unique access to the broad and rich research enterprise found at Virginia Tech, VT-ARC forms multi-disciplinary teams to apply innovative solutions to the real-world problems that strain our social, political, industrial, and economic foundations.

To learn more about VT-ARC’s Benefits, Perks, Culture & more visit our Careers page: https://vt-arc.org/careers/

Virginia Tech Applied Research Corporation is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by law. As a federal contractor, we are committed to providing equal employment opportunity and affirmative action for qualified individuals with disabilities under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. If you need a reasonable accommodation to complete the application or interview process, please contact Human Resources at hr@vt-arc.org

Virginia Tech Applied Research Corporation uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.E-Verify.gov.