Job Description
Position Title:
Intern
Department:
Product & Technology
Corporate Area:
PBS KIDS
Status:
Temporary, Part time NonExempt
Manager Title:
Sr. Manager, Technology
Position Overview:
The 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.
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