Intern - PBS KIDS Product & Technology

Job Description

Intern (PBS KIDS Product & Technology)

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.

Jobcode: Reference SBJ-02wjvm-216-73-216-117-42 in your application.