IAE Machine Learning Engineer Internship - Fall 2026

Location: Tampa, FL, United States Department: Research

IMPORTANT ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

This internship supports U.S. Department of Defense-funded programs. Applicants must be U.S. citizens and eligible to obtain a security clearance. Applicants who do not meet this requirement cannot be considered for this position.

Applicants must remain actively enrolled in an undergraduate degree program for the duration of the internship. Individuals who have already graduated prior to the internship start date are not eligible for this position.

Please Note: Authorization to work in the United States (including F-1 OPT/CPT, H-1B, or other employment authorization) does not satisfy this requirement. Applicants must be U.S. citizens to be eligible for this internship. Applicants who do not meet these eligibility requirements cannot be considered for this internship.

Organization Summary

The University of South Florida (USF) Institute of Applied Engineering (IAE) provides agile, best-value engineering solutions to enhance the performance, effectiveness of its sponsors, including the Department of Defense; other federal, state, and local agencies; and industry. These engineering solutions include hardware-and-software-based research, advanced technology development, prototypes, and technical services.

The position title for this job application is “Machine Learning Engineer Intern”. This internship program will complement CDAO, J8, and its component persistent workforce, enabling them to develop solutions to data-related problems. The Intern will work with the CDAO and J8 Team to develop business analytic methodologies and tools to support Special Operations resourcing decisions.

Time commitment

Hours of operation are 8:00am to 5:00pm Monday thru Friday.

This position requires 20 hours per week during the Fall/Spring semesters and 29 hours per week during the Summer semester.

Estimate Start Date: 11-2026 or 01-2027. End-date: 05-2027 (possible extension to 12-2027)

This internship is in-person (Tampa, FL) with limited remote work opportunities. Located at MacDill AirForce Base

Opportunities

Build resume and explore career options

Apply skills and knowledge to the workplace

Upon completion of the internship, a letter of recommendation can be provided upon request

Opportunity for extension of internship into 2027.

Pay Rate

$18.50/hour

Build and maintain data pipelines within Palantir’s Maven Smart Systems (MSS) to ensure mission datasets are properly ingested, validated, structured, and optimized for analytic and machine‑learning workflows.

Design and implement AI/ML workflows inside MSS, including feature engineering, model evaluation, and preparing model outputs for operational use across CDAO and J8.

Develop MSS‑based analytic tools that support SOF resourcing analysis, enabling data‑driven tradeoffs, trend identification, and visualization of operational insights.

Create user‑facing applications and interfaces in MSS that allow analysts and decision‑makers to interact with models, dashboards, and mission datasets without technical barriers.

Prototype, test, and document machine‑learning models that address SOCOM problem sets, collaborating with engineers to transition prototypes into stable, platform‑ready components.

Integrate ML and analytic components into MSS ontologies and operational workflows, ensuring alignment with SOCOM data structures, access controls, and deployment practices.

Work directly with mission analysts to refine requirements, translating operational questions into technical tasks and ensuring outputs meet decision-maker needs.

Support data governance and accountability through documentation, version control, and adherence to SOCOM data‑handling standards.

Participate in sprint reviews, design sessions, and technical exchanges to support rapid development cycles and alignment across CDAO, J8, and platform engineering teams.

General Skills

Must be a U.S. citizen.

Current GPA of 3.0 or above.

Pursuing a bachelor's degree at a local accredited University with a Junior or Senior standing.

Ability to quickly learn and apply new technologies and tools.

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

Attention to detail and ability to work independently or as part of a team.

Self-motivated, detail-oriented, and eager to learn.

Good communication skills for effective collaboration with team members and stakeholders.

Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.

Security Clearance is not required but preferred.

Specific Skills

Experience working in groups.

Must be willing and able to work in a dynamic, rapidly changing environment

Software Design / Software app experience

AI/ML Development

Interest in Artificial Intelligence and personal projects

The University of South Florida is a top-ranked research university serving approximately 50,000 students from across the globe at campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg and USF Health. In 2025, U.S. News & World Report recognized USF with its highest overall ranking in university history, as a top 50 public university for the seventh consecutive year and as one of the top 15 best values among all public universities in the nation. U.S. News also ranks the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine in the highest tier, placing it as one of the top 16 medical schools in the nation and inside the top 10 among public universities. USF is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), a group that includes only the top 3% of universities in the U.S. With an all-time high of $750 million in research funding in 2025 and as a top 20 public university for producing U.S. patents, USF uses innovation to transform lives and shape a better future. The university generates an annual economic impact of nearly $10 billion for the state of Florida. USF’s Division I athletics teams compete in the American Conference. Learn more at www.usf.edu.