AI Operations Intern

Description

About the role

We are adding a summer intern to the AI / Cloud Operations team to do real, shippable research and engineering work on top of two strategic questions facing the team. This is not a coffee-and-shadowing internship. The intern will own two capstone projects end to end, present them at the close of the internship, and produce written artifacts (whitepaper-quality deliverables) that the team and leadership will use to make real decisions.

This internship sits inside the AI Operations (AI Ops) function -- the team responsible for designing, building, and governing how artificial intelligence (AI) agents do work inside Frontline. The intern will report directly to the Cloud/AI Operations Lead and will be mentored weekly via structured one-on-ones (1:1s).

The work centers on the Cloud Cadet Academy (CCA), an internal proof-of-concept platform that lets people request work to be done by AI agents under strict governance -- meaning every agent action must be approved, logged, and reviewable. The intern will research CCA's design and direction, and separately evaluate the case for hosting low-to-mid-complexity AI agents on Frontline's own graphics processing unit (GPU) clusters in Philadelphia versus relying on Amazon Web Services (AWS).

What you will do

• Own two capstone projects end to end, from research design through written deliverable through final presentation.
• Capstone Project 1 -- Locally-hosted agents vs. AWS: Conduct deep research into the viability, feasibility, and mid-to-long-term considerations of locally hosting AI agents on Frontline's own GPU clusters versus leaning more heavily on AWS. Deliver a written analysis suitable for sharing with engineering leadership and Roper (our parent company).
• Capstone Project 2 -- CCA research: Conduct deep research into the Cloud Cadet Academy: what it is solving, where it is headed, and what considerations the team should weigh as the platform evolves in the near-to-mid term. Deliver a written analysis and recommendations.
• Present both capstones to the AI Operations team and invited stakeholders at the end of the internship.
• Participate in team Scrum ceremonies -- the recurring agile-team meetings (daily standup, sprint planning, review, retrospective) where work is coordinated -- to learn how the team operates.
• Use Jira (work tracking), Confluence (documentation), and GitHub (source code) the same way full-time engineers do, so research and deliverables are visible, traceable, and reviewable.
• Use AI coding assistants such as Claude Code or Codex -- tools that help write, review, and refactor software faster -- where they accelerate the work without compromising rigor.
• Engage in weekly 1:1s with the hiring manager focused on feedback, growth, and unblocking.

Who you are

• Currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program in Computer Science, Machine Learning, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrable research experience in machine learning (ML), large language models (LLMs), reinforcement learning (RL), or agentic systems -- coursework, publications, internships, or shipped projects.
• Comfortable with Python and at least one systems-level language; familiar with Git version control (branching, pull requests, code review).
• Strong written communicator. You can translate technical work into plain language and produce documents that hold up under scrutiny from senior stakeholders.
• Self-driven and comfortable with ambiguity. You do not wait to be told what to do next, and you ask sharp questions when you are stuck.
• Genuinely curious about agentic AI systems, governance, and the infrastructure trade-offs that come with running them.
• Available to work full-time hours through approximately August 25, 2026.

Nice to have

• Published research, preprints, or open-source contributions in ML, LLMs, RL, or agentic systems.
• Hands-on experience with PyTorch, TensorFlow, or comparable ML frameworks.
• Exposure to GPU infrastructure, model serving, or inference optimization.
• Familiarity with AWS, containerization, or relational databases such as PostgreSQL.
• Prior internship or research experience on a team where deliverables shipped.

How success is measured

 

• First 2 weeks: Environment and access set up, team onboarding complete, capstone scopes confirmed with the hiring manager, initial research plans drafted.
• Weeks 3 to 6: Active research, regular written check-ins in Confluence, draft sections of both capstone deliverables circulating for feedback.
• Weeks 7 to 9: Capstone deliverables refined to whitepaper quality, presentation drafts reviewed, recommendations sharpened.
• Final week: Both capstones presented to the AI Operations team and invited stakeholders. Written deliverables finalized and archived in Confluence. Exit retrospective with the hiring manager.

How we work

• Async-heavy and Slack-first: most collaboration happens in writing, on your own schedule, within U.S. business hours. The team runs on Eastern time but is flexible to your timezone.
• Documentation-first: decisions, research notes, and architecture are written down and kept current. Your capstone deliverables are part of that practice, not separate from it.
• Mentorship-forward: weekly 1:1s are protected time. The hiring manager's commitment is that you grow in the field, feel supported and guided, and leave the internship better than you started it.
• Governed by design: agents draft and propose; humans approve and execute. We never auto-merge, auto-push, or bypass approval gates -- and this principle is part of what your CCA research will examine.

About Frontline Education 

Frontline Education is a pioneer of school administration software purpose-built for K–12 districts. We provide innovative, connected solutions for student and special programs, business operations, and human capital management with powerful data and analytics to empower educators and administrators. We earn the trust of K–12 leaders across the U.S. by serving as a consistently high-performing, forthright partner of school districts through every dimension of the company.

We’re a group of unique and talented individuals who love what we do. We believe in servant leadership, collaboration, continuous improvement, and balancing great work with a healthy life outside of it.

Frontline embraces diversity, equity, and inclusivity and is an equal opportunity employer.

Our Mission, Our People, Our Purpose 

At Frontline Education, we’re reimagining what’s possible by becoming an AI-first organization, transforming how we think, work, and serve the educators who shape our schools every day. By using AI in thoughtful, practical ways, we’re creating tools that help educators save time, gain insights, and focus more on what matters most, their students.

As part of our team, you’ll be expected and empowered to build and apply AI skillsets that grow with you, because at Frontline Education, technology amplifies what matters most: the human drive to learn, improve, and make a difference.

Compensation & Benefits

The full houly pay range for this position is between $25-$35/hr. 

• 401(k) with company match

 

Inclusion, Belonging & Equal Opportunity 

Frontline Education is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. We aspire to have an inclusive workplace and strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply and join our team.

Interview Process & Data Privacy 

As part of our interview process, Frontline uses video conferencing tools that include photo capture and may include automated transcription features. A screenshot or photo will be taken at the start of the interview for internal identification and record-keeping purposes only, and transcription may be used to support notetaking and evaluation consistency. These materials are used solely by our recruiting and hiring teams, stored securely, and not shared outside the hiring process. Candidates may opt out of the transcription at any time by notifying their recruiter in advance. Frontline processes this information in accordance with applicable data privacy laws and only for legitimate business purposes related to recruitment and hiring.

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Please note, this role will be posted through EOD July 7th, 2026.