Student Trainee (AI Data Engineer)

Summary

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) invites students to apply to our Intern positions. The ideal candidates are current Certificate Program, Undergraduate or Graduate students who demonstrate innovation and self-initiative. You will have an opportunity to train and develop your skills in career fields such as human resources, policy, healthcare, insurance, retirement, or information technology and have a positive impact on the people and communities that OPM serves.

Duties

• What You May Be Doing: As a Student Trainee, you will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of tasks and projects. Some of the responsibilities you may undertake include: Assist with SQL queries, data extraction, and data transformation activities using established procedures and direct guidance. Support data pipeline monitoring, execute predefined data validation scripts, and document results for review. Prepare and maintain documentation for data pipelines, schemas, and data engineering activities using approved templates. Learn and apply cloud data platform concepts, Databricks, Azure, GitHub, Azure DevOps, and AI-assisted development tools. Participate in Agile ceremonies, capture meeting notes, track assigned tasks, and provide status updates to the team. Use AI tools to research technical concepts and draft documentation or summaries for review by higher-graded engineers. The Skills to be Successful as a Student Trainee: You work smart (not just hard), and know how to drive projects, meet deadlines, and get things done. You have a bias for action and are proactive. You don't sweat the small stuff, but also understand the importance of paying close attention to detail and being very precise. You are flexible, creative, curious, and a willing to take initiative. You are a quick and flexible learner: open-minded, adaptable, comfortable with ambiguity, and excited by dynamic change. You inspire trust, forge relationships quickly, and earn the confidence and cooperation of your business partners. You have high standards, integrity, and ethics. What We're Looking For: Currently enrolled in an educational institution A solid team player who's also an independent thinker Deadline-driven, organized, and able to multitask A robust analytical skill set Strong verbal, written and presentation skills Endless curiosity and a penchant for thinking the impossible Proficiency with Microsoft Office software products Attentive to team needs as demonstrated by rapid and high-quality responsiveness to requests Excellent interpersonal skills; able to maintain solid rapport with team members as well as maintain professionalism with those outside of the team Excellent oral and written communications skills that demonstrate a professional demeanor and the ability to interact with others with discretion and tact Keen attention to detail Capable of identifying and completing tasks independently, with a sense of urgency and ownership Demonstrated success at maintaining high personal work standards Demonstrated ability to handle sensitive information with discretion and tact Strong presentation skills to audiences comprised of all levels of leadership Highly motivated, self-starter able to work autonomously and drive the work they own forward effectively

Qualifications

You must meet the education requirements detailed below by the close of the vacancy. GS-4: Completion of two academic years of post-high school study or associate's degree. An academic year of undergraduate education is defined as 30 semester hours, 45 quarter hours, or the equivalent in an accredited college or university. An academic year of graduate education is based on normal course loads for a full year of study in the graduate program. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours or 27 quarter hours is considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement. To meet the Intern Eligibility requirements, you must be a student accepted for enrollment or enrolled and seeking a degree (diploma, certificate, etc.) in a qualifying educational institution, on a full or half-time basis (as defined by the institution in which you are enrolled). Certificate programs must be at least one-year duration of full-time academic study in post-secondary education. Accepted for Enrollment: If you have been accepted for enrollment in an institution or career or technical education program, but have not yet begun coursework, you must submit an Acceptance Letter from the institution and your most recent academic transcript from your previous program. NOTE: You will NOT be considered under Pathways unless you provide supporting information from your school. Documentation may be provided in letter format from your academic advisor, school counselor, admission office, etc. to prove enrollment OR it may be provided in the form of several official documents from your school such as a copy of your official transcripts and a copy of your class schedule for next semester. Copies of documents from your school website are acceptable if they contain all relevant information as listed above. Letters from advisors or other school officials must be on school letterhead. Official transcripts will be required prior to final offer of employment.

Requirements

Citizenship: Must be a U.S. Citizen or National Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin You will be required to report to an OPM assigned office. Selective Service: Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service. Age: You must be at least 16 years of age Background Investigation: Must be suitable for Federal employment as determined by a background investigation. Availability for Work: Applicants hired on a temporary appointment will be afforded the opportunity to work a part- or full-time schedule during the period of August 2026 through December 2026. Availability for Work: Applicants hired on an indefinite appointment will be afforded the opportunity to work a part- or full-time schedule until the completion of their current degree requirements. Student Status: Applicants must have at least 1 academic year (fall and spring session) remaining in their studies before they complete their current degree requirements. Graduation Status: Applicants that graduate prior to August 2027 will not be considered for this position unless you have been accepted into a follow-on degree or certificate program and provide verification of future enrollment status prior to start date. Pathways Agreement: If selected, you will be required to sign a Pathways Agreement which specifies the conditions of your employment as we've indicated in this job announcement. You must continue to meet the Pathways Program requirements throughout the duration of your appointment. To verify that you do, we will require proof of your continued enrollment and good standing each semester or grading period throughout your internship. Failure to do so will result in termination of your internship and employment. Trial Period: Selectee must complete a trial period while on the Pathways internship appointment. Bargaining Unit: This position is not eligible for inclusion in a bargaining unit

Evaluations

Once the application process is complete, your resume will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications listed on this announcement. Qualified applicants will be placed in one of four groupings: Preference eligible having a compensable service-connected disability of 10 percent or more Other 10-point preference eligible 5-point preference eligible No preference eligible Selection will be made from the highest available preference group, as long as at least three candidates remain in that group. When fewer than three candidates remain in the highest group, consideration may be expanded to include the next grouping.

How to apply

Due to the high number of applications we anticipate for the vacancy, this announcement will close the day we receive 200 applications or after 5 days - whichever comes first. Regardless of the number of applications it will be open for a minimum of two days. Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply and be considered for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires, assessments and submit all required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. The application process is as follows: 1. Click the Apply Online button. 2. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation. 3. Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date. 4. If you are required to complete any USA Hire Assessments, you will be notified after submitting your application. The notification will be provided in your application submission screen and via email. The notification will include your unique assessment access link to the USA Hire system and the completion deadline. Additionally, in USAJOBS you can click "Track this application" to return to your assessment completion notice. 5. Access USA Hire using your unique assessment link. Access is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials. 6. Review all instructions prior to beginning your assessments. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation before beginning the assessments should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. 7. Set aside at least 3 hours to take the USA Hire Assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue later, you can re-use your unique assessment link. 8. Your responses to the USA Hire Assessments will be reused for one year (in most cases) from the date you complete an assessment. If future applications you submit require completion of the same assessments, your responses will be automatically reused. For more general information, system requirements, reasonable accommodation information, and to request assistance regarding the USA Hire Assessments, review the following resources: https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=USA_Hire_Assessments To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed. To view the announcement status or your application status: Click on this: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/howto/application/status/. Your application status page is where you can view your application status, USA Hire assessment completion status, and review your notifications sent by the hiring agency regarding your application. You may preview the assessment questionnaire by clicking here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13019477 Reasonable Accommodation Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here: https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Reasonable_Accommodations_for_USA_Hire

What to expect next

Based on your application and your responses to the application questionnaire, you may be presented with instructions on how to access the USA Hire system to complete the online assessments. The online assessments must be completed within 48 hours following the close of this announcement. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation for the assessment should you have a disability covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Your assessment results will be kept on record for one year and used toward future positions for which you might apply that require the same assessments. To be considered for the position, you must meet all qualifications, including meeting or exceeding the cut score on the required assessments. Your ratings in the Assessment Questionnaire are subject to evaluation and verification based on the documents and references you submit. Later steps in the selection process are specifically designed to verify your ratings. What You Can Expect Next Once your online application is submitted you will receive confirmation emails at various points in the hiring process. Please be sure to check your SPAM box. The Fall Student Internship Cohort is expected to start at the end of August 2026 and continue through December 2026 or, in some cases a student intern may be extended without further competition. Please consider these dates before submitting an application. An agency may not request, orally, in writing, or electronically through the USA Jobs website or other electronic means, that an applicant for appointment for a position in the civil service disclose criminal history record information before the appointing agency extends a conditional offer of employment. If you believe you were asked about your criminal history improperly, contact the agency or visit https://www.opm.gov/about-us/careers-at-opm/opportunities/

Required documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes: 1. Your resume: Your Resume showing the applicant's name, email address, work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment, and duties performed to include pay plan, series, and grade level for relevant federal experience. Your resume must show complete information for each job entry to support minimum qualifications. Only the first 2 pages of the resume/application will be used to verify minimum qualifications. Please be sure to include specific dates of employment and work schedule(s). 2. Transcripts and Proof of Enrollment: You are required to submit a copy of your transcripts and proof of enrollment. We accept unofficial transcripts, as long as they contain your name, the name of the school, the date and degree that was awarded, and the list of classes and credits earned. Official transcripts will be required prior to final offer of employment If you have been accepted for enrollment in an institution, but have not yet begun coursework, you must submit an Acceptance Letter from the institution, your most recent academic transcript from your previous program and provide proof of future enrollment status prior to start date. 3. Veteran's Documents: If applying using veteran's preference or under a Veteran's hiring authority you must submit the following documents DD214 showing character of service, SF-15 Form (and any required documents listed on page 2) and VA letter showing final percentage, or certification of expected discharge or release from active duty. PLEASE REVIEW THE BELOW LINK FOR OTHER SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS needed for proof of eligibility at FedsHireVets. An incomplete package may result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted.

Other information

We understand that not everyone will demonstrate proficiency in all of the duties listed in this job posting. At OPM, we strive to raise the bar! We encourage all to apply if you feel your skills and life experiences are transferable to some of the duties listed in this vacancy. What Do We Offer? Upon graduation and completion of the student internship program requirements you MAY BE non-competitively converted, without a break in service, to a term (time-limited), career, or career conditional (permanent) appointment in the federal government, to a position up with a full performance level up to the GS-12. Grade level upon conversion will be determined by management and neither conversion nor promotion is guaranteed. Interns must meet the qualification requirements for the position to which promoted or converted. This appointment allows for conversion to a permanent appointment. Conversion Eligibility Information Requirements Extensions: If hired on a temporary appointment, it may be extended without further competition based on the need of the organization for the work to continue and provided the individual continues to meet the eligibility requirements. If you are unable to apply online and would like to request information about the Alternate Application process, please use the contact information at the bottom of this announcement. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional similar vacancies across OPM. Relocation expenses will not be paid. For more information on the Pathways Program, please visit: Pathways Program Fact Sheets As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: - your performance and conduct; - the needs and interests of the agency; - whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and - whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.