Job Description

12 Week Summer Internship in NRECA’s Arlington, VA office

You must be an Undergraduate Student who will be a Junior or Senior in the Autumn of 2026 to be considered for this program.

NRECA is a unique national trade association providing advocacy, financial services and business support services to over 900 consumer owned electric cooperatives across the country. NRECA employees are united by our mission, inclusive culture, collaborative workplace and commitment to service excellence.  As a “best place to work” employer, we operate with integrity, transparency and a spirit of innovation.

NRECA’s Business & Technology Strategies (BTS) investigates using cutting-edge methods and technologies to provide innovative solutions to electric cooperative utilities, in providing safe, cost-effective, reliable, resilient, secure and clean electricity to their consumers. The Integrated Grid workgroup is seeking an intern this summer who wants to gain valuable experience in creating easily usable tools that leverage AI/ML algorithms to extract and analyze data for informing power grid planning and operations.

The output of this project will be a set of AI-based methods and tools usable easily by electric utility engineers without knowledge of coding or AI/ML, with available grid data.  The project is experimental in nature, and upon successful demonstration, will be used to create a tool that can be tested with either actual or synthetic data.  Responsibilities include:

• Develop usable tools and resources using AI/ML algorithms, LLMs and advanced data analytics methods
• Use AI/ML methods in grid interoperability, and power grid planning and operations
• Explore use of power grid data along with data analytics methods in an ML-based framework, to incorporate AI-techniques in analyzing power grid operations and forecasting

Qualifications

Required Qualifications and Skills

• Rising college junior or senior with a major in Artificial Intelligence, Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Computer Science/Computer Engineering, Data Science/Data Analytics degree or related focus.
• 3.0 GPA or higher (no academic or corrective action on record); transcripts must be provided
• Use Microsoft Office tools (Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint) in the day-to-day tasks.
• Operate various office equipment such as personal computer, copier, printer, or other job-related equipment.
• Learn new systems and processes and quickly incorporate them into the daily work.
• Apply good judgement related to escalating issues and requesting assistance.
• Organize and manage time effectively.
• Pay close attention to detail and review work for quality.
• Team player with good interpersonal and relationship building skills.
• Strong communication skills orally and in writing
• Demonstrable strong coding skills in Python, and/or other coding languages suitable for implementing Image Analysis and Recognition/Image Anomalies Detection/Data Analytics/Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning algorithms.
• Strong background and deep knowledge in a variety of Machine Learning (ML) algorithms and their intended applications and demonstrated ability to implement ML algorithms through coding.
• Expertise in Advanced Math concepts to understand, interpret and evaluate the performance of different ML algorithms and select the most suitable one for the application under consideration
• Experience with Data acquisition and storage methods.
• Familiarity with Artificial Intelligence-based solutions development, including using LLMs and SLMs.

Preferred qualifications and skills:

• Prior internship/work/research experience in data analytics/AI/ML applications in electrical engineering/power system related role is preferred.
• Familiarity with electric utilities/cooperatives

Essential Physical Requirements:

• The worker is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal and extensive reading.
• Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. If the use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for sedentary work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated for light work.

Disclaimer Statement: The preceding job description has been written to reflect management’s assignment of essential functions. It does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.

Additional Requirement:

The preceding job description has been written to reflect management’s assignment of essential functions. It does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other legally protected status.

NRECA is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with physical and mental disabilities. If you need special assistance or an accommodation while seeking employment, please e-mail humanresources@nreca.coop or call: 703-907-5992 - NRECA Arlington Human Resources. Please call 402-483-9275 - NRECA Lincoln Human Resources, for Lincoln, NE employment opportunities. We will make a determination on your request for reasonable accommodation on a case-by-case basis.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recently released the 'Know Your Rights' poster, which updates and replaces the previous "EEO is the Law" poster and "EEO Is the Law Poster Supplement". 

Pay Transparency Non-Discrimination. NRECA will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay. Please see the Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision for more information.

E-Verify. As a Federal Contractor, NRECA is required to participate in the E-Verify Program to confirm eligibility to work in the United States. For information please click on the following link: E-Verify.

For more information about life at NRECA please visit www.Electric.coop.