INTERNSHIP DETAILS
Summer 2026 - Data Engineering Intern, Research Central
CompanyVera Institute of Justice
LocationWashington
Work ModeOn Site
PostedDecember 15, 2025

Internship Information
Core Responsibilities
The intern will support the construction and maintenance of a centralized data ingestion/processing framework and data warehouse. They will work on an engineering project relevant to their interests, focusing on tasks such as data ingestion, central data model construction, and code review.
Internship Type
full time
Salary Range
$17 - $25
Company Size
306
Visa Sponsorship
No
Language
English
Working Hours
40 hours
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About The Company
We envision a society that respects the dignity of every single person. And we're working to realize it.
We work with others who share our vision to tackle the most pressing injustices of our day - from the causes and consequences of mass incarceration, racial disparities, and the loss of public trust in law enforcement, to the unmet needs of the vulnerable, the marginalized, and those harmed by crime and violence.
About the Role
<h3><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>About the team:</strong></span></h3>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">The Data Engineering Intern for the Research Department’s Central Data Science team at Vera is an opportunity for a college student or recent grad to immerse themselves into working in a data role at a non-profit organization. Their work will support the construction and maintenance of a centralized data ingestion/processing framework and data warehouse to support researchers who work with public and/or large-scale data in national and place-based initiatives.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"469777462":[720],"469777927":[0],"469777928":[8]}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{"469777462":[720],"469777927":[0],"469777928":[8]}">O</span><span data-contrast="auto">ver the course of their internship, the data engineering intern will focus on an engineering project that is relevant to their interests and experience. This might involve helping to design and manage large-scale data infrastructure systems, creating computational frameworks, designing data models, or building new tools to empower our organization’s researchers or community partners to leverage and improve Vera’s existing repository of data. Depending on their interest, other day-to-day tasks could include exploratory analyses, analytical software development, web scraping, or other related areas of interest. </span><span data-ccp-props="{"469777462":[720],"469777927":[0],"469777928":[8]}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">The intern will also participate in all day-to-day team activities, ranging from project planning and execution to code review sessions, pair programming, social activities, and more. They will work directly with a senior data engineer on the team on a range of responsibilities, including data collection, data modelling, automation, building data infrastructure, and ensuring data quality.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"469777462":[720],"469777927":[0],"469777928":[8]}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">The Data Engineering intern will learn:</span><span data-ccp-props="{"469777462":[720],"469777927":[0],"469777928":[8]}"> </span></p>
<ul>
<li><span data-contrast="auto">To understand the process for data ingestion with variety of sources</span><span data-ccp-props="{"469777462":[720],"469777927":[0],"469777928":[8]}"> </span></li>
<li><span data-contrast="auto">To build their skills in data modeling</span><span data-ccp-props="{"469777462":[720],"469777927":[0],"469777928":[8]}"> </span></li>
<li><span data-contrast="auto">Workflow dynamics in a fast-moving team involved in multiple projects at once</span><span data-ccp-props="{"469777462":[720],"469777927":[0],"469777928":[8]}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<h3><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>About the role:</strong></span></h3>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>1. <span class="NormalTextRun SCXW155723479 BCX0">Data </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW155723479 BCX0">ingestion</span></strong></span></p>
<ul>
<li><span data-contrast="none">Integrate new sources of criminal justice, immigration, and economics data into our internally collected data; clean, transform, organize, ensure quality of production data</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>
<li><span data-contrast="none">Refactor existing web scrapers and data processes to new centralized infrastructure and frameworks</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":259}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":259}"><strong>2. <span class="TextRun SCXW38715194 BCX0" lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW38715194 BCX0">Central</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW38715194 BCX0"> data model </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW38715194 BCX0">construction</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW38715194 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"469777462":[360],"469777927":[0],"469777928":[0]}"> </span></strong></span></p>
<ul>
<li><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":259}"><span class="TextRun SCXW47502997 BCX0" lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW47502997 BCX0">Contribute code to </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW47502997 BCX0">building </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW47502997 BCX0">a </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW47502997 BCX0">central data model </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW47502997 BCX0">for unrestricted datasets</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW47502997 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></span></li>
</ul>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":259}"><span class="EOP SCXW47502997 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{}"><strong>3. <span class="TextRun SCXW77578991 BCX0" lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW77578991 BCX0">Code review and codebase maintenance</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW77578991 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"469777462":[360],"469777927":[0],"469777928":[0]}"> </span></strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li><span data-contrast="auto">Help maintain existing codebase through reviewing requests</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>
<li><span data-contrast="auto">Coordinate with data science staff to ensure consistency of datasets, naming conventions, code repository structure, etc.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<h3><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>What qualifications are we looking for?</strong></span></h3>
<p><strong><span data-contrast="auto">Required</span></strong><span data-contrast="auto">:</span><span data-ccp-props="{"335557856":16777215}"> </span></p>
<ul>
<li><span data-contrast="auto">Demonstrated proficiency working with data collection and processing in Python, with preference for experience using SQL and Python Pandas library.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"335557856":16777215}"> </span></li>
<li><span data-contrast="auto">Proficiency developing code collaboratively using GitHub</span><span data-ccp-props="{"335557856":16777215}"> </span></li>
<li><span data-contrast="auto">Commitment to advancing racial and gender equity</span><span data-ccp-props="{"335557856":16777215}"> </span></li>
<li><span data-contrast="auto">Curiosity about emerging research and advocacy in the criminal justice space and/or immigration spaces</span><span data-ccp-props="{"335557856":16777215}"> </span></li>
<li><span data-contrast="auto">Wrestles with creative and concrete ways to use data to shift power and advance equity and inclusion</span><span data-ccp-props="{"335557856":16777215}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<p><strong><span data-contrast="auto">Preferred</span></strong><span data-contrast="auto">:</span><span data-ccp-props="{"335557856":16777215}"> </span></p>
<ul>
<li><span data-contrast="auto">Professional, personal or academic engagement with issues of mass incarceration and mass criminalization</span><span data-ccp-props="{"335557856":16777215}"> </span></li>
<li><span data-contrast="auto">Experience working with Google Cloud Platform and its tools, including Airflow</span><span data-ccp-props="{"335557856":16777215}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<h3><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong><span class="TextRun SCXW232907634 BCX0" lang="EN-US" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW232907634 BCX0">Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities you'll bring:</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW232907634 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233118":false,"201341983":0,"335551550":0,"335551620":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":276}"> </span></strong></span></h3>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">The current tech stack uses the following technologies and working fluency in the following is required: </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<ul>
<li><span data-contrast="auto">Python</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>
<li><span data-contrast="auto">SQL/relational databases</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>
<li><span data-contrast="auto">Cloud Technology (GCP and/or AWS)</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>
<li><span data-contrast="auto">GitHub</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>
<li><span data-contrast="auto">Airflow</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>
<li><span data-contrast="auto">Docker</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<h3><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Location:</strong></span></h3>
<p>Please note this role will report to one of our four offices (Brooklyn, New York; Washington, DC; New Orleans, LA; Los Angeles, CA). Vera employees adhere to a hybrid schedule and are in-office on an alternating schedule that generally amounts to 10 days per month.</p>
<h3><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Compensation and Benefits:</strong></span></h3>
<p>The compensation range for this position is <strong>$17.00 - $25.00</strong><strong><em>.</em><em> </em></strong>Actual salaries will vary depending on factors including but not limited to experience and performance. The salary range listed is just one component of Vera Institute’s total compensation package for employees. As an employer of choice in our field, supporting Vera staff - both personally and professionally - is a priority. To do this, we invest in the well-being of our staff through other rewards including merit pay, generous paid time off, a comprehensive health insurance plan, student loan repayment benefits, professional development training opportunities and up to $2,000 annual for education costs and fees relevant to Vera work, employer-funded retirement plan, and flexible time. <span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW74969698 BCX8" lang="EN-US" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW74969698 BCX8">To learn more about Vera’s benefits offerings, </span></span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW74969698 BCX8" href="https://online.fliphtml5.com/ietjg/esww/" target="_blank"><span class="TextRun Underlined SCXW74969698 BCX8" lang="EN-US" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW74969698 BCX8" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink">click here</span></span></a><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW74969698 BCX8" lang="EN-US" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW74969698 BCX8">.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW74969698 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></p>
<h3> </h3>
<div class="p-rich_text_section">
<h3><strong>Application Process:</strong></h3>
</div>
<div class="p-rich_text_section">To receive further consideration for this career opportunity, applicants are asked preliminary questions about logistics, their interest and qualifications. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional details about their experience via a phone screen/form in advance of an invitation for a virtual or in-person interview with the team. Some searches may explore scenarios during the interview process and/or an assessment prior to reference checks and a hiring decision.</div>
<h3><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Applications may also be faxed to:</strong></span></h3>
<p>ATTN: People, Place, and Culture / Summer 2026 - Data Engineering Intern, Research Central<br>Vera Institute of Justice<br>34 35th St, Suite 4-2A, Brooklyn, NY 11232<br>Fax: (212) 941-9407<br>Please use only one method (online, mail or fax) of submission.<br>No phone calls, please. Only applicants selected for interviews will be contacted.</p>
<p><em>Vera is an equal opportunity / affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without unlawful discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, prior record of arrest or conviction, citizenship status, current employment status, or caregiver status. </em></p>
<p><em>Vera works to advance justice, particularly racial justice, in an increasingly multicultural country and globally connected world. We value diverse experiences, including with regard to educational background and justice system contact, and depend on a diverse staff to carry out our mission. </em></p>
<p><em>For more information about Vera, please visit </em><a href="http://www.vera.org/" data-cke-saved-href="http://www.vera.org/"><em>www.vera.org</em></a>.</p>
Key Skills
PythonSQLData CollectionData ProcessingGitHubData ModelingCloud TechnologyAirflowDockerWeb ScrapingData QualityAutomationData InfrastructureCode ReviewAnalytical Software DevelopmentExploratory Analyses
Categories
TechnologyData & AnalyticsSocial ServicesEngineeringGovernment & Public Sector
Benefits
Merit PayGenerous Paid Time OffComprehensive Health Insurance PlanStudent Loan Repayment BenefitsProfessional Development Training OpportunitiesEducation Costs and Fees ReimbursementEmployer-Funded Retirement PlanFlexible Time
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