Summer 2026 - AI Developer Intern

Nice to meet you!    

We’re a leader in data and AI. Through our software and services, we inspire customers around the world to transform data into intelligence – and questions into answers.  

If you’re looking for a dynamic, fulfilling career with flexibility and a world-class employee experience, you’ll find it here. We’re recognized around the world for our inclusive, meaningful culture and innovative technologies by organizations like Fast Company, Forbes, Newsweek and more. 

What you’ll do   

Looking for *that* internship? The game-changing one that’ll help you learn, grow, and chart your path forward? You’ll find it at SAS. Our interns aren’t coffee runners – they do real, meaningful work. Our award-winning internship program is focused on development, culture, and community. We’ll help you grow professionally, find (or further) your passion, and make memorable connections that last beyond the summer.    

The Analytics Commons team is responsible for supporting the Analytics R&D division with infrastructure and frameworks for automated machine learning, parallel model tuning, portable model scoring, optimization solvers, core SAS functions, and other predictive modeling utilities.  SAS products collectively support a great variety of analytical modeling techniques - including statistical models, machine learning models including deep learning, natural language processing models, forecasting models, recommender models, as well as econometric and time series models. AUTOTUNE is a proprietary framework that facilitates parallel model tuning to drive model hyperparameters towards values that optimize a predictive model to a particular data set.  The tuning process can be expensive, but can be aided by previous tuning efforts to similar data. 

In this summer internship, you will investigate the ability to extract and log metadata from model tuning jobs towards building a database of model configurations for particular data sets.  You will instrument existing C code to retrieve this metadata and build an example metadata database from a variety of example data sets, and you will demonstrate the ability to use this metadata to jumpstart the tuning process.  You will incorporate agentic AI into the process of generating SAS code for tuning a predictive model that uses available metadata. 

As an intern, you might:  

• Investigate Open Telemetry (OTEL) logging from C code 

• Instrument AUTOTUNE code to log metadata about training data and hyperparameter configurations while tuning 

• Demonstrate the ability to use this metadata to jump start the tuning process 

• Expand an AUTOTUNE AI agent to initialize tuning from a metadata library 

Required Qualifications  

• You’re a rising Junior or Senior undergraduate college student studying Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or a related quantitative field;  not graduating prior to December 2026.  

• You possess strong low-level programming skills and experience, preferably in in C/C++ and/or Python. 

• You are excited to learn and collaborate but also able to work independently with high level guidance. 

• You’re curious, passionate, authentic, and accountable. These are our values and influence everything we do.  

• Strong communication skills – both written and verbal.  

• Leadership abilities. Your past experiences demonstrate you’ll take initiative and go above and beyond the call of duty.  

• You’re interested in the future of Analytics and embrace technology.  

Preferred Qualifications  

• You have been exposed to predictive modeling – machine learning, statistical models – via coursework and/or projects, or self-learning. 

• You have been exposed to GitHub and the GitHub copilot. 

• You have been exposed to Agentic AI. 

• You have been exposed to agile development practices. 

• You have been exposed to or have experience with the SAS programming language and/or SAS products. 

Location  

• Cary HQ/Hybrid preferred

Internship dates: May 19 – August 7, 2026.

Perks of the job   

• Work with (and learn from) the best. As a SAS intern, you’ll get face time with our top executives!   

• Free SAS programming training and certification.     

• At SAS, the Future of Work is whatever you want it to be. Want to work remotely? That’s cool. Prefer a mix of sweatpants and in-person collaboration? That’s great, too.    

• Your well-being matters, and that’s why we support all dimensions of your well-being by offering programs that reduce stress and distractions to help you stay healthy and productive.  This includes an on-site and remote Work/Life Center staffed by master’s level Social Workers and an Employee Assistance Program.  

• We work hard, but we like to play hard, too. Enjoy hackathons, social events and other opportunities to connect + engage.    

Diverse and inclusive      

At SAS, it’s not about fitting into our culture – it’s about adding to it. We believe our people make the difference. Our diverse workforce brings together unique talents and inspires teams to create amazing software that reflects the diversity of our users and customers. Our commitment to diversity is a priority to our leadership, all the way up to the top; and it’s essential to who we are. To put it plainly: you are welcome here.      

Additional Information   

To qualify, applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States, and should not require, now or in the future, sponsorship for employment visa status. SAS is an equal opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law. Read more: Know Your Rights. Also view the Pay Transparency notice.  

Resumes may be considered in the order they are received. SAS employees performing certain job functions may require access to technology or software subject to export or import regulations. To comply with these regulations, SAS may obtain nationality or citizenship information from applicants for employment. SAS collects this information solely for trade law compliance purposes and does not use it to discriminate unfairly in the hiring process.  

SAS only sends emails from verified “sas.com” email addresses and never asks for sensitive, personal information or money. If you have any doubts about the authenticity of any type of communication from, or on behalf of SAS, please contact Recruitingsupport@sas.com.  

Pay Transparency: The hourly rate for SAS internships is determined by the applicant’s year in school and the position they are hired into. Hourly rates range from $15 – $30 for associate’s/bachelor’s level positions and $29 - $49/hour for master’s/Ph. D positions. Internship roles are not eligible for bonuses.  

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