WBG Pioneer - AI Engineer Intern

Job Posting Organization:
The World Bank Group (WBG) is a global organization dedicated to reducing poverty and promoting sustainable development. Established in 1944, it comprises five institutions, including the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA). The WBG operates in over 100 countries and employs approximately 10,000 staff members from diverse backgrounds. Its mission is to end extreme poverty and promote shared prosperity by providing financial and technical assistance to developing countries. The organization emphasizes the importance of integrity, transparency, and accountability in its operations, striving to create a world free of poverty and inequality.

Job Overview:
The WBG Pioneer - AI Engineer Intern position is part of the World Bank Group’s Internship Program, designed to provide undergraduate and postgraduate students with a high-impact learning experience in global development. This internship offers a unique opportunity to work within the Integrity Vice Presidency (INT), which focuses on investigating and preventing fraud and corruption in projects financed by the World Bank Group. The intern will be part of the Data Lab, a multidisciplinary team that leverages data, AI, analytics, and cloud engineering to develop responsible AI solutions that enhance INT's core business processes. The internship lasts for 150 days and is structured to provide hands-on experience in designing, developing, and deploying AI agents that support the integrity functions of the organization. The intern will work under the mentorship of the Data Lab Team Lead, gaining insights into industry trends in enterprise agentic AI and applying modern AI techniques to real-world scenarios within a secure cloud environment.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The intern will be responsible for learning and applying the Data Lab's AI development practices to design, build, and fine-tune AI agents and LLM-based solutions that streamline INT's business processes. Key responsibilities include developing, testing, and iterating on prompts to enhance the accuracy and reliability of AI outputs, optimizing Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) pipelines for AI agents, and utilizing Azure cloud resources for data management. The intern will collaborate with front-end, back-end, and DevOps teams to integrate AI models into applications, explore emerging AI frameworks, and maintain comprehensive documentation of AI models and processes. Regular participation in team meetings and progress updates will also be expected, along with presenting work to the Data Lab Team Lead and management.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must be currently enrolled in or in the final year of a postgraduate program in computer science, data science, artificial intelligence, engineering, or a related field. A background in AI/machine learning through academic, research, or project experience is required, along with 0-2 years of relevant professional experience. Hands-on experience with Python and familiarity with LLMs and prompt engineering is essential, while exposure to RAG and agentic AI frameworks is advantageous. Familiarity with cloud platforms, particularly Microsoft Azure, and version control systems like Git is desirable. The ideal candidate should be a fast learner who actively follows industry trends in AI, possesses strong analytical and problem-solving skills, and can communicate technical work effectively.

Educational Background:
The position requires candidates to be enrolled in a Master's, PhD, or similar graduate program during the internship or to be in the fifth year or higher of a degree program in countries where higher education is not divided into undergraduate and graduate stages. An official letter from the university confirming that the internship fulfills academic requirements for at least one term of study is necessary for eligibility.

Experience:
The internship is open to candidates with 0-2 years of relevant professional experience. This can include academic, research, or project experience specifically related to AI and machine learning, which is a critical component of the role.

Languages:
Proficiency in English is mandatory for this position. While no additional languages are specified as preferred, having knowledge of other languages may be beneficial in a diverse work environment.

Additional Notes:
This internship is offered under the WBG Pioneers No-Fee Internship Track. Candidates may be offered a no-fee STT appointment if they meet specific eligibility criteria related to their academic enrollment. Applicants are advised to limit their applications to a maximum of three positions, as exceeding this limit will result in disqualification. The World Bank Group values diversity and encourages candidates from member countries to apply, particularly sub-Saharan African nationals, Caribbean nationals, and female candidates.