Internship in Information Technology Department

Job Posting Organization:
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is a prestigious international financial institution established to promote global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world. The IMF has a mission to foster global economic stability and growth by providing financial assistance, policy advice, and technical assistance to its member countries. The organization operates in 190 countries and employs over 2,700 staff members from diverse backgrounds, reflecting a wide range of expertise and experience in economics, finance, and technology. The IMF is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and plays a crucial role in the global economy by providing a platform for dialogue and collaboration among its member countries. Its Information Technology Department (ITD) is integral to achieving the Fund's mission by leveraging technology to enhance operational efficiency and effectiveness.

Job Overview:
The internship opportunity within the Information Technology Department (ITD) at the IMF is designed for graduate students who are currently enrolled in a master's degree program in information technology or a related field. This full-time, paid internship will last for three months, from June to August 2026, and will provide interns with the chance to gain hands-on experience in a dynamic and innovative environment. The selected intern will work closely with the Digital Advisory Unit (DAU) to explore cutting-edge topics such as Agentic AI and low-cost AI hardware options specifically in the context of Public Financial Management (PFM). The intern will be responsible for developing prototypes, conducting research, and contributing to technical assessments that will aid member countries in deploying sovereign, low-cost AI hardware solutions. This role will also involve collaboration with various departments within the IMF to ensure that the research aligns with real-world challenges faced by member countries in the PFM domain.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Conduct research on Agentic AI in Public Financial Management (PFM), focusing on workflows tailored for government finance functions in emerging markets.
• Investigate the feasibility of 'Human-in-the-Loop' autonomous agents for the public sector, ensuring compliance with regulatory and fiscal constraints.
• Collaborate with the team to demonstrate actionable tasks in PFM using Agentic AI, such as anomaly detection and budget classification.
• Research low-cost AI hardware options suitable for PFM applications, benchmarking performance and configuring test environments.
• Analyze trade-offs between cost, performance, and data sovereignty to recommend optimal hardware setups.
• Install and configure open-source models on local machines, optimizing for low-cost AI hardware.
• Run experiments to test the effectiveness of complex AI workflows on consumer-grade hardware.
• Collaborate with other IMF departments to align research with real-world PFM challenges.
• Shadow DAU team projects to gain insights into project management and stakeholder engagement. 1
• Maintain detailed technical documentation of experiments and findings. 1
• Undertake any other AI-related tasks as needed, demonstrating flexibility and proactivity.

Required Qualifications:
To be eligible for this internship, candidates must be enrolled in a master's degree program in a relevant field such as information technology, data science, or business administration. Candidates must also be in student status at the time of the internship and must return to school upon completion of their internship assignments. Good academic standing is required, along with an excellent command of English, both written and oral. Candidates should demonstrate an interest in working in a multicultural environment and possess strong analytical and research skills.

Educational Background:
Candidates must be pursuing a master's degree in a relevant field, such as information technology, computer science, information systems management, data science, or business administration. The educational background should provide a solid foundation in technology and its applications in financial management.

Experience:
Candidates should have a strong background in computer engineering, hardware engineering, or computer science. Experience with Agentic AI and open-source AI models is highly desirable, along with hands-on experience in building and configuring computer systems. Familiarity with AI hardware constraints and local AI deployment is also important.

Languages:
A strong command of English is mandatory, both written and oral. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset, particularly in the context of working with diverse member countries.

Additional Notes:
The internship is a full-time position lasting up to three months, with a competitive salary. Interns will receive round-trip economy class air travel to Washington, D.C., from their duty station (university), and a short-term visa may be provided for eligible non-US candidates. Short-term limited medical insurance coverage will be offered according to eligibility guidelines. Applications must be submitted via Workday and include a fully completed application form, responses to all questions, a personal CV/Resume, and a recent transcript from the university program. The selection process is competitive, and candidates will be short-listed based on their qualifications and academic performance.