Advisory Seasonal Intern, Federal Technology Enablement - PhD Data Science/Data Engineer | McLean Summer 2026

At KPMG we are not only keeping pace with the future of business; we are defining it. Harnessing the full power of AI and digital innovation, we deliver intelligent, data-driven solutions to help our clients navigate change and transform their competitive edge. Our people-first approach makes this possible. KPMG invests in continuous learning by providing the tools and training for you to thrive within a culture that fosters growth and collaboration, whether you're launching your career or bringing decades of experience. Join an inclusive team that inspires excellence, delivers meaningful impact, and empowers you to shape your own future.

KPMG is currently seeking an Advisory Seasonal Intern, Federal Technology Enablement - PhD Data Science/Data Engineer for our Advisory practice.

Responsibilities

• Conduct research and develop AI-powered capabilities—including anomaly detection models and agentic AI architectures—to solve real-world problems, identify systemic patterns and decompose complex queries into sub-tasks
• Develop reproducible data pipelines to prepare and enrich data and design large-scale multi-relational knowledge graphs to engineer and evaluate complex graph-structured features
• Research and implement post-hoc explainability methods that produce clear rationales for flagged entities, supporting iterative human-in-the-loop refinement for AI models
• Iterate rapidly on models and experimental designs in a fast-paced research environment, while rigorously documenting assumptions and actively managing project risks
• Partner with diverse teams—including data scientists, engineers, policy staff and federal client stakeholders—to translate advanced research outcomes into actionable program integrity recommendations
• Clearly communicate mathematical formulations, algorithmic trade-offs and research findings to both technical collaborators and non-technical business stakeholders using insightful visualizations, reports and presentations
  
  

Qualifications

• Must be enrolled in an accredited college or university and pursuing the following degrees/majors; PhD program in Data Science, Computer Science, Electrical/Computer Engineering, or equivalent program
• Minimum GPA of 3.0 or above
• Applicant must be eligible for or possess a U.S. Government Security clearance
• Strong in technical, business acumen, critical thinking and agility skills; demonstrated ability to excel and drive strategic outcomes, coupled with a professional demeanor and a collaborative leadership approach, in a dynamic, evolving environment; understanding of statistical analysis and machine learning fundamentals; solid foundation in advanced graph or time series techniques preferred
• Strong proficiency in SQL, Python and relevant open-source machine learning and data science libraries
• Exposure to agentic AI frameworks (e.g., LangChain, LangGraph, AutoGen, or similar tool-using agent systems) and familiarity with data visualization tools (Tableau, Power BI) or open-source frameworks (Dash, Plotly, Shiny); experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and containerization technologies (Docker, Kubernetes) preferred
• Must reside within a commutable distance of the office for this position and be responsible for your own transportation, such as personal vehicle or public transportation, to get to and from office / client locations to satisfactorily fulfill your job duties, as determined by your practice leadership; work location may be in the office, at client sites, or virtual/remote depending on business need; you must be located within the U.S. when working remotely; client site locations may require travel and overnight/extended stay
• Applicant must be authorized to work in the U.S. without the need for employment-based visa sponsorship now or in the future; KPMG LLP will not sponsor applicants for U.S. work visa status for this opportunity (no sponsorship is available for H-1B, L-1, TN, O-1, E-3, H-1B1, F-1, J-1, OPT, CPT or any other employment-based visa)
  
  

KPMG LLP and its subsidiaries (“KPMG”) complies with all local/state regulations regarding displaying salary ranges. If required, the ranges displayed below or via the URL below are specifically for those potential hires who will work in the location(s) listed. Any offered salary is determined based on relevant factors such as applicant's skills, job responsibilities, prior relevant experience, certain degrees and certifications and market considerations. In addition, KPMG is proud to offer a comprehensive, competitive benefits package, with options designed to help you make the best decisions for yourself, your family, and your lifestyle. Available benefits are based on eligibility. Our Total Rewards package includes a variety of medical and dental plans, vision coverage, disability and life insurance, 401(k) plans, and a robust suite of personal well-being benefits to support your mental health. Depending on job classification, standard work hours, and years of service, KPMG provides Personal Time Off per fiscal year. Additionally, each year KPMG publishes a calendar of holidays to be observed during the year and provides eligible employees two breaks each year where employees will not be required to use Personal Time Off; one is at year end and the other is around the July 4th holiday. Additional details about our benefits can be found towards the bottom of our KPMG US Careers site at Benefits & How We Work.

Follow this link to obtain salary ranges by city outside of CA:

https://kpmg.com/us/en/how-we-work/pay-transparency.html/?id=UTAADVIC2_8_24

KPMG offers a comprehensive compensation and benefits package. KPMG is an equal opportunity employer. KPMG complies with all applicable federal, state and local laws regarding recruitment and hiring. All qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship status, disability, protected veteran status, or any other category protected by applicable federal, state or local laws. The attached link contains further information regarding KPMG's compliance with federal, state and local recruitment and hiring laws. No phone calls or agencies please.

KPMG recruits on a rolling basis. Candidates are considered as they apply, until the opportunity is filled. Candidates are encouraged to apply expeditiously to any role(s) for which they are qualified that is also of interest to them.

Los Angeles County applicants: Material job duties for this position are listed above. Criminal history may have a direct, adverse, and negative relationship with some of the material job duties of this position. These include the duties and responsibilities listed above, as well as the abilities to adhere to company policies, exercise sound judgment, effectively manage stress and work safely and respectfully with others, exhibit trustworthiness, and safeguard business operations and company reputation. Pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act, Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.