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Data Engineer Intern 2026 - Data Integration

IBM

Software Engineering, Data Science

California, USA · Texas City, TX, USA · Delft, Netherlands

Posted on Mar 28, 2026

Introduction

About the Client Innovation Center (CIC)

IBM Consulting Client Innovation Centers (CICs) are high-delivery, team-based environments where technologists work onsite to build real solutions for real clients.

At CIC, interns collaborate closely with data engineers, data scientists, and consultants to support data platforms, pipelines, and analytics solutions across industries. Our delivery centers are built for learning through delivery, combining hands-on project exposure, structured training, mentorship, and teamwork to help students develop strong data engineering foundations and prepare for early-career technical roles.

This role is ideal for individuals who enjoy working with data, building systems, and learning how large-scale data solutions are delivered in an in-person, collaborative environment.

In this role, you'll work in one of our IBM Consulting Client Innovation Centers (Delivery Centers), where we deliver deep technical and industry expertise to a wide range of public and private sector clients around the world. Our delivery centers offer our clients locally based skills and technical expertise to drive innovation and adoption of new technology.

Your role and responsibilities

The Data Engineer Intern role is a developmental, learning-focused position that provides hands-on exposure to data engineering concepts, tools, and delivery practices in a professional consulting environment.

This role is not about owning production pipelines or designing enterprise data architectures on day one. It is about applying academic knowledge, learning how data systems are built and operated, and supporting delivery teams with data ingestion, transformation, and quality activities.

High-performing interns may be considered for conversion into IBM Consulting’s full-time Associate Data Engineer program based on performance and business needs.

As a Data Engineer Intern, you will:

Support data ingestion, transformation, and preparation activities under the guidance of experienced data engineers
Assist with building and maintaining ETL/ELT pipelines using established tools and frameworks
Help validate data quality, accuracy, and completeness across datasets
Contribute to data processing tasks using SQL and programming languages such as Python
Gain exposure to modern data platforms, including cloud-based data lakes and warehouses
Participate in Agile or project-based delivery activities such as stand-ups and sprint reviews
Help document data flows, pipeline logic, and implementation details
Build technical and professional skills through mentorship, training, and hands-on project work

Work Location & Onsite Expectations:

This internship role is based in an IBM Client Innovation Center (CIC) and requires regular onsite presence at the assigned delivery center. Working onsite enables hands-on learning, real-time collaboration, and mentorship that support faster growth and stronger delivery outcomes. Interns work in a collaborative, in-person team environment.

Work Authorization

IBM will not provide visa sponsorship for this position. Candidates must be eligible to work in the U.S. without current or future sponsorship requirements.

Required education

High School Diploma/GED

Preferred education

Bachelor's Degree

Required technical and professional expertise

These qualifications are essential for success in the role.

Technical Foundation Skills

Coursework or hands-on experience in Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, Information Systems, Mathematics, Statistics, or a related technical field
Basic programming experience in Python or another programming language gained through coursework, labs, or projects
Foundational understanding of SQL and relational data concepts
Familiarity with core data concepts such as tables, schemas, transformations, and data validation

Analytical and Learning Skills

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to approach tasks using structured, logical thinking
Comfortable working onsite in a collaborative, team-based environment
Ability to work effectively in a technology-driven consulting environment where tools, platforms, and client needs evolve over time
Willingness to learn new tools, platforms, and data technologies in a delivery setting
Ability to learn new tools, techniques, and technologies in a delivery setting
Ability to follow established processes and seek guidance when needed

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Preferred:

Currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Engineering, AI, or a related field.

Preferred technical and professional experience

Preferred Skills (Nice-to-Haves):

Exposure to ETL/ELT concepts or tools through coursework or projects
Familiarity with modern data platforms or tools (e.g., dbt, Snowflake, BigQuery, Spark, Airflow, or similar)
Exposure to cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, or IBM Cloud) through labs or academic projects
Experience working with datasets for analytics or machine learning coursework
Participation in team-based academic projects, hackathons, internships, or capstone courses

ABOUT BUSINESS UNIT

IBM Consulting is IBM’s consulting and global professional services business, with market leading capabilities in business and technology transformation. With deep expertise in many industries, we offer strategy, experience, technology, and operations services to many of the most innovative and valuable companies in the world. Our people are focused on accelerating our clients’ businesses through the power of collaboration. We believe in the power of technology responsibly used to help people, partners and the planet.

YOUR LIFE @ IBM

In a world where technology never stands still, we understand that, dedication to our clients success, innovation that matters, and trust and personal responsibility in all our relationships, lives in what we do as IBMers as we strive to be the catalyst that makes the world work better.

Being an IBMer means you’ll be able to learn and develop yourself and your career, you’ll be encouraged to be courageous and experiment everyday, all whilst having continuous trust and support in an environment where everyone can thrive whatever their personal or professional background.

Our IBMers are growth minded, always staying curious, open to feedback and learning new information and skills to constantly transform themselves and our company. They are trusted to provide on-going feedback to help other IBMers grow, as well as collaborate with colleagues keeping in mind a team focused approach to include different perspectives to drive exceptional outcomes for our customers. The courage our IBMers have to make critical decisions everyday is essential to IBM becoming the catalyst for progress, always embracing challenges with resources they have to hand, a can-do attitude and always striving for an outcome focused approach within everything that they do.

Are you ready to be an IBMer?

ABOUT IBM

IBM’s greatest invention is the IBMer. We believe that through the application of intelligence, reason and science, we can improve business, society and the human condition, bringing the power of an open hybrid cloud and AI strategy to life for our clients and partners around the world.

Restlessly reinventing since 1911, we are not only one of the largest corporate organizations in the world, we’re also one of the biggest technology and consulting employers, with many of the Fortune 500 companies relying on the IBM Cloud to run their business.

At IBM, we pride ourselves on being an early adopter of artificial intelligence, quantum computing and blockchain. Now it’s time for you to join us on our journey to being a responsible technology innovator and a force for good in the world.

IBM is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, pregnancy, disability, neurodivergence, age, or other characteristics protected by the applicable law. IBM is also committed to compliance with all fair employment practices regarding citizenship and immigration status.

OTHER RELEVANT JOB DETAILS

Supplemental 1 employees may be eligible for up to 8 paid holidays, minimum of 56 hours paid sick time and the IBM Employee Stock Purchase Plan. IBM offers paid family medical leave and disability benefits to eligible employees where required by applicable law.
This position was posted on the date cited in the key job details section and is anticipated to remain posted for 15 days from this date or less if not needed to fill the role.
We consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable law.

IBM will not be providing visa sponsorship for this position now or in the future. Therefore, in order to be considered for this position, you must have the ability to work without a need for current or future visa sponsorship.

The compensation range and benefits for this position are based on a full-time schedule for a full calendar year. The salary will vary depending on your job-related skills, experience and location. Pay increment and frequency of pay will be in accordance with employment classification and applicable laws. For part time roles, your compensation and benefits will be adjusted to reflect your hours. Benefits may be pro-rated for those who start working during the calendar year.

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