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Internship Small Startup Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

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Internship Small Startup information

What can I expect in terms of mentorship and learning opportunities during an internship at a small startup?

Interning at a small startup typically offers hands-on experience and close collaboration with founders and core team members. You can expect a less hierarchical structure, which means you'll likely have direct access to senior staff and more opportunities to ask questions, receive feedback, and contribute ideas. Startups often foster a culture of learning by doing, so you'll be given meaningful responsibilities and the chance to see the impact of your work. However, structured mentorship programs may be less formal compared to larger companies, so it's important to be proactive about seeking guidance and support.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an intern at a small startup, and why are they important?

To thrive as an intern at a small startup, you typically need a foundational knowledge in your field of study, strong problem-solving abilities, and a willingness to learn quickly, often supported by current or recent enrollment in a relevant academic program. Familiarity with productivity tools like Google Workspace, project management software like Trello or Asana, and basic data analysis platforms is often advantageous. Strong communication, adaptability, and initiative are crucial soft skills, as startup environments demand flexibility and proactive contributions. These skills and qualities are important because interns at startups often wear many hats and must be able to handle evolving responsibilities in a dynamic, fast-paced setting.

What is an internship at a small startup?

An internship at a small startup is a temporary position where students or recent graduates gain hands-on experience by working closely with a small, entrepreneurial company. Unlike larger corporations, small startups often provide interns with opportunities to take on more responsibility, learn directly from founders, and contribute to various aspects of the business. This experience can be highly valuable for developing a broad skill set, networking, and understanding the unique challenges and rewards of startup environments.

What is the difference between Internship Small Startup vs Intern Software Developer?

AspectInternship Small StartupIntern Software Developer
Required CredentialsEnrolled in relevant degree program, basic coding skillsEnrolled in computer science or related field, coding proficiency
Work EnvironmentFast-paced, flexible, small teamCollaborative, project-based, tech-focused
Employer & Industry UsageStartups, tech, innovation sectorsTech companies, software firms, startups
Common Search & ComparisonInternship Small Startup vs Intern Software Developer

Internship Small Startup positions typically involve flexible roles in dynamic environments, often requiring basic technical skills. Intern Software Developer roles are more specialized, focusing on coding and software projects within tech companies. Both are valuable for gaining industry experience, but the scope and expectations differ based on the company's size and focus.

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What cities in Washington are hiring for Internship Small Startup jobs? Cities in Washington with the most Internship Small Startup job openings:
Internship Small Startup jobs near you

AI Engineer 1 - Platform Integration & AI/Data

The Nuclear Company

Washington, DC • On-site

$117K - $158K/yr

Full-time

Posted 28 days ago

Job description

Job Summary:
The Nuclear Company is the fastest growing startup in the nuclear and energy space creating a never before seen fleet-scale approach to building nuclear reactors. They are seeking an AI Engineer 1 to help build and run the backend, data, and integration layers for their software platform, NOS, which supports one of the largest nuclear buildouts in the United States.
Responsibilities:
• Help build and maintain the application and data integrations that connect NOS to internal systems, partner APIs, and external data sources, working from well-scoped tickets under senior review.
• Take ownership of scoped CI/CD and release tasks that keep NOS builds repeatable, tested, and traceable.
• Do basic backend and DevOps work: build and fix backend services, write tests, and handle routine platform monitoring and maintenance.
• Ramp on Palantir Foundry, the data ontology, and the MCP interfaces that let AI agents work against NOS data and start contributing to them.
• Partner with the Platform Engineer, data scientists, AI/ML engineers, and product engineers, and grow from paired work toward independent delivery.
Qualifications:
Required:
• Computer science degree or equivalent, with 0-2 years of professional experience (internships, co-ops, and project work count).
• Strong fundamentals in at least one backend language (Python and/or TypeScript preferred; Go or Java also welcome).
• Some hands-on exposure to basic DevOps and backend work: CI/CD, version control, REST APIs, or wiring systems together, from an internship, a job, or a personal project.
• Has built something with AI beyond using a chat assistant: multi-step prompts, custom tools, AI in the codebase, or a small agentic project.
• Good written and verbal communication, and willingness to learn the nuclear and regulated-industry context.
Preferred:
• Exposure to a major cloud (AWS preferred), including coursework or personal projects.
• Coursework or project work in CI/CD, infrastructure as code, or configuration management.
• Coursework or project work in LLMs, agentic systems, or data modeling.
• Familiarity with Palantir Foundry, Databricks, or Snowflake.
• Internship or project work in a regulated or mega-project industry (nuclear, aerospace, defense, energy, medical).
Company:
The Nuclear Company enables the deployment of nuclear power plants at fleet-scale by integrating government and industry partners. Founded in 2023, the company is headquartered in Lexington, USA, with a team of 51-200 employees. The company is currently Growth Stage.

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