Civic Digital Fellowship - Design Summer Internship
Please apply through our application system. Applications submitted via Handshake will not be considered.
About the Fellowship
The Civic Digital Fellowship is a paid, 10-week internship experience for mission-driven software engineers, data scientists, designers, and product managers to modernize technology at federal government agencies.
As a Civic Digital Fellow, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the technology behind government services and apply your skills to develop solutions that will serve everyday Americans. You’ll also receive one-on-one mentorship opportunities, participate in intimate conversations with leading technology and civic organizations, benefit from a strong and supportive community, and have the opportunity to impact a large user base — 323 million Americans.
Join the 200+ Civic Digital Fellowship alumni who’ve worked on high-impact projects—including saving taxpayers millions of dollars in survey costs using machine learning algorithms at the Census Bureau, building tools for diplomats abroad at the State Department, and developing a tool at the VA for Veterans to more easily take advantage of their GI Bill benefits.
Design Position Description
Civic Digital Fellows working on design projects will have the opportunity to work within several different disciplines depending on the need of their host agency, including graphic design, branding, UX, UI, and product design. Fellows should expect to work on a mix of projects, including those with established branding and design guidelines and those still developing their own systems. Fellows will work closely with their agency partners and incorporate feedback in a constant iterative process.
- Familiarity with any/all of the following practices: user experience, human-centered design, interaction design, user research, graphic design, data visualization, and service design.
- Contribute to research synthesis to generate insights and inform design decisions.
- Interest in using plain language to help members of the public access and interact with government services.
- Create prototypes, design assets, and documentation.
- Commitment to using human-centered design practices in government.
We value applicants who:
- Excel technically. Whether it’s software engineering, data science, design, or product management, you bring a valuable skill set to the table.
- Are driven by our mission. You want to make a meaningful difference with your tech skills and are excited about public service and social impact.
- Work independently and carefully. You are proactive and take initiative in your work, build on your ideas to produce high-quality results, and can manage multiple tasks at once.
- Are great to work with. You’re collaborative and great with teams. You’ll help make the Civic Digital Fellowship more inclusive for the whole cohort.
Minimum Requirements
- All Fellows must be U.S. Citizens due to federal hiring regulations. You will also be required to undergo a background check and security clearance process.
- Enrolled in an accredited degree program and graduating in December 2020 or later.
- All fields of study are welcome and we do not have any major or degree requirements.
- Previous experience in your field, including but not limited to internships, class projects, or hackathons.
- Passion for social impact.
COVID-19 Details
Coding it Forward is closely monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on in-person work, events, and travel. Our hope is to bring Civic Digital Fellows to Washington, D.C. in Summer 2021—pending the availability of a broadly distributed vaccine and the remote work status of our federal partners—but our team is equally prepared to offer a robust remote Fellowship experience.
Financial Details
- If the Fellowship occurs in-person in Washington, D.C., Fellows will receive a $4,000+ stipend, free housing, and free domestic travel to-and-from our nation’s capital.
- If the Fellowship occurs virtually, Fellows will be provided with an increased stipend to account for housing and living expenses.
Equal Opportunity
Coding it Forward is committed to assembling a diverse cohort of Civic Digital Fellows. Women, minorities, people with disabilities, and Veterans are strongly encouraged to apply.
In compliance with applicable laws, Coding it Forward provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by law.