Sallie Mae is proud to help Americans aspiring to create the life they want–whether that means helping them make college happen, or something more. Our colleagues across departments and across the country are united in our passion and our customer-first approach. Whether you want to join a growing company, be part of an agile workforce, or gain new skills–you’re in the right place.
Program Overview:
The Sallie Mae Internship program seeks to attract and develop exceptional early talent while adding value to our organization. Our goal is to tie academic learning into a practical business setting while fostering professional and personal growth within a student’s area of focus. Over the course of the semester, interns will gain exposure to senior leaders, attend meetings, work alongside mentors, and receive valuable performance feedback.
Position Summary
The AI & Threat Analysis Intern will explore Trust, Threat, and Protection (TTP) considerations across Sallie Mae’s AI‑driven systems. This includes both Internet‑facing and internal AI systems. The intern will identify and document the most likely AI‑related threat vectors relevant to the organization and support ongoing research into secure and responsible AI adoption.
Key Responsibilities
- Analyze Sallie Mae’s existing and emerging AI systems to assess potential vulnerabilities and threat vectors.
- Conduct research on AI security, adversarial risks, and model behavior risks.
- Document findings in a clear, structured format following Chicago Manual of Style standards.
- Collaborate with technical mentors to evaluate AI use cases across departments.
- Contribute insights on TTP considerations for AI models used within the company.
- Apply LLM proficiency to compare and explore additional AI engines as needed.
- Attend cross‑functional meetings to understand AI adoption across the business.
Required Education
- Currently enrolled in an accredited university pursuing a Bachelor’s or Graduate degree in Computer Science or a related field.
- Expected graduation between December 2026 – May 2027.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Foundational understanding of Artificial Intelligence (AI) concepts, including:
- Components of AI systems (context, models, tools, prompts)
- How AI components interact within larger systems
- Proficiency with at least one major Large Language Model (LLM) engine.
- Strong written communication skills; ability to write final reports without AI assistance (required).
- Adaptability and willingness to learn.
- Prior technology internship experience preferred.
Work Expectations
- 12‑week internship, full‑time (40 hours/week).
- Hybrid work schedule aligned with Sallie Mae’s 3‑day in‑office policy.
- Open to working out of the Newark, DE office if not based in Indianapolis.
