AI & Digital Innovation Intern

AI & Digital Innovation Intern at Parsons Corporation

In a world of possibilities, pursue one with endless opportunities. Imagine Next! At Parsons, you can imagine a career where you thrive, work with exceptional people, and be yourself. Guided by our leadership vision of valuing people, embracing agility, and fostering growth, we cultivate an innovative culture that empowers you to achieve your full potential. Unleash your talent and redefine what’s possible.

About Parsons

Founded in 1944, Parsons is a digitally enabled solutions provider focused on creating the future of critical infrastructure. Whether designing iconic bridges, transforming transportation, or advancing industry leading environment solutions, we’ve shaped progress for over eight decades and continue to work to make the world smarter, safer, and more connected.

We’re a company of thinkers and innovators. Our people don’t just generate big ideas, they bring them to life. We operate across services and markets around the globe, which means that, although we’re one company, there are many possibilities for growth and development. As an AI & Digital Innovation Intern, you’ll have the opportunity to engage and grow your network with fellow interns and colleagues, explore our company, attend events, obtain a mentor, apply your skills in real-world experiences, and more. You aren’t just here to learn what we do, you’re here to contribute to our culture, elevate your career, and imagine next with us.

Your Role as an AI & Digital Innovation Intern

You’ll join the Chief Technology Organization (CTO) Innovation Group in Infrastructure North America (INA) at Parsons. This role is focused on driving the practical application and adoption of new technologies, particularly AI, within our infrastructure business.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Track emerging technology trends and conduct market scans relevant to our business (e.g., new AI tools, digital engineering methods).
• Drive the practical application of new technologies in real projects, helping pilot and implement innovations across our infrastructure business.
• Facilitate the adoption and development of new tech capabilities and processes within INA, coordinating training, change management, and roll-out of best practices to staff.
• Introduce and optimize digital processes and automation to enable staff to deliver work faster and more consistently (e.g., improving workflows through software tools or scripts).
• Establish and manage relationships with technology vendors and partners, engaging with them to explore solutions and coordinate demos or evaluations.
• Foster a culture of innovation and transformative thinking by championing new ideas, helping organize events, and sharing success stories within the company.
• Facilitate collaboration between the CTO Innovation Group and other teams to drive joint innovation and efficiency efforts.
• Support innovation proposals and knowledge sharing by contributing to preparing proposal materials, case studies, and internal playbooks that communicate our innovation initiatives and lessons learned.
• Empower our nearly 6,000 colleagues within INA to #ImagineNext.

Exciting Initiatives You May Support

• Conducting pilots of artificial intelligence (AI) solutions for both internal operations and client use cases (e.g., prototyping an AI tool to automate design tasks or deploying a machine learning model on a project), helping test viability, gather user feedback, and document results.
• Driving the adoption of digital delivery best practices globally across Parsons, contributing to the INA Digital Delivery Playbook and supporting training or implementation efforts so project teams worldwide can use improved digital workflows.
• Researching and preparing business cases for emerging tech, strategic partnerships, or new product/service ideas, which could involve market analyses, cost-benefit assessments, and presenting recommendations to leadership on whether to invest in or adopt a solution.
• Applying data analytics to measure and evaluate Return on Investment (ROI) of innovation initiatives (e.g., tracking the performance metrics of a pilot project to quantify time saved or quality improvements).
• Contributing to client-facing project delivery in different technical domains; you could be embedded in a transportation project, an environmental study, or a smart city pilot, helping apply your skills to deliver real project outcomes while injecting innovative ideas.

Who We’re Looking For

Excellent Communication Skills: You’ll be collaborating with, and at times representing, our team to different stakeholders, from software developers and data scientists to senior executives, clients, and external partners. You must be able to explain technical topics to non-technical audiences and adjust your communication style to suit your audience.

Strategic and Analytical Thinking: You’re comfortable working at the intersection of people, process, and technology to tackle strategic business challenges. This means you can think big-picture about innovation’s role in an organization, but also break down problems analytically. You enjoy using data and logic to solve problems and you can grasp how different parts of a system interrelate (e.g., how a change in process might impact people’s workflows and tech tools).

Independence and Initiative: We’re looking for a self-starter who takes ownership of their work. You’ll be given your own responsibilities and will often need to drive tasks with minimal supervision, whether it’s leading a meeting or drafting a report. Don’t wait to be told what to do – if you see an opportunity or have an idea, run with it. We encourage you to ask questions, suggest improvements, and be proactive. Show initiative and you’ll get ample opportunities to lead and contribute.

Creativity and Adaptability: Innovation is by nature dynamic. New priorities can emerge and we often navigate uncharted territory. You should be adaptable, organized, and able to manage changing tasks or objectives without losing focus. At the same time, bring your creativity! We value fresh perspectives and bold ideas. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box and challenge the status quo.

Preferred Qualifications & Skills

• Familiarity with artificial intelligence (AI) concepts (e.g., prompt engineering, large language models like GPT, and machine learning techniques).
• Experience or coursework in digital twins or 3D modeling in an infrastructure context.
• Exposure to CAD and modeling software (e.g., AutoCAD, Civil 3D, Bentley OpenRoads) used in engineering design.
• Knowledge of GIS or geospatial technologies for mapping and spatial analysis.
• Interest or experience in drone operations as used in surveying or inspections.
• Understanding of software architecture or systems design/integration and how different tech components fit together in a solution.
• Skills in data science, business intelligence, or analytics (e.g., familiarity with data visualization tools such as Power BI or basic Python/R for data analysis).
• A design thinking mindset with understanding of user-centred design and iterative problem-solving methods to develop client-focused solutions.
• A valid, unrestricted driver’s license and willingness to travel occasionally; you may need to visit field sites or nearby Parsons offices in Southern Ontario (e.g. Oakville, Markham).

Benefits & Culture

This position is part of our Critical Infrastructure team. For more than 80 years, our experts have designed and delivered the critical infrastructure that connects and protects communities around the world. We work in collaborative teams, both within the company and with our partners and customers, to plan, design, build, and modernize infrastructure. We take special pride in projects and solutions that improve communities as well as people’s quality of life by promoting economic growth, enhancing mobility, and increasing sustainability and resiliency. Powered by our people, we provide the imagination necessary to support our customers’ visions—and to help them see what's next!

We value our employees and want our employees to take care of their overall wellbeing, which why we offer best-in-class benefits such as health, vision, dental, employer paid provincial care premiums, Defined Contribution Pension Plan (DCPP), Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA), Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP), life insurance, paid time off, sick leave, all province observed holidays off, and gym membership discounts to fit your busy lifestyle!

Parsons is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in the workplace. Parsons equally employs representation at all job levels for indigenous peoples, women, individuals with disabilities, and visible minorities.

We truly invest and care about our employee’s wellbeing and provide endless growth opportunities as the sky is the limit, so aim for the stars! Imagine next and join the Parsons quest—APPLY TODAY!

Key skills/competency

• Artificial Intelligence (AI)
• Machine Learning
• Prompt Engineering
• Digital Twins
• Data Analytics
• CAD Software
• GIS Technologies
• Systems Integration
• User-Centred Design
• Innovation Management