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Strategic Education

Postsecondary education and workforce development provider

AI Engineering Intern

Summer 2026Updated
$19.50 - $29.75/hr
Internship
Bachelor's, Master's, PhD
Minneapolis, MN, USA
In PersonOccasional travel may be required; onsite in Minneapolis.
AI & Machine LearningApplied Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing & LLMs

About the job

Requirements
  • Strong Python skills and solid ML fundamentals (training loops, debugging, evaluation methodology).
  • Familiarity with transformer-based LLMs and common tooling (e.g., Hugging Face ecosystem or similar).
  • Proficiency using AI coding assistants (e.g., Cursor, Claude Code, Codex) to accelerate development while maintaining code quality.
  • Comfort reasoning about metrics, trade-offs, and dataset bias; ability to write clean, testable code.
  • Currently pursuing a BS/MS/PhD in Computer Science, Engineering, Statistics, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
  • Must be able to travel occasionally should a business need arise. Travel may involve plane, car or metro.
  • Ability to work onsite in Corporate or Campus location (in a typical office environment) may be required based on role. If so, this would include being mobile within the office, including movement from floor-to-floor using elevators or stairs.
  • If offsite or hybrid role, must have access to work in setting which enables meeting all requirements of the role (including privacy, reliable internet access, phone, ability to video conference, etc.) at a remote location.
  • Faculty and Federal Work Study roles require access to work in setting which enables meeting all requirements of the role (including computer, privacy, reliable internet access, phone, ability to video conference, etc.) at a remote location.
  • This role may require lifting, however reasonable accommodations will be provided in accordance with our ADA policies.
  • Must be able to meet critical thinking and problem solving aspects aligned to job duties, as well as effectively communicating with co-workers.
  • Must be able to work more than 40 hours per week when business needs warrant. Accommodations related to schedule may be considered.
  • Able to access information using a computer.
  • Other essential functions and marginal job functions are subject to modification.
Responsibilities
  • Fine-tune LLMs using modern adaptation methods (e.g., parameter-efficient fine-tuning) and maintain training recipes.
  • Design and implement LLM evaluation suites for instruction following, factuality, safety, and domain constraints.
  • Build agentic evaluations: measure task success, tool-call correctness, multi-step reliability, and recovery behavior.
  • Create regression tests and run automated evals in CI to prevent quality drift across releases.
  • Instrument experiments (traces, metrics, datasets) and communicate results clearly in concise write-ups.
  • Assist in special projects.
  • Support business initiatives as assigned by manager.
  • Job shadowing.
  • Learning skills related to industry.
  • Attend meetings with various teams.

About the company

Strategic Education, Inc. runs post-secondary education programs through institutions like Strayer University and Capella University, mainly serving working adults in the United States with online and campus options. Students enroll in degree or non-degree programs, paying tuition and fees, while the company also earns revenue through corporate partnerships that offer education-as-a-benefit to employers. The company distinguishes itself by focusing on adult learners across multiple institutions and by building employer partnerships to deliver workforce development. Its goal is to help adult learners advance their careers and achieve greater economic mobility by making education more accessible and aligned with job skills.

Company Size

5,001-10,000

Company Stage

IPO

Headquarters

Guadix, Spain

Founded

1892

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Q2 2026 revenue rose 4.9% to $337.3 million, with EPS of $1.71.
  • Free cash flow reached $92.4 million in first-half 2026, funding dividends and buybacks.
  • Management repurchased $72.7 million of stock in 2026 and paid a $0.60 dividend.

What critics are saying

  • The February 25, 2026 cybersecurity breach spawned consolidated class actions by June 26.
  • Australia recorded a $13.9 million labor reserve, with High Court appeal pending September.
  • A failed employer pivot destroys Strategic Education's growth model if unaffiliated enrollment keeps falling.

What makes Strategic Education unique

  • Employer-affiliated enrollment hit 34.5% of U.S. Higher Education in Q1 2026.
  • Sophia Learning subscribers rose 32% in Q2 2026, powering Education Technology Services margins.
  • Tech Skills Academy targets AI, cybersecurity, and data analytics for corporate upskilling.

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Benefits

  • Health Insurance
  • Dental Insurance
  • Vision Insurance
  • Life Insurance
  • Disability Insurance
  • Health Savings Account/Flexible Spending Account
  • Unlimited Paid Time Off
  • Paid Vacation
  • Paid Sick Leave
  • Paid Holidays
  • Parental Leave
  • Hybrid Work Options

Company News

Yahoo Finance
Oct 22nd, 2026
Cash-rich but flawed: IPG Photonics, Strategic Education and LeMaitre fail the test

StockStory has named three cash-rich companies it says investors should avoid, arguing that a strong cash position does not always signal a healthy business. IPG Photonics holds net cash of $871.3 million, or 27.7% of its market value. The fiber laser maker's sales fell 4.9% a year over five years, and earnings per share dropped faster than revenue. Its shares trade at $73.38, or 35.3x forward earnings. Strategic Education has net cash of $22.04 million, or 1.3% of market value. Domestic student numbers have disappointed over two years, and earnings per share grew only 3% a year over five years. The stock trades at $79.58, or 10x forward earnings. LeMaitre has net cash of $186 million, or 9.7% of market value. Its revenue base of $262.4 million limits its cost leverage. Shares trade at $83.69, or 27.3x forward earnings.

ROI-NJ
Sep 15th, 2026
Business solutions company Conduent names Sundaresan chief information and technology officer.

Business solutions company Conduent names Sundaresan chief information and technology officer. ROI-NJ Staff(Florham Park) September 15, 2026 Conduent Inc., a global technology-driven business solutions and services company, announced Sept. 14 the appointment of Narayanan Sundaresan as chief information and technology officer, effective immediately. Sundaresan has more than 28 years of experience leading enterprise technology organizations and digital transformation initiatives, with expertise driving AI-powered business transformation, modernizing enterprise platforms, advancing digital products, and strengthening cybersecurity and data governance. At Conduent, Sundaresan will lead the company's global technology organization and strategy in support of transformation and growth. He will focus on accelerating the adoption of AI-powered capabilities across the enterprise while continuing to strengthen the secure, reliable and scalable technology foundation needed to support Conduent's clients and operations. Sundaresan's leadership will help advance Conduent's efforts to modernize operations, scale innovation and deliver measurable outcomes for clients. "Narayanan joins Conduent at an important point in our transformation, and his experience will help us accelerate innovation, enhance client outcomes, and create greater value for our business," said Harsha V. Agadi, chief executive officer of Conduent. "I'm excited to welcome him to our leadership team and look forward to his impact as we turn our AI and technology strategy into measurable business results." Prior to joining Conduent, Sundaresan served as global chief information officer and senior vice president, digital products and technology at Strategic Education, where he led enterprise-wide AI work redesign and hyper-automation initiatives, technology harmonization across business units, and the development of global technology capabilities. He also previously held technology leadership positions at Capella Education Company, where he led digital technology initiatives, enterprise platforms and global technology delivery.

Yahoo Finance
Aug 1st, 2026
Strategic Education completes $200M buyback as fair value analysis suggests 16.7% upside potential

Strategic Education completed a share buyback program originally announced in 2003, while declaring its latest dividend and releasing second quarter 2026 earnings. The stock trades at $81.93, up 8.32% over seven days and showing a 12.74% one-year total return. The most popular valuation model on Simply Wall St suggests a fair value of $98.33, implying the shares are 16.7% undervalued. This estimate relies on assumptions including growth in the Education Technology Services segment, which saw revenue climb over 30% in 2024 through Sophia Learning and corporate partnerships. The company generates robust free cash flow, supporting continued shareholder returns through dividends and repurchases. Key risks include tightening Australian student visa requirements and reduced revenue per student from increased scholarship usage.

Yahoo Finance
Jul 30th, 2026
Strategic Education Q2 2026 earnings driven by 32% surge in Sophia subscribers

Strategic Education reported second-quarter 2026 results marked by strong performance in its Education Technology Services division and US Higher Education segment, though Australian operations faced headwinds. The company's ETS division now accounts for nearly 40% of consolidated operating income, driven by a 32% increase in Sophia Learning subscribers. Employer-affiliated enrolment in US Higher Education reached a record 35% of total segment enrolment. Operating margins improved by 90 basis points despite a $13 million reserve for an Australian labour dispute regarding casual faculty compensation. The company has appealed the ruling to the Australian High Court, with a decision expected in September or early October. Management expects to exceed its target of 200 basis points EBIT margin expansion for the full year. The company repurchased $33 million in shares during the quarter, with $141 million remaining under current authorisation.

Yahoo Finance
Jul 29th, 2026
Strategic Education Q2 revenue up 3% to $330M, adjusted EPS rises 16% to $1.76

Strategic Education reported second-quarter revenue of $330 million, up 3% year-over-year, with operating income rising 9% to $53 million. Adjusted earnings per share increased 16% to $1.76. The company's Education Technology Services division drove growth, with revenue up 15% to $42 million and operating income rising 30% to $20 million. This segment now contributes nearly 40% of consolidated operating income. Australia operations faced challenges, with a $13 million charge related to a labour matter and 5% enrollment decline. Excluding this one-time charge, operating income would have risen 35%. Year-to-date cash flow from operations increased 18% to $117 million. Management expects Australian operations to return to growth in early 2027.

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