AI Research Intern

Requisition ID # 164058 

Job Category: Administrative / Clerical 

Job Level: Individual Contributor

Business Unit: Information Technology

Work Type: Hybrid

Job Location: Oakland

Department Overview

The Data Science & Artificial Intelligence Department is home to the “Delivery” team, which specializes in developing cutting-edge data science and machine learning solutions. Leveraging industry-leading practices in data science and change management, this team is pivotal in driving PG&E’s transition to a sustainable grid of the future.

Our department collaborates across the company to enable data-driven decision-making and enhance business processes through advanced analytics. Unlike traditional utility domains such as asset management or program administration, our focus is on extracting actionable insights from diverse datasets and facilitating informed actions.

We tackle a wide array of complex business challenges, providing continuous opportunities for exploration and learning. Our current and past projects include:

• Creating wildfire risk models used by regulators and the utility to prioritize asset management.
• Developing computer vision models to improve, accelerate, and automate asset inspection processes.
• Predicting electric distribution equipment failures before they occur, enabling proactive maintenance.
• Forming the analytical framework behind PG&E’s Transmission Public Safety Power Shutoff.
• Optimizing non-wires alternative resource portfolios, such as the Oakland Clean Energy Initiative, considering location and resource adequacy.
• Analyzing customer demographics, program participation, and SmartMeter interval data to build targeted propensity models for technologies like EVs.
• Identifying and investigating anomalous customer natural gas usage to resolve dangerous customer-side gas leaks.

Position Summary

As a summer intern with the Data Science & Artificial Intelligence Department, you will learn about AI infrastructure, write journal articles, and be featured in publications. You will collaborate with the lead machine learning engineer to understand the computing stack of a computer vision model deployment platform, review development artifacts (Python, SQL, PySpark, infrastructure as code), and explore relational database structures. Additionally, you will conduct literature reviews, write research papers on topics like databases and machine learning infrastructure, and format them using LaTeX. You will assist in the journal submission process, ensure ethical compliance, and maintain communication with the lead ML engineer.

PG&E is providing the hourly rate range that the company in good faith believes it might pay for this position at the time of the job posting. This compensation range is specific to the locality of the job.  The actual hourly rate paid to an individual will be based on multiple factors, including, but not limited to, specific skills, education, licenses or certifications, experience, market value, geographic location, and internal equity.

The hourly rate for this position ranges from $22.77 to $36.42.

Responsibilities

Research and Information Gathering:

• Collaborate with the lead machine learning engineer and team members to understand the computing stack of a computer vision model deployment platform.
• Independently review development artifacts, including Python, SQL, PySpark, and infrastructure as code, to gain an in-depth understanding of team computing systems.
• Explore relational database structures using provided ER diagrams and exploratory queries.
• Conduct thorough literature reviews on topics relevant to target journal articles.

Drafting and Writing:

• Write clear, concise, and well-structured research papers on specific topics provided by the team, ensuring complex technical information is accessible to the target audience. Topics may include databases, machine learning model deployment infrastructure, computer vision modeling systems, and other specialized subjects.
• Review and edit drafts for clarity, coherence, grammar, and adherence to publication standards and guidelines.
• Utilize the LaTeX typesetting system to format papers according to the specific requirements of target journals, including citation styles and layout.

Submission Process:

• Assist in the journal article submission process, including identifying target journals, preparing cover letters, responding to reviewer comments, and making necessary revisions.

Ethical Compliance:

• Ensure all content complies with ethical standards, including proper citation of sources and avoidance of plagiarism.

Communication:

• Maintain effective communication with the lead ML engineer throughout the writing and publication process to ensure alignment and address any issues that arise.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Pursuing a Bachelor’s or Graduate degree in Computer Science, Data Science, or a related engineering field at an accredited university.
• Completed coursework in Databases, with knowledge of SQL and relational database management systems.
• Continuing education towards the degree during and/or after the internship.

Desired:

• Master’s or PhD student in Computer Science, Data Science, or a related engineering field.
• Coursework in Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, and Cloud Computing.
• Experience working on a research project with a professor.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Proactive and able to work independently with minimal direction.
• GPA of 3.0 or higher.

PG&E is unable to provide VISA sponsorship to students on an F-1, J-1 or other student visa for this position.