Quill AI Data Engineer Intern

Staples is business to business. You're what binds us together.

Quill is a valuable part of the Staples family of brands. Since 1956, Quill has held its position as a leader in office supplies.  

Acquired by Staples in 1998, Quill delivers the essential services, solutions, and award-winning customer support to help our customers – and our people – thrive. When you partner with Quill, as a customer or as an associate, every workday is more rewarding.  

This position is a minimum of 4 days in the office with flexibility for remote work on Fridays. This position is based out of the Quill Corporate facility in Lincolnshire, IL.  

Target Start Date: June 1, August 14, week program)

Intern Pay Rate: $26 - $29 per hour 

Position Overview: 

We are seeking a motivated and analytical AI Data Engineering Intern to join our team. This internship offers a hands-on opportunity to work on cloud-based data platforms, big data technologies, and AI-driven solutions. The ideal candidate is a Computer Science student or recent graduate with a strong foundation in data engineering, programming, and artificial intelligence concepts. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to design, build, and optimize scalable data pipelines that support machine learning and analytics initiatives.

What you bring to the table:  

• Collaborative – able to build partnerships and work collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives  
• Customer Focused – able to identify and understand internal or external customer needs and interests and deliver customer-centric solutions  
• Inclusive – dedicated to fostering an inclusive environment consisting of diverse individuals from varying backgrounds and cultures  
• Innovative – develop new insights; question conventional approaches; encourage new ideas; design and implement new solutions  

What You'll Be Doing: 

• Assist in the development and maintenance of data pipelines using tools such as Spark, Hive, and SQL
• Support cloud-based data engineering tasks using AWS or Azure services
• Contribute to ETL processes, data modeling, and integration of structured and semi-structured data formats (e.g., JSON, CSV)
• Participate in the design and implementation of scalable data solutions for AI and machine learning projects
• Collaborate with technical and business stakeholders to support data-driven decision-making
• Apply problem-solving and analytical skills to troubleshoot data issues and optimize performance
• Document processes and contribute to knowledge-sharing within the team

What's Needed - Basic Qualifications: 

• Pursuing a master's degree in Computer Science, Data Engineering, or a related field
• Familiarity with big data tools (e.g., Spark, Hive, Sqoop) and cloud platforms (AWS, Azure)
• Proficient in Python, SQL, and Unix/Linux scripting
• Understanding of dimensional modeling and data architecture principles
• Strong communication skills and a collaborative mindset
• Passion for learning new technologies and solving complex data challenges
• Experience with MLOps and feature engineering infrastructure
• Knowledge of prompt engineering and integration with large language models (LLMs)
• Familiarity with AI-powered development tools and their integration into workflows

What's Needed - Preferred Qualifications: 

• Exposure to data visualization tools such as Power BI is a plus
• Knowledge of monitoring and data quality frameworks
• Ability to adapt quickly in a fast-paced environment

The salary range represents the expected compensation for this role at the time of posting.  The specific base pay may be influenced by a variety of factors to include the candidate's experience, skill set, education, business considerations, geography, and internal equity.   Some roles may also be eligible for overtime pay, in accordance with federal and state requirements.