Coding it Forward’s Fellowship (United States)

Coding it Forward’s Fellowship is a paid, 10-week summer opportunity for early-career technologists.

Fellows work across cybersecurity, data, design, product, and software to build a more equitable and effective government for all.

About the Fellowship

• Make an impact.
  • You’ll contribute your expertise in cybersecurity, data, design, product, or software to some of our country’s most pressing challenges. Past Fellows’ projects have ranged from machine learning models to user interface overhauls, resulting in millions of dollars saved and years cut from production timelines.
• Develop as a mission-driven technologist.
  • You’ll work alongside public servants to apply your technical and problem-solving skills to complex challenges. The Fellowship will empower you to understand the inner workings of government bureaucracy while contributing to the continuous effort to build an equitable and effective government for all.
• Grow personally and professionally.
  • You’ll attend weekly events with top technologists to learn how technology and design tools are used to achieve impact at scale—from improving the social safety net to ensuring justice for all. You’ll also have access to a one-on-one mentor over the 10 weeks.
• Join a cohort-based community.
  • You’ll build a strong community with the network of early-career technologists that reflects the diversity of the citizenry everyone serve. After the summer ends, you’ll join the dynamic network of more than 600 alumni.

Roles

Fellows tackle high-impact work in one of five areas of practice: cybersecurity, data, design, product, or software engineering. To succeed in your role, you should be familiar with the skills, practices, and/or tools listed below.

• Cybersecurity
  • Cybersecurity Engineer
    • Fellows should be comfortable:
      • Establish, test, and validate security features of applications or network
      • Implement and integrate security features into existing or new programs
      • Conduct quality assurance checks for security feature implementations
      • Assist in establishing security protocols for application or network
      • Assist in designing and implementing security architectures that adhere to compliance regulations, such as NIST frameworks
      • Similar NICE Workroles: Security Architect, Software Developer, Systems Testing & Evaluation Specialist
    • Fellows should be familiar with or have experience in some of the following:
      • Practices: Application Security, Encryption, Ethical Hacking, Software Reverse Engineering, Quality Assurance
      • Languages and frameworks: Python, Java, C++, C, x86 Assembly, NIST
      • Tools: Ghidra, The Sleuth Kit and Autopsy, Crowdstrike, Wireshark
  • Security & Risk Analyst
    • Fellows should be comfortable:
      • Conduct research to identify potential threat vectors and vulnerabilities and their impacts
      • Identify security and privacy requirements for products, features, and/or systems
      • Collaborate with stakeholders to establish best practices and standards to safeguard a system’s security
      • Assist in reviewing Identity and Access Management systems to ensure compliance
      • Develop reporting schemes, monitoring dashboards, and response protocols for security threats and risks
      • Similar NICE Workroles: Systems Security Analyst, Threat/Warning Analyst, Vulnerability Assessment Analyst, Cyber Policy and Strategy Planner
    • Fellows should be familiar with or have experience in some of the following:
      • Practices: Threat modeling, Penetration testing, Vulnerability scans, Incident Detection & Response, Static or Dynamic Anlaysis, ETL
      • Languages and frameworks: MITRE ATT&ACK Framework, NIST, Python, SEIM, OSINT
      • Tools: Tableau, Microsoft PowerBI, Metasploit, Nmap, sqlmap, Splunk
• Data
  • Data Analyst
    • Fellows should be comfortable:
      • Collecting and cleaning both structured and unstructured data, performing exploratory data analysis;
      • Utilizing statistical techniques to analyze and interpret data;
      • Developing data analyses—including dashboards, visualizations, reports, and other tools—that are clear and usable for host office stakeholders;
      • Producing actionable insights and recommendations for key stakeholders, both technical and non-technical.
    • Fellows should be familiar with or have experience in some of the following:
      • Practices: Data collection, cleaning, analysis, statistical techniques, data visualization, dashboard development, report writing, mapping & GIS
      • Languages and frameworks: Python, R, SQL, SAS, JavaScript, NumPy, pandas, Matplotlib, Seaborn, Plotly
      • Tools: Jupyter Notebook, RStudio, Tableau, PowerBI, arcGIS, Google Analytics
  • Data Engineer
    • Fellows should be comfortable:
      • Collecting and cleaning both structured and unstructured data;
      • Developing reproducible practices/pipelines for efficient data extraction, transformation, conversion, and integration;
      • Implementing and developing databases, schemas, data collection systems, and other strategies to optimize data efficiency and quality;
      • Producing actionable insights and recommendations for key stakeholders, both technical and non-technical.
    • Fellows should be familiar with or have experience in some of the following:
      • Practices: Data management, imputation, statistical techniques, ETL
      • Languages and frameworks: Python, R, Java, SQL, Hadoop, GIS, ArcGIS, YAML
      • Tools: Amazon Web Services, Oracle, Azure
  • Data Scientist
    • Fellows should be comfortable:
      • Utilizing statistical techniques to clean, interpret, and analyze both structured and unstructured data;
      • Leveraging machine learning algorithms to build predictive models for analysis of large datasets, both qualitative and quantitative;
      • Producing actionable insights and recommendations for key stakeholders, both technical and non-technical.
    • Fellows should be familiar with or have experience in some of the following:
      • Practices: Data management, statistical techniques, machine learning, natural language processing, data mining, data visualization
      • Languages and frameworks: Python, R, SQL, TensorFlow, PyTorch, scikit-learn, Spark ML, NumPy, pandas, Hadoop, Shiny, bash scripting
      • Tools: Jupyter Notebook, Google Analytics, Tableau, Amazon Web Services, Linux, RStudio
• Design
  • Graphic/Visual Designer
    • Fellows should be comfortable:
      • Working with both new and established visual identity guidelines;
      • Brainstorming original design concepts;
      • Creating digital design assets for both internal and public-facing materials for host office initiatives (e.g., reports, websites, dashboards);
      • Receiving and incorporating user and stakeholder feedback into their work.
    • Fellows should be familiar with or have experience in some of the following:
      • Practices: Graphic design, visual design, typography, iconography, brand strategy and development, design processes
      • Tools: Adobe Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, or InDesign), Figma
  • UX/UI Designer
    • Fellows should be comfortable:
      • Practicing the human-centered design process and implementing user and stakeholder feedback into their work;
      • Developing designs and prototypes for web and/or mobile applications—from low-fidelity mockups to functional products and services;
      • Implementing design systems (like the US Web Design System) and accessibility standards in their work.
    • Fellows should be familiar with or have experience in some of the following:
      • Practices: Human-centered design, systems thinking and design, illustrating design concepts, receiving and implementing feedback, wireframing, accessibility in design
      • Tools: Adobe Suite (AdobeXD, Illustrator, Photoshop), Figma, Sketch, Balsamiq, Invision
• Product
  • Product Manager
    • Fellows should be comfortable:
      • Conducting user interviews with internal and external stakeholders to determine user needs;
      • Creating a product roadmap to inform a new product or to enhance an existing one, with measurable goals, timeline, and/or performance metrics;
      • Implementing the product vision by creating prototypes, design assets, and documentation;
      • Managing stakeholder relationships and creating buy-in in ambiguous and bureaucratic environments.
    • Fellows should be familiar with or have experience in any/all of the following:
      • Practices: Product-market research, cost-benefit analyses, product roadmaps, product strategy, human-centered design, agile development, stakeholder management, user research, literature review
  • User Researcher
    • Fellows should be comfortable:
      • Conducting user research and usability testing sessions with individuals from a variety of backgrounds;
      • Utilizing a range of qualitative and quantitative methods for collecting user input;
      • Synthesizing findings in a concise and actionable manner;
      • Advocating for users’ needs to be reflected in product or service implementation.
    • Fellows should be familiar with or have experience in any/all of the following:
      • Practices: Human-centered design, service design, customer experience design, user research, stakeholder and user interviews, user testing, interview design, survey design and analysis, mixed methods research
• Software Engineering
  • Front-End Engineer
    • Fellows should be comfortable:
      • Creating, testing, and implementing scalable software on the client side of web or mobile applications;
      • Writing and integrating code that is clean and well-documented.
    • Fellows should be familiar with or have experience in some of the following:
      • Practices: Web development and design, agile development, automated tests, code management and documentation, UX/UI design principles, web accessibility, and ADA compliance
      • Languages and frameworks: HTML/CSS, JavaScript, React, Redux, Angular, Ember, Jest, Karma, Jasmine, Mocha, AVA, tape, Ruby on Rails
      • Tools: Amazon Web Services, Visual Studio Code or other IDEs
  • Back-End Engineer
    • Fellows should be comfortable:
      • Creating, testing, and implementing scalable software and/or data solutions to support critical products and services on the server side;
      • Writing and integrating code that is clean and well-documented.
    • Fellows should be familiar with or have experience in some of the following:
      • Practices: Database development and storage, server optimization and compliance; cloud computing; modular code libraries; unit tests and automation, API development
      • Languages and frameworks: PHP, Python (Django, Flask, etc.), Java, .NET, C++, C#, Ruby, SQL, JavaScript, SASS, Less, Wolfram, Racket, Haskell, Apache, Perl, Bash, Korn
      • Tools: Amazon Web Services, Windows/Linux, MySQL, MongoDB, Oracle, Kubernetes
  • Full-Stack Engineer
    • Fellows should be comfortable:
      • Creating, testing, and implementing scalable software or process automation on both the client-side and server-side;
      • Writing and integrating code that is clean and well-documented.
    • Fellows should be familiar with or have experience in some of the following:
      • Practices: Agile development, code management and documentation, web development and design, APIs development, database development and storage, server optimization and compliance, cloud computing, modular code libraries, unit tests and automation, web accessibility, and ADA compliance
      • Languages and frameworks: HTML/CSS, JavaScript, React, Redux, Angular, Ember, Jest, Karma, Jasmine, Mocha, AVA, tape, Ruby on Rails, PHP, Python (Flask, Django), Java, .NET, C++, C#, Ruby, JavaScript, SASS, Less; Clojure, Wolfram, Racket, Haskell, Perl, Bash, Korn

Eligibility Criteria

• Work Authorization: You’re authorized to work in the United States—as a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or a nonresident with an F-1 visa eligible for CPT/OPT.
• Educational Background: At the time of application, you should be enrolled in or recently graduated from ONE of the following:
• An associate, bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree program at an accredited educational institution.
• A bootcamp or certificate program with a minimum program length of three months (12 weeks) and live instruction.
• Graduation Date: Your (expected) graduation date is no earlier than May 1, 2023.
• Age: Be at least 18 years old at the start of the program on June 10, 2024.
• Location: You will be in the United States for the entire program, June 10 through August 16.

For more information, visit Coding it Forward.