The Civic Digital Fellowship is a paid, 10-week internship experience for mission-driven software engineers, data scientists, designers, and product managers to modernize technology at federal government agencies.

As a Civic Digital Fellow, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the technology behind government services and apply your skills to develop solutions that will serve everyday Americans. You’ll also receive one-on-one mentorship opportunities, participate in intimate conversations with leading technology and civic organizations, benefit from a strong and supportive community, and have the opportunity to impact a large user base — 323 million Americans.

Join the 200+ Civic Digital Fellowship alumni who’ve worked on high-impact projects—including saving taxpayers millions of dollars in survey costs using machine learning algorithms at the Census Bureau, building tools for diplomats abroad at the State Department, and developing a tool at the VA for Veterans to more easily take advantage of their GI Bill benefits.

Software Engineering Position Description Civic Digital Fellows working on software engineering projects may contribute to a wide range of impactful agency work, including web scraping, web development, app development, and database tools. Fellows should be adaptable, comfortable scoping their own problem statements, and able to advocate for their project in a non-technical environment. Fellows should expect to work closely with their agency partners and develop their projects iteratively.

• Familiarity with any/all of the following practices: web development, full stack engineering, app development, cloud computing, and cybersecurity.
• Prototype and test new applications, services, and enhancements.
• Own major feature development for digital products.
• Communicate technical concepts to a variety of stakeholders, many of whom may be non-technical.
• Commitment to using human-centered design practices in government.

We value applicants who:

• Excel technically. Whether it’s software engineering, data science, design, or product management, you bring a valuable skill set to the table.
• Are driven by our mission. You want to make a meaningful difference with your tech skills and are excited about public service and social impact.
• Work independently and carefully. You are proactive and take initiative in your work, build on your ideas to produce high-quality results, and can manage multiple tasks at once.
• Are great to work with. You’re collaborative and great with teams. You’ll help make the Civic Digital Fellowship more inclusive for the whole cohort.

Minimum requirements

• All Fellows must be U.S. Citizens due to federal hiring regulations. You will also be required to undergo a background check and security clearance process.
• Enrolled in an accredited degree program and graduating in December 2020 or later.
• All fields of study are welcome and we do not have any major or degree requirements.
• Previous experience in your field, including but not limited to internships, class projects, or hackathons.
• Passion for social impact.

COVID-19 Details

Coding it Forward is closely monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on in-person work, events, and travel. Our hope is to bring Civic Digital Fellows to Washington, D.C. in Summer 2021—pending the availability of a broadly distributed vaccine and the remote work status of our federal partners—but our team is equally prepared to offer a robust remote Fellowship experience.

Financial Details

• If the Fellowship occurs in-person in Washington, D.C., Fellows will receive a $4,000+ stipend, free housing, and free domestic travel to-and-from our nation’s capital.
• If the Fellowship occurs virtually, Fellows will be provided with an increased stipend to account for housing and living expenses.

Equal Opportunity Coding it Forward is committed to assembling a diverse cohort of Civic Digital Fellows. Women, minorities, people with disabilities, and Veterans are strongly encouraged to apply.

In compliance with applicable laws, Coding it Forward provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Coding it Forward is a nonprofit by and for young people creating new opportunities and pathways into social impact and civic technology. CIF organizes the Civic Digital Fellowship, a first-of-its-kind technology internship program for innovative students to solve pressing problems in federal agencies, and the First Act Fund, a catalytic source of funding and support for young technologists with innovative ideas.