Student Trainee (IT/Data Science), OE
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is an executive agency that oversees the U.S. wholesale natural gas and electricity markets. In addition to monitoring the activity within these markets, FERC analyzes proposals to build liquefied natural gas terminals and interstate natural gas pipelines, licenses hydropower projects, and addresses issues related to grid modernization and a smarter grid.
This paid internship will be in the Office of Enforcement (OE) in the Division of Analytics and Surveillance (DAS) and will be either in Spring 2025 or Summer 2025.
Office of Enforcement (OE)
OE serves the public interest by ensuring effective regulations and protecting customers through understanding markets and their regulation, timely identifying and remedying market problems, assuring compliance with Commission rules and regulations, and detecting and crafting remedies to address market manipulation and other non-compliance issues.
Division of Analytics and Surveillance (DAS)
DAS focuses on identifying potential manipulation, anti-competitive behavior, and other anomalous activities in the natural gas and electricity markets. To support this mission, DAS analysts write code using SAS (or Python, R, SQL etc.) to screen FERC’s large set of non-public trading and market data as well as analyze energy trading strategies and detect potential manipulation, anti-competitive behavior, and other anomalies in the energy markets. DAS staff also participate in investigations and docketed proceedings, providing detailed transactional analysis, market event analysis, and subject matter expertise.
FERC is consistently rated highly by The Best Places to Work survey, scoring in the top 5 mid-size agencies for the past five years. DAS itself scores even higher, reflecting a group that not only believes in their work but also the people around them.
Internship Responsibilities:
Interns selected for the position will:
- Assist data scientists with engineering, maintaining and developing data pipelines using SQL/T-SQL/SparkSQL, Python/PySpark, R, Databricks, or Synapse to maintain data warehouses, data lakes, and other data products.
- Implement and maintain a quality assurance framework to ensure that data products are accurate.
- Using Power BI, R, Python, SQL, and other tools to analyze data and implement quality control checks. Utilizing GitHub and Microsoft DevOps to version control your code and to collaborate with your teammates.
- Clearly present findings, approaches, and processes to the team, the Division, or management orally and/or in writing.
DAS Interns will use tools and languages like Python, R, SQL and Power BI to build models estimating market harm, assist with ongoing investigations, build new and innovative screens that flag potential misconduct, and analyze data outside of the ISO structure. During the first weeks of the internship, an intern will participate in our internal bootcamp to rapidly develop the necessary technical knowledge that will inform their analytical work. At weekly meetings, interns will learn from their team members’ work and present their own progress while receiving guidance and input. Throughout their tenure interns will work with a mentor who brings expertise and knowledge to their assigned project. The internship will culminate with a division wide presentation, where the intern will present their work, demo the tools they developed, and showcase how their work aligns with the Division’s goals.
DAS interns often explore large datasets and explore complex challenges in energy markets and the tariffs that govern them. Our interns are at the forefront of where policy, market design, and industry intersect, and we pride ourselves in providing interns with meaningful, and relevant assignments.
Outstanding organization skills, an analytical mind, a passion for uncovering the truth, time management skills, and communication skills are all essential for DAS interns.
Other Useful Information:
Spring and Summer 2025 interns receive competitive compensation and work as a member of one of the seven branches within DAS. DAS is one of three divisions within OE at FERC. FERC regulates all interstate aspects of the national energy industry. OE works to ensure that the various electric and gas markets are adhering to their respective tariffs. DAS: (1) develops surveillance tools to review available market data to identify behavior that may violate Commission rules. (2) conducts continuous surveillance of natural gas and electric power markets. (3) identifies potential investigative subjects based on surveillance tools. (4) conducts the technical forensic analysis of market data needed for investigations, particularly those involving potential market manipulation. (4) determines what information is needed to assess and oversee developing energy markets and the areas where energy markets interact. (5) periodically reviews information needs to guide changes in information collection. (6) develops and implements new techniques to enhance electric power and natural gas market surveillance. (7) establishes and maintains contact with other Federal agencies and RTOs/ISOs that aid in surveillance of the energy markets. (8) drafts orders, rulemakings, and associated memoranda and advises the Commission on matters pertaining to energy market surveillance and analysis. (9) advises the Commission on the efficacy of its current regulatory policies in light of evolving energy markets and makes certain the Commission has the information needed to oversee the markets effectively. (10) provides technical analysis to the Commission and its various Offices.
Application Requirements:
During the posting window, the student must create a USAJOBS.GOV account and enter their information into the USAJOBS.GOV website portal. Please search "Federal Energy Regulatory Commission” (FERC). The positions will be listed as Student Trainee (IT/Data Science) and may have multiple offices listed other than the Office of Enforcement.
If you are interested in applying for a compensated spring and/or summer 2025 internship with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s Office of Enforcement (OE), please follow the USA Jobs link associated with this post and select “OE” or “Office of Enforcement” as your office of interest.
FERC currently is operating in hybrid environment, which includes this position.