Program Controls Intern - Summer 2025

This is a U.S. based position. All of the programs we support require U.S. citizenship to be eligible for employment. All work must be conducted within the continental U.S.

Who We Are:

Raft (https://teamraft.com) is a customer-obsessed, non-traditional small business focused on Distributed Data Systems, Platforms at Scale, and Complex Application Development. Headquartered in McLean, VA, we partner with innovative federal and public agencies to leverage design thinking, cutting-edge technology stacks, and a cloud-native ecosystem. Our digital solutions impact the lives of millions of Americans, and we are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse work environment. 

About the Role
As a Program Controls Intern, you’ll work directly with Program Directors and Product Managers to support program planning, financial analysis, and performance tracking. You’ll gain exposure to cross-functional collaboration and develop critical skills in program management. This role is ideal for students eager to understand the intricacies of program controls and gain experience in the public sector.

What You’ll Do:

• Program Planning and Scheduling:
  • Assist in developing and maintaining Integrated Master Schedules (IMS) for various programs.
  • Support Program Directors and Product Managers in ensuring schedules are realistic and achievable.
  • Monitor schedule performance and help identify variances.
• Cost Control and Financial Management:
  • Learn to track program budgets and expenditures.
  • Support the preparation of financial reports and variance analyses.
  • Assist in maintaining financial tools like the master rate card.
• Risk and Issue Management:
  • Work with program leaders to identify and assess program risks and issues.
  • Contribute to developing mitigation strategies and contingency plans.
  • Support tracking and reporting on risk management activities.
• Performance Measurement:
  • Gain experience with Earned Value Management (EVM) practices to track program performance.
  • Help generate performance reports and analyze trends.
• Stakeholder Communication and Coordination:
  • Participate in program reviews and status meetings.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure effective communication.

What We’re Looking For:

• Current undergraduate or graduate student in Business, Finance, Project Management, or a related field.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Interest in program controls, project management, or the defense industry.
• Proficiency in tools like MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and a willingness to learn project management software.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment and independently when needed.

Preferred Skills:

• Familiarity with financial or project management tools like JIRA or MS Project.
• Experience with data analysis and reporting.
• Interest in Agile methodologies or exposure to program planning concepts.

Work Type: 

• Location: Remote with potential travel to Raft HQ.
• Duration: June to August 2025
• Hours: Part-time, up to 29 hours per week 
• Compensation: $20 - $24 per hour, based on experience and qualifications.

Our Vision Statement:  

We bridge the gap between humans and data through radical transparency and our obsession with the mission. 

Our Customer Obsession: 

We will approach every deliverable like it's a product. We will adopt a customer-obsessed mentality. As we grow, and our footprint becomes larger, teams and employees will treat each other not only as teammates but customers. We must live the customer-obsessed mindset, always. This will help us scale and it will translate to the interactions that our Rafters have with their clients and other product teams that they integrate with. Our culture will enable our success and set us apart from other companies.

How do we get there? 

Public-sector modernization is critical for us to live in a better world. We, at Raft, want to innovate and solve complex problems. And, if we are successful, our generation and the ones that follow us will live in a delightful, efficient, and accessible world where out-of-box thinking, and collaboration is a norm. 

Raft’s core philosophy is Ubuntu: I Am, Because We are. We support our “nadi” by elevating the other Rafters. We work as a hyper collaborative team where each team member brings a unique perspective, adding value that did not exist before. People make Raft special. We celebrate each other and our cognitive and cultural diversity. We are devoted to our practice of innovation and collaboration. 

We’re an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.