Who We Are

Since opening in 1998, The Tech Interactive has been an integral part of the San Francisco Bay area and is proud to serve families and young people through hands-on activities, experimental labs, and design challenge experiences. 

Here at The Tech our mission is to inspire the innovator in everyone! We are a team of diverse individuals committed to creating learning experiences that empower young folks to innovate with creativity, curiosity, and compassion. We believe that technology is leading and transforming lives all over the world and we want to help develop the next generation of problem-solvers.

If you join our team, we know you will have a fulfilling and rewarding role focused on giving back to our community, especially those that have been historically marginalized and underserved. 

Position Overview

We are excited to offer a 12-week (June - August) Exhibits Internship designed to immerse students and early-career professionals in the dynamic world of user experience design, informal education, and exhibit development. The Exhibits R&D Department will mentor a small cohort of interns to assist in the development and prototyping of interactive exhibits for new exhibitions on topics including earthquakes and robotics. Project work will vary according to the intern’s skills, experience, and interest, but will generally include the creation of mock ups and prototypes for exhibits, learning experience design & wireframing, and potentially the creation of a high fidelity prototype and/or final product. Interns will work onsite as well as asynchronously and will be assigned a staff mentor who will meet with them on a weekly basis. 

Learning Outcomes

• Gathering and analyzing user experience data to inform design decisions 
• Applying user-centered design practices to create robust experiences that engage a diverse group of audiences
• Designing engaging interactive experiences that support desired learning outcomes 
• Creation of either digital or physical prototypes, and moving these prototypes through an iterative process to arrive at a robust final product

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with exhibit team members on the conceptualizing of interactive exhibits
• Create a variety of low to high fidelity prototypes to support testing of overall learning experience design 
• Assist with visitor prototyping to evaluate overall audience engagement, accessibility, and learning takeaways. 
• Make design iterations based on visitor feedback and prototyping learnings. 
• Maintain documentation of their design process to inform final exhibit design

Requirements and skills 

• Currently enrolled in a college or university graduate program with a focus on: digital media, interactive design, game design, computer science, UX/UI, learning research, mechanical engineering, industrial design, or other related fields
• Portfolio exemplifying prior experience designing education-oriented or technical projects
• Experience with at least one platform used in the design of digital or physical exhibits (Figma, Adobe XD, Inventor, Fusion 360, Solidworks)
• Familiarity with user-centered design, accessible design and/or inclusive design practices, particularly as it relates to inclusion in STEM
• Interest in STEM communication 
• Interest and/or knowledge in hardware to software interface a plus

Working Conditions and Schedule 

• Available and willing to work 24 - 30 hours per week for 12 weeks between June and August 2026 with at least one onsite day per week from Tuesday through Thursday 9am - 4pm.
• Ability to use a computer, sit or remain at a computer for prolonged period of time and may involve prolonged screen time and exposure to typical office noise levels.
• Occasional standing, walking, bending, or reaching.
• Ability to perform light physical tasks related to prototyping and hands-on activities, such as assembling simple materials, using basic tools, and manipulating small components
• Ability to actively engage with and speak to guests in a museum environment

Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) at The Tech

Our success is dependent on building teams that include people from different backgrounds and experiences who challenge each other’s assumptions with fresh perspectives. To that end, we look for a diverse pool of applicants including but not limited to those from historically marginalized groups — women, people with disabilities, people of color, people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or nonconforming, veterans, and people from different socioeconomic backgrounds.

The Tech will provide an equal opportunity in recruitment and employment to all individuals and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, physical or mental disability, legally protected medical condition, military or veteran status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law. Any applicant with a disability may contact The Tech Interactive to arrange for accommodations. Please contact the Tech at careers@thetech.org or call (408) 795-6248.

This is an unpaid internship; interns will gain hands-on experience, direct industry mentorship, and professional development while contributing to our mission to Inspire the Innovator in Everyone.

Initial review date: May 1, 2026. This is the priority application deadline. Applications submitted after this date may not be fully considered.