College is a journey of discovery. Students explore new opportunities and create new connections every day while navigating s countless possible paths. The pressure of choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. That’s why we created the Technology Development Program (TDP) internship: to help make that decision easier.
TDP is a dynamic rotational program that immerses participants in various technology fields. Much like college coursework, it offers interns a well-rounded experience, giving them a real taste of what a career in tech can be. For students still exploring their interests, like Roger Ye, it’s the perfect place to begin.
“Since AT&T is involved in so many areas of tech,” Roger shared, “I knew I’d have the chance to work on a variety of meaningful projects in network, software, and data engineering.”
A prestigious assignment
As a part of our Chief Data Office (CDO), Roger has had the opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking advancements in artificial intelligence. It was a particularly exciting assignment as our CDO team is a leader in the field. “AT&T’s CDO has been recognized and awarded for their innovative work in AI, with some of their models ranking at the top of global leaderboards for accuracy,” he said. “It’s truly an honor to collaborate with some of the best minds in the space.”
Working with a renowned team like CDO was intimidating at first for Roger, but the supportive culture quickly put him at ease. His leaders and colleagues encouraged him to ask questions and provided guidance as he embraced cutting edge technology – and you can’t get much newer than Agentic AI.
The goal of Agentic AI is to take the burden of repetitive processes off employee by creating AI “agents” that can complete simple tasks without human guidance, allowing our team to focus on more impactful work. Roger’s agents were designed to help employees navigate the governance process for Generative AI projects.
While AI offers exciting possibilities, it is not without concerns. Ensuring these tools comply with company and legal regulations is essential for their ethical use. Roger’s agents serve as assistants that can recall all company AI policies and relay them back to the employee creating proposals. This approach both speeds up and simplifies the challenging process of navigating complex requirements and policies.
Overcoming challenges
For someone new to AI, the nuances of this work can be challenging. Roger credits his team’s support and his own determination to learn for his success. “A significant part of my role involves prompt engineering, and I quickly discovered that communicating effectively with Large Language Models requires a very specific approach. Structuring prompts for the best results was an unexpectedly complex but rewarding task.”
To overcome the challenge, Roger dedicated his time to studying industry best practices and classic trial-and-error. Through experimentation with various tools and databases, he gradually refined his approach, enhancing his ability to leverage them effectively.
This dual strategy of deep immersion and personal experimentation proved invaluable. Roger emphasizes the importance of staying up-to-date with the latest developments. “Don’t be afraid to take on opportunities that use tech you’re unfamiliar with because hands-on experience is the best way to grow and discover what truly excites you. It’s also important seek out others in the industry and form relationships because they can open doors and provide valuable insights.”
Finding his passion
In his time with the Technology Development Program, Roger has gained a deep familiarity with artificial intelligence, mastering skills like prompt engineering and building agentic workflows. He’s also learned how to communicate complex ideas clearly to experts and non-experts. TDP has provided him to assume leadership roles and coordinate work across teams.
These experiences have reshaped Roger’s prospective on technology. “Working in advanced AI frameworks and large-scale systems has taught me to view software engineering beyond writing code, but also in terms of scalability, compliance, and business value.”
Looking ahead, Roger aims to continue leveraging AI tools to drive innovation. His work on the Chief Data Office agent is just the first of many impactful solutions that bridge the gap between data and intelligent automation. Thanks to TDP, he possesses the knowledge and the network to make it happen.
Want to shape the future of communications? Discover how AT&T’s Technology Development Program can launch your career in technology.
Learn more and apply today
