AI Engineering Intern, Voice & LLM Systems

Presto Phoenix, Inc.; Palo Alto (CA); On-site; CAD 16,740 - 25,668; Full time

Job summary

Presto Phoenix, Inc. in Canada is seeking Fall 2026 AI Engineering Interns to help build the core intelligence behind our Voice AI platform, deployed across thousands of restaurant locations.

This hands-on internship sits at the intersection of large language models, real-time systems, and production AI. You will gain exposure to the full AI development lifecycle, from prototyping new capabilities to supporting production deployments, with mentorship and the potential to convert to a full-time

Qualifications

• Enrolled in a bachelor’s or master’s program in CS, AI, ML, or related field.
• Strong Python fundamentals.
• Coursework or projects in ML/NLP/AI systems.
• Familiarity with ML frameworks (PyTorch or TensorFlow).

Responsibilities

• Assist in building and improving AI/ML components for real-time voice interactions.
• Experiment with LLM-based systems including prompt design and evaluation.
• Help prepare clean, structured real-world datasets for model training.
• Contribute to rapid iteration, codebase ramp-up with minimal supervision.
• Collaborate with engineering, product, and AI teams to translate problems into solutions.
• Stay updated with advances in AI, LLMs, applied ML.

Skills

Python programming

ML/NLP fundamentals

PyTorch or TensorFlow

Problem solving

Communication

Education

Pursuing BS/MS in CS/AI

Tools

PyTorch

TensorFlow

Job description

About Presto Phoenix, Inc.

Presto is the leading Voice AI company for restaurant drive‑thrus, operating at scale in complex, noisy, customer‑facing environments. As the AI partner to more than a dozen of the most iconic American restaurant brands, Presto is building one of the most impactful real‑world applications of AI, directly improving revenue, labor efficiency, and guest experience for millions of people.

Founded by alumni from MIT, the University of Waterloo and University of Illinois, Presto is built on a deeply technical, entrepreneurial engineering culture. We place a premium on ownership, speed, and first principles thinking, empowering engineers to move quickly, experiment boldly, and solve hard, real‑world problems.

AI is not a feature at Presto, it is the foundation of how we build, evaluate, and evolve our products. We are backed by Remus Capital, were a Y Combinator company, and are headquartered in Silicon Valley.

This may not be the right fit if you’re looking for a passive, low‑ownership internship. Presto is for builders, experimenters, and problem‑solvers who thrive in ambiguity and are excited to work on real‑world AI systems alongside a high‑performance team.

The Role

We are looking for Fall 2026 AI Engineering Interns to contribute to the core intelligence behind Presto’s Voice AI platform.

This is a hands‑on technical internship at the intersection of large language models, real‑time systems, and production AI. You will work on systems that power live customer interactions across thousands of restaurant locations, where performance, latency, and reliability matter.

You’ll gain direct exposure to the full AI development lifecycle, from prototyping new capabilities to supporting production deployments.

What You’ll Do

• Assist in building and improving AI/ML components used in real‑time voice interactions.
• Experiment with LLM‑based systems, including prompt design, workflow iteration, and behavioural testing.
• Help clean, structure, and filter real‑world datasets to improve model performance and evaluation quality.
• Contribute to fast iteration cycles, ramping quickly on existing codebases and delivering with minimal oversight.
• Collaborate with engineering, product, and AI teams to translate real‑world problems into practical solutions.
• Stay current with the latest advancements in AI, LLMs, and applied machine learning.

What We’re Looking For

• Currently pursuing a bachelor’s or master’s degree in computer science, AI, machine learning, or a related field.
• Strong programming fundamentals in Python.
• Coursework or project experience in machine learning, NLP, or AI systems.
• Familiarity with ML frameworks such as PyTorch or TensorFlow.
• Curiosity, adaptability, and a strong desire to learn in a fast‑moving environment.
• Ability to manage priorities and communicate technical ideas clearly.

Nice to Have

• Hands‑on experience with LLM APIs or building AI‑powered applications (coursework, personal projects, or research).
• Exposure to cloud platforms such as AWS, GCP, or Azure.
• Experience with real‑time, low‑latency, or voice/conversational systems.
• Familiarity with data pipelines or working with large, messy datasets.

Why Intern at Presto

You’ll work on production AI systems deployed at meaningful scale, with real ownership over your contributions. You’ll be immersed in a high-performance, entrepreneurial engineering environment, iterating quickly, learning constantly, and shipping work that directly impacts millions of customer interactions.

Compensation & Benefits

Presto offers competitive internship compensation commensurate with experience and location. Interns also receive hands‑on mentorship, exposure to a high‑performance AI team, and the opportunity to convert to a full‑time role based on performance.

Our Commitment

We value people from all walks of life and are committed to building an inclusive, equitable work environment. We strongly encourage candidates from historically underrepresented backgrounds to apply. Presto Phoenix, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer.

If you need an accommodation to access the application or interview process, please contact [e-mail].