AI Foundations - Software Engineer - Research Internship 2027

IBM; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 39,000 - 55,000; Part time

Job summary

IBM Research in Cambridge, MA seeks an AI Software Engineer Intern to contribute to the AI Foundations Research team. You will participate in end-to-end research, prototype new algorithms, and validate them through experiments, shaping real-world AI impact.

Work in small, expert teams on transformer architectures, LLMs, multi-modal models, and scalable infrastructure. You will write high-quality, well-tested code in Python and PyTorch and collaborate across disciplines.

Qualifications

• Foundational ML concepts including transformers and LLMs.
• Experience with Python for development, scripting or prototyping.
• Strong analytical and quantitative problem-solving skills.
• Clear communication and teamwork abilities.
• Eager to learn with focus on high-quality, well-tested code.

Responsibilities

• Engage in the full AI research lifecycle to prototype and validate new ideas.
• Develop scalable infrastructure powering cutting-edge AI research.
• Collaborate in small expert-led teams to deliver end-to-end projects.

Skills

Foundational ML Knowledge

Python

Problem-Solving

Communication

Learning Mindset

Education

High School Diploma/GED

Tools

PyTorch

Job description

Introduction

Join the pioneering AI Foundations Research team at IBM Research and contribute to shaping the future foundations of artificial intelligence. Our group of scientists, engineers, and designers is dedicated to conducting end-to-end research that delivers real-world AI impact through a rigorous, responsible, and open innovation framework. We are the team behind IBM's Granite open-source models, and our work spans multi-modal (vision, speech, language, code) and multi-lingual systems, data quality, data generation, novel model architectures, training recipes, governance and trustworthiness, and programming models for interacting with models. As an intern, you will explore cutting-edge research areas, including new algorithms for training, fine-tuning, reinforcement learning, and inference time scaling, alongside pioneering work in generative computing and generative programming for language, code, and other modalities, all within a collaborative environment that bridges fundamental science and transformative engineering.

Introduction

Join the pioneering AI Foundations Research team at IBM Research and contribute to shaping the future foundations of artificial intelligence. Our group of scientists, engineers, and designers is dedicated to conducting end-to-end research that delivers real-world AI impact through a rigorous, responsible, and open innovation framework. We are the team behind IBM's Granite open-source models, and our work spans multi-modal (vision, speech, language, code) and multi-lingual systems, data quality, data generation, novel model architectures, training recipes, governance and trustworthiness, and programming models for interacting with models. As an intern, you will explore cutting-edge research areas, including new algorithms for training, fine-tuning, reinforcement learning, and inference time scaling, alongside pioneering work in generative computing and generative programming for language, code, and other modalities, all within a collaborative environment that bridges fundamental science and transformative engineering.

Your Role And Responsibilities

As an AI Software Engineer Intern, you will engage in the full research lifecycle to pioneer new advancements in artificial intelligence. Your role will involve identifying core challenges, designing novel prototype solutions, and validating them through rigorous experimentation. You will develop the robust, scalable infrastructure that powers cutting-edge AI research. Collaborating in small, expert-led teams, you will drive projects from concept to completion — transforming novel algorithms into high-performance, reusable code within modern, distributed frameworks, while contributing to IBM's open innovation initiatives.

Preferred Education

High School Diploma/GED

Required Technical And Professional Expertise

• Foundational ML Knowledge: Familiarity with core concepts of modern AI, including Transformer architectures and Large Language Models (LLMs). Hands-on class or project experience is a plus.
• Programming Proficiency: Experience with Python for software development, scripting, or prototyping.
• Problem-Solving: Strong analytical and quantitative skills with an ability to break down complex problems.
• Communication: Ability to clearly explain technical concepts and work collaboratively within a team.
• Learning Mindset: A strong interest in AI research and a commitment to building high-quality, well-tested code.

Preferred Technical And Professional Experience

• Technical Proficiency: Expertise in ML frameworks (PyTorch) and full-cycle development of algorithms and systems.
• Specialized Skills: Hands-on experience with generative AI (LLMs) and multimodal models.
• Communication: Ability to present complex research and build high-impact technical demonstrations.