Backend Software Engineering Intern - Undergraduate

Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. (Japan); San Mateo (CA); On-site; USD 57,000 - 81,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Sony Interactive Entertainment is seeking a Software Engineering Intern to join the Personalization team. You will help build backend services that power personalized recommendations and content discovery for PlayStation users, gaining hands-on experience with distributed systems, cloud technologies, and ML-driven personalization.

As an intern, you’ll work with experienced engineers, participate in design reviews, and contribute to scalable systems that impact millions of players.

Qualifications

• Pursuing a Bachelor's degree in CS/CE/SE or related field.
• Proficiency in at least one programming language (Java/Kotlin/Python/C++).
• Solid data structures, algorithms, OOP and design principles.
• Basic understanding of databases, APIs and backend dev.
• Willing to learn new technologies and own projects.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and improve backend services for personalized recommendations.
• Build and integrate APIs, microservices, and data processing components.
• Collaborate on design, tests, and deployment for scalable software.
• Participate in code reviews, sprint planning, demos, and CI/CD activities.
• Work with cross-functional teams to gather requirements and deliver solutions.
• Analyze systems to identify improvements and boost efficiency.
• Present work and learn from mentorship while contributing to team discussions.
• Gain experience with cloud tech, data processing, and ML-powered personalization.

Skills

Java

Kotlin

Python

C++

Problem solving

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science / Computer Engineering / Software Engineering

Tools

Spring Boot

AWS

Docker

Kubernetes

Job description

Role Summary:

Join the Personalization engineering team at Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) and gain hands-on experience developing the backend systems that help millions of PlayStation players discover games, content, and experiences tailored to their interests.

Our team builds and maintains large-scale services that use player data, business logic, and machine learning models to power personalized recommendations and content discovery across the PlayStation ecosystem.

As a Software Engineering Intern, you'll work alongside experienced engineers to design, develop, and improve scalable backend services. You'll gain practical experience with distributed systems, cloud technologies, and modern software development while contributing to projects that support personalized player experiences. Through mentorship and regular feedback, you'll strengthen your technical skills and learn how engineering teams build and operate reliable systems at scale.

What You'll Be Doing:

• Design, develop, and improve backend services that power personalized recommendations and content discovery across PlayStation.
• Build and integrate APIs, microservices, and data processing components within distributed systems.
• Collaborate with engineers to design, test, and deploy scalable software solutions that support performance and reliability.
• Participate in technical design discussions, code reviews, sprint planning, demos, and deployment activities to gain experience with the full software development lifecycle.
• Work with engineers, product managers, and cross-functional teams to understand requirements and develop practical technical solutions.
• Analyze existing systems and processes, identify opportunities for improvement, and propose solutions that enhance efficiency and performance.
• Present your work, share technical learnings, and contribute to team discussions while developing your communication and collaboration skills.
• Gain hands-on experience with cloud technologies, data processing, CI/CD, and how machine learning models support personalized experiences.

What We're Looking For:

• Currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, or a related field.
• Proficiency in at least one programming language, such as Java, Kotlin, Python, or C++.
• Strong foundation in data structures, algorithms, object-oriented programming, and software design principles.
• Basic understanding of databases, APIs, and backend software development.
• Self-motivated with a strong sense of ownership, curiosity, and willingness to learn new technologies.
• Strong problem-solving and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively in a team environment.
• Familiarity with microservice architectures, distributed systems, or cloud technologies is a plus.
• Experience with technologies such as Spring Boot, AWS, Docker, or Kubernetes is a plus.

Eligibility:

• Students with expected graduation between May 2026 and December 2029 from an accredited university. Undergraduate
• Able to work during one of the following periods: May 17th - August 6th or June 14th - September 3rd. Relocation assistance is available for eligible candidates.
• Must be available for the entire 12-week internship period.

At this time, SIE will only consider applicants who are authorized to work for any employer in the United States and who will not require work visa sponsorship from SIE now or in the future to maintain their authorization to work in the United States.

Our intern positions offer a fixed hourly pay rate. Please note that the pay rate is exclusive to the internship period and may not reflect what pay may look like following the completion of an internship.

At SIE, we consider several factors when setting each role's base pay range, including the competitive benchmarking data for the market and geographic location.

Please note that the base pay range may vary in line with our hybrid working policy and individual base pay will be determined based on job-related factors which may include knowledge, skills, experience, and location.

Intern Pay Range

$50 - $50 USD

Please note, Sony Interactive Entertainment conducts background checks at the offer stage for all new employees (which may include criminal background checks for some roles) and will need to process personal information to support these checks.

Please refer to ourCandidate Privacy Noticefor more information about what personal information we collect, how we use it, who we share it with, and your data protection rights.