Graduate Intern - Engineering Infrastructure

Altera; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 100,000; Part time

Job summary

Altera is seeking an Infrastructure Engineering Intern to support data center, lab operations, and core hardware tasks in San Jose. You will work with senior engineers on server imaging, OS deployment, and basic automation to gain hands-on enterprise IT experience.

The role focuses on Linux/Windows administration, networking basics, and infrastructure as code with Ansible, Puppet, and Terraform under mentorship. This is a fixed-term student internship in the Bay Area.

Qualifications

• Pursuing an advanced degree in a technical field (CS/CE/EE/Networks).
• Strong foundation in Linux/Windows admin concepts and server provisioning.
• Experience with data center operations, networking basics, and scripting is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Support data center and lab operations, including rack/stack and cabling.
• Assist with bare-metal server imaging and OS installation (Linux/Windows).
• Help automate routine tasks using Ansible or Puppet.
• Perform basic Linux/Windows administration and monitor systems.
• Assist with AWS/VPC networking and Terraform modules under guidance.
• Document rack elevations, cabling maps, and inventory logs.

Skills

Linux Administration

Windows Administration

Networking Fundamentals

Scripting (Bash, Python)

Ansible/Puppet

Cloud Infrastructure (AWS)

Data Center Operations

Server Imaging

Education

Master's or PhD in CS/CE/EE/Network Engineering

Tools

Ansible

Puppet

Terraform

AWS

NetApp

Job description

About Altera

At Altera™, our independence as the world's largest pure-play FPGA solutions provider gives us the focus, speed, and agility to innovate without compromise. With more than four decades of industry-leading FPGA expertise, our singular mission is to deliver the programmable technologies that help customers differentiate, innovate, and scale across rapidly evolving markets like AI, cloud, networking, and edge. As an independent company, we move faster, invest deeper, and partner more closely—empowering our teams to drive breakthrough innovation and shape the future of the FPGA industry.

About Altera Altera: Accelerating Innovators Altera provides leadership programmable solutions that are easy-to-use and deploy in applications from cloud to edge, offering limitless AI possibilities. Our end-to-end broad portfolio of products including FPGAs, CPLDs, Intellectual Property, development tools, System on Modules, SmartNICs and IPUs provide the flexibility to accelerate innovation. Altera is helping to shape the future through pioneering innovation that unlocks extraordinary possibilities for everyone on the planet.

About the Role

We are seeking an Infrastructure Engineering Intern to join our Engineering Infra Team in San Jose. In this role, you will support physical data center, colocation, and lab operations, along with core hardware and systems administration. You'll work closely with senior engineers on server imaging, structured cabling for HPC/lab servers and NetApp storage, and basic automation tasks. This role is ideal for students or early-career engineers looking to gain hands-on experience in enterprise data center operations, Linux/Windows administration, cloud networking, and Infrastructure as Code.

Responsibilities

• Data Center & Lab Operations: Support physical hardware operations, including rack/stack, cabling (Cat6, fiber, DAC), cable management, and labeling for HPC compute nodes, lab servers, and NetApp storage filers.
• Server Imaging & Provisioning: Assist with bare-metal server imaging, OS installation (Linux and Windows), and initial network configuration across lab and colocation environments.
• Infrastructure Automation: Use basic Ansible or Puppet scripts to automate routine system administration, configuration management, and server staging workflows.
• Systems Administration & Maintenance: Perform basic Linux and Windows administration tasks, monitor host status, troubleshoot physical and network connectivity issues, and replace faulty components.
• Cloud & Networking Support: Assist with basic networking tasks and infrastructure deployment activities involving AWS, VPC networking, and Terraform modules under the guidance of senior engineers.
• Cross-Team Collaboration & Documentation: Work with internal engineering teams to support lab capacity needs, and maintain accurate rack elevation diagrams, cabling maps, and inventory logs.

Salary Range

The pay range below is for Bay Area California only. Actual salary may vary based on a number of factors including job location, job-related knowledge, skills, experiences, trainings, etc. $90,000 - $100,000 USD

We use artificial intelligence to screen, assess, or select applicants for the position. Applicants must be eligible for any required U.S. export authorizations. #LI-MD1

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Currently pursuing a Master's or Phd degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Network Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 1+ year of relevant experience and/or coursework in systems administration, computer networking, infrastructure engineering, data center operations, cloud infrastructure, or a related technical area.
• Foundational knowledge of Linux and/or Windows operating systems and basic systems administration concepts.
• Understanding of fundamental networking concepts, including TCP/IP, VLANs, subnetting, routing, and network connectivity.
• Exposure to server hardware, data center infrastructure, or physical networking, including Ethernet, fiber, DAC cables, or SFP+/QSFP modules, through coursework, academic projects, labs, or prior experience.
• Exposure to scripting, automation, or configuration management, such as Bash, Python, Ansible, or Puppet, through coursework, projects, or hands-on experience.
• Strong problem-solving and troubleshooting skills, with the ability to learn new technologies and work effectively in a collaborative, high-challenge engineering environment.
• Applicants must include their academic transcript/grade sheet as part of the application.

Preferred Qualifications

• Coursework or hands-on experience with AWS cloud infrastructure, including VPC networking, routing, and related cloud services.
• Experience or familiarity with Terraform or other Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools.
• Exposure to enterprise storage concepts, including SAN/NAS, storage networking, or NetApp storage architectures.
• Experience with Ansible, Puppet, or other configuration management/automation tools.
• Experience writing Bash or Python scripts to automate system administration or infrastructure-related tasks.
• Experience with Linux server administration, OS installation/imaging, or bare-metal provisioning through academic, lab, or project work.
• Academic or project experience involving data center infrastructure, HPC systems, networking labs, or enterprise IT infrastructure.

Job Type: Student / Intern (Fixed Term)

Shift: Shift 1 (United States of America)

Primary Location: San Jose, California, United States

Posting Statement: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, religious creed, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, military and veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, gender, gender expression, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by local law, regulation, or ordinance.