Intern - Software Engineer (Masters)

RippleMatch Inc.; Santa Clara (CA); Hybrid; USD 55,000 - 83,000; Full time

Job summary

Palo Alto Networks invites motivated Master's students to join as Software Engineer Interns, contributing to a world-class R&D team. You will work on projects across Strata, Prisma, or Cortex, gaining hands-on experience while mentored by industry leaders.

Join a hybrid program designed to deepen your cybersecurity knowledge, expose you to impactful challenges, and help shape the next generation of security professionals.

Qualifications

• Pursuing a Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Machine Learning, Cybersecurity, or a related field and returning to school after the internship.
• Solid understanding of data structures, algorithms and software design principles.
• Familiarity with AI coding tools or concepts of AI-DLC.
• Demonstrated initiative and ability to work independently with limited direction on complex tasks.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with experienced engineers to design, develop, and execute on software development projects.
• Apply cutting-edge technologies to disrupt the cybersecurity industry.
• Develop, test, and debug high-quality code delivering meaningful improvements to Palo Alto Networks' products.
• Engage in applied learning and gain insights by working with security experts.
• Contribute to the full software development lifecycle from problem analysis to deployment.

Skills

Data structures

Algorithms

Software design

Independent work

AI coding tools

Education

Master's degree in Computer Science or related field

Tools

AI coding tools

Job description

Intern - Software Engineer (Master's)

Our Mission

At Palo Alto Networks®, we're united by a shared mission—to protect our digital way of life. We thrive at the intersection of innovation and impact, solving real-world problems with cutting-edge technology and bold thinking. Here, everyone has a voice, and every idea counts. If you're ready to do the most meaningful work of your career alongside people who are just as passionate as you are, you're in the right place.

Who We Are

In order to be the cybersecurity partner of choice, we must trailblaze the path and shape the future of our industry. This is something our employees work at each day and is defined by our values: Disruption, Collaboration, Execution, Integrity, and Inclusion. We weave AI into the fabric of everything we do and use it to augment the impact every individual can have. If you are passionate about solving real-world problems and ideating beside the best and the brightest, we invite you to join us!

We believe collaboration thrives in person. That's why most of our teams work from the office full time, with flexibility when it's needed. This model supports real-time problem-solving, stronger relationships, and the kind of precision that drives great outcomes.

The Team

Internships - Our global internship program trains the next generation of cybersecurity talent across a range of specializations, from threat intelligence to information security, engineering, and marketing. The program also features a combination of challenging projects with tangible impact, engaging social events, and networking opportunities. Interns and recent graduates can learn about the network security industry from leading thinkers, grow their professional networks, and be part of a career-defining experience.

Job Summary

As a Software Engineer Intern, you will join a world-class Research and Development (R&D) team dedicated to protecting our digital way of life by preventing successful cyberattacks. This role offers a unique opportunity to collaborate on software that solves real-world problems, working on impactful projects for our Strata, Prisma, or Cortex organizations. You will be part of a hybrid work environment, mentored by industry leaders, and contribute to projects that provide real hands-on experience. Our program is designed to inspire your intellectual curiosity and expand your knowledge in a dynamic, supportive setting.

Key Responsibilities

• Collaborate with experienced engineers to design, develop, and execute on software development projects, ensuring alignment on shared objectives.
• Apply cutting-edge technologies and innovative thinking to challenge the status quo and help disrupt the cybersecurity industry.
• Develop, test, and debug high-quality code that delivers meaningful and simplified improvements to Palo Alto Networks' products and services.
• Engage in applied learning, gaining deep insights into the cybersecurity industry by working alongside leading security experts.
• Contribute to the full software development lifecycle, from initial problem analysis and ideation to implementation and deployment.

Required Qualifications

• Currently pursuing a Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Machine Learning, Cybersecurity, or a related technical field, and returning to school post-internship.
• Solid understanding of computer science fundamentals, including data structures, algorithms, and software design principles.
• Familiarity with AI coding tools or concepts of AI-DLC.
• Demonstrated initiative and the ability to work independently with limited direction on complex tasks.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience or strong interest in the cybersecurity domain.
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively in a team environment with other engineers, researchers, and product managers.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.