Software Engineer Intern - Software Systems

Zoox; Foster City (CA); On-site; USD 73,000 - 106,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Relocation stipend

Job summary

Zoox announces a Software Systems internship program in the Bay Area offering hands-on experience with autonomous vehicle software and mentorship from industry experts. Interns contribute to real projects across multiple teams, including Systems Engineering, Software Performance, Software Core, Product Security, and Simulation.

The role emphasizes designing and implementing software, evaluating options, testing, and presenting results to stakeholders at summer's end.

Qualifications

• Pursuing a B.S., M.S., Ph.D., or advanced degree in computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, or a related engineering program.
• Expected to graduate Fall 2027 to Summer 2028 and remain enrolled at an accredited college or university throughout the internship.
• Able to commit to a full-time, 12-week internship beginning in May/June 2027.
• Ability to relocate to the Bay Area, California, for the duration of the internship.
• Interns may not use proprietary information for thesis or external publication without Zoox authorization.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement software for a defined project, such as a profiling tool, a network scheduler, an automated checker or a simulation component.
• Evaluate design options through experiments, benchmarks or literature review.
• Test and document your work so the team can adopt it.
• Present results to engineering stakeholders at the end of the summer.

Skills

C++

Python

OS fundamentals

Networking

Git/CI

Interpersonal skills

Education

B.S./M.S./Ph.D. in CS/CE/EE or related engineering program

Job description

About Our Internship Program

Zoox's internship program offers hands‑on experience with cutting‑edge technology, mentorship from some of the industry's brightest minds, and the opportunity to make meaningful contributions to real projects. We seek interns who demonstrate strong academic performance, engagement beyond the classroom, intellectual curiosity, and a genuine interest in Zoox's mission.

Job Description

The Software Systems organization builds the foundations that the autonomy and product software run on, and the systems that verify that software. Interns gain an end‑to‑end view of the Zoox software stack while solving a focused problem on one of the teams below. Interns in this pipeline may be considered for opportunities across a range of teams, including:

• Systems Engineering: Builds simulation‑based and model‑based checks that catch software defects early in the development pipeline.
• Software Performance: Profiles and optimizes runtime latency and resource use across the stack.
• Software Core: Develops the middleware, networking and sensor tooling that connect vehicle software components.
• Product Security: Strengthens the security of the vehicle and its software, including remote attestation.
• Simulation: Builds machine learning‑based sensor simulation, reconstruction and world models used to test the driving software.

In this Role, You Will...

• Design and implement software for a defined project, such as a profiling tool, a network scheduler, an automated checker or a simulation component
• Evaluate design options through experiments, benchmarks or literature review
• Test and document your work so the team can adopt it
• Present results to engineering stakeholders at the end of the summer

Requirements

• Currently working towards a B.S., M.S., Ph.D., or advanced degree in computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, or a related engineering program
• Expected to graduate between Fall 2027 and Summer 2028, and enrolled at an accredited college or university throughout the internship
• Able to commit to a full‑time, 12‑week internship beginning in May/June 2027
• Ability to relocate to the Bay Area, California, for the duration of the internship
• Interns at Zoox may not use any proprietary information they are working on as part of their thesis, any published work with their university, or to be distributed to anyone outside of Zoox

Qualifications

• Experience programming in C++ or Python
• Understanding of operating systems, networking or computer architecture fundamentals
• Familiarity with modern software development practices (Git, unit testing, CI)
• Enthusiasm for automotive technologies and robotics
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills

Bonus Qualifications

• Experience with simulation frameworks used in robotics
• Experience with performance profiling, low‑level systems programming or network protocols
• Machine learning, security or 3D graphics experience, depending on team

Compensation

The monthly salary range for this position is $6,500 to $9,500. Compensation will vary based on geographic location and level of education. Additional benefits may include medical insurance and a relocation stipend.

About Zoox

Zoox is developing the first ground‑up, fully autonomous vehicle fleet and the supporting ecosystem required to bring this technology to market. Sitting at the intersection of robotics, machine learning, and design, Zoox aims to provide the next generation of mobility‑as‑a‑service in urban environments. We’re looking for top talent that shares our passion and wants to be part of a fast‑moving and highly execution‑oriented team.

Accommodations

If you need an accommodation to participate in the application or interview process please reach out to [e-mail] or your assigned recruiter.

A Final Note:

You do not need to match every listed expectation to apply for this position. Here at Zoox, we know that diverse perspectives foster the innovation we need to be successful, and we are committed to building a team that encompasses a variety of backgrounds, experiences, and skills.