📍
Menlo Park, CA

Software Engineer Intern, Systems & Infrastructure (PhD)

Internship
Technology & Digital
Software engineering
Posted:
December 29, 2025

Meta

Social network and technology platform
71.8
Palpable Score
Apply >view company >

We build systems that allow billions of people all over the world to connect and communicate using whatever devices they have available. Our researchers and engineers are constant innovators as they design and build scalable, fast, reliable, and efficient systems. Moreover, fast evolving social apps and highly dynamic social workloads present many unique research opportunities. From distributed systems, to data centers, hardware, storage, mobile and beyond, the entire Meta platform is our lab for research, development, and innovation.As a PhD Intern at Meta, you will help build the systems behind Meta’s products, create web applications that reach millions of people, build high volume servers and be a part of a team that’s working to help connect people around the globe. You will have a keen interest in relevant engineering fields, including (but not limited to) machine learning and artificial intelligence, distributed software systems, storage systems, data warehousing and analytics, database systems, operating systems, networking systems, programming languages, compilers & runtime systems, security & privacy, cryptography, and mobile systems.As part of our hiring process, PhD interns are matched to a relevant team based on their experience and interests.This internship has a minimum twelve (12) week duration with 2026 start dates only.

Software Engineer Intern, Systems & Infrastructure (PhD) Responsibilities

Build highly-scalable software systems using a wide variety of languages such as C++, Java, JavaScript, PHP, SQL, OCAML, and Python with a high degree of autonomy

Design flexible APIs for Meta product teams developing applications for web and mobile

Proactively identify and drive changes as needed for assigned codebase, product area and/or systems

Perform specific responsibilities which vary by team

Minimum Qualifications

Currently has, or is in the process of obtaining, PhD in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or relevant technical field

Research and/or work experience in Algorithms, Architecture, Compilers, Databases, Data Mining, Distributed Systems, Mobile, Networking, Operating Systems, Programming Languages, Security, Cryptography, or Storage

Experience in systems software or algorithms

Experience coding in C++, Java, PHP or Python

Interpersonal experience: cross-group and cross-culture collaboration

Must obtain work authorization in country of employment at the time of hire, and maintain ongoing work authorization during employment

Preferred Qualifications

Intent to return to degree-program after the completion of the internship/co-op

Demonstrated software engineer experience via an internship, work experience, coding competitions, or PhD papers

Proven track record of achieving significant results as demonstrated by grants, fellowships, patents, as well as first-authored publications at leading workshops or conferences

Demonstrated creativity and quick problem solving capabilities

About the company

Meta

Company overview
Meta builds consumer apps and platforms used by billions of people, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger, and Threads. Meta makes most revenue from advertising across these products, and the company also runs Reality Labs for AR and VR hardware and software. Meta also invests heavily in AI research and product development across the company’s apps and infrastructure.

Locations and presence

Meta is headquartered in Menlo Park, California and hires across major hubs in North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. Work setup is generally hybrid for many corporate roles, with multi-day office expectations, and Instagram announced a five-day in-office requirement for desk-assigned U.S. staff starting February 2, 2026.

Palpable Score

71.8
/ 100
Meta offers multiple credible early-career doors, including internships, “University Grad” roles, and rotational programs that are explicitly positioned as immersive learning experiences. Pay signals look competitive and often transparent via published ranges and widely reported intern and new-grad compensation, but early-career predictability is reduced by mixed candidate experiences and widely reported workforce churn in parts of the business.
view full company profile >

Related jobs

📍
Heredia, Costa Rica
LSEG
Social Media Analyst
January 27, 2026
view job >
📍
Stellenbosch, South Africa
MSCI
Financial Data Analyst - IBOR
January 27, 2026
view job >
📍
Stellenbosch, South Africa
MSCI
Financial Data Associate
January 27, 2026
view job >
📍
Mumbai, India
MSCI
Financial Data Associate
January 27, 2026
view job >