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Dropbox

PhD Systems & AI/ML Research Intern (Summer 2026)

Sorry, this job was removed at 03:14 p.m. (CST) on Monday, Mar 23, 2026
Remote
Hiring Remotely in United States
13K-13K Annually
Remote
Hiring Remotely in United States
13K-13K Annually

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Role Description

Dropbox powers collaboration and cloud infrastructure for over 700 million registered users worldwide. We’re building the next generation of scalable storage, distributed compute, large-scale content processing, and secure infrastructure, with AI/ML workloads top-of-mind.

As a PhD Systems & AI/ML Research Intern, you’ll work on meaningful infrastructure problems at the intersection of distributed systems, backend services, and AI/ML workloads. Supported by senior engineers, you’ll own a project aligned with your research, that results in a working prototype with the goal of a submission for adoption internally and external publication. Come help us define and build the infra layer for our next-gen products.

Responsibilities
  • Execute a defined engineering/research project aligned with your research.
  • Implement a prototype that addresses a concrete infrastructure or AI-systems challenge.
  • Build and run benchmarks using realistic workloads to measure performance, reliability, or security improvements.
  • Document the design and implementation, including assumptions, architecture, tradeoffs, and evaluation results.
  • Deliver a final artifact that includes a working prototype, reproducible results, technical write-up, and internal presentation.
  • Collaborate with mentors to refine the approach, validate results, and, if appropriate, prepare findings for internal adoption or external publication.
Requirements
  • PhD candidate in Computer Science or a related field graduating between Winter 2026 and Spring 2028.
  • Proven experience in systems/infrastructure and/or AI/ML through research publications, significant projects, or internships where you built or tested advanced solutions.
  • Strong coding skills (e.g., Python, Rust, Go, C++) plus an ability to quickly prototype and iterate on cutting-edge ideas.
  • Curiosity and drive to explore novel systems methodologies and translate them into practical applications that solve practical needs.
  • Excellent communication and collaboration skills, especially in interdisciplinary teams.
Preferred Qualifications
  • Prior systems publications, open-source contributions, or experience operating large-scale infrastructure
  • Interest in translating research insights into product impact for real-world users
  • Familiarity and passion for swiftly moving from idea to experiment, comfortable with ambiguous or evolving project goals
Compensation
US Pay Range
$12,500$12,500 USD

Dropbox Austin, Texas, USA Office

Austin, TX, United States

Dropbox United States Office

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