.svg){kind=spacer}
Software Engineering Intern
Job description
At Sift, we’re redefining how modern machines are built, tested, and operated. Our platform gives engineers real-time observability into high-frequency telemetry—eliminating bottlenecks and enabling faster, more reliable development.
Sift was born from our work at SpaceX on Dragon, Falcon, Starlink, and Starship—where scaling telemetry, debugging flight systems, and ensuring mission reliability demanded new infrastructure. Founded by a team from SpaceX, Google, and Palantir, Sift is built for mission-critical systems where precision and scalability are non-negotiable.
As a Software Engineering Intern, you’ll gain hands-on experience working on real features that impact our customers. You’ll be paired with mentors who will help you learn modern engineering practices while contributing to our core product.
In This Role, You’ll
- Build and test new product features alongside experienced engineers
- Learn how to design reliable, efficient systems for real-time data processing and visualization
- Participate in code reviews, design discussions, and team demos
- Work on projects that will be used by real customers
- Grow your skills in distributed systems, data engineering, and modern frontend/backend technologies
The Skillset You’ll Bring
- Actively pursuing a degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Math, Physics, or another STEM field
- Coursework in programming, data structures, and algorithms
- Excitement to learn new technologies and apply them in real-world settings
- Team-oriented, curious, and proactive in asking questions
Bonus Points
- School, internship, or side projects involving data-intensive or distributed systems
- Familiarity with React, TypeScript, or similar frontend frameworks
- Exposure to cloud or DevOps tools (AWS, Docker, GitHub Actions, Kubernetes)
Engineering At Sift:
You'll have the opportunity to help evolve and scale our platform because we're still in the early stages of building the product. Relevant technologies include:
- Web frontend & backend: ECharts, Go, gRPC, PostgreSQL, Protobuf, Radix, React, Redux, and TypeScript
- Data: Rust, Arrow, DataFusion, Kafka, Flink, Parquet
- Infrastructure: Docker, AWS, Kubernetes, Linux, Grafana
Location:
Sift’s headquarters is in El Segundo, CA. We collaborate in person twice a week—on Mondays and Thursdays—and come together for a full week every two months. We’re open to relocating candidates to LA for the right candidate.
Salary range: $45 - $65 per hour.
Eligibility:
US Person Required: Must be a U.S. Citizen or Green Card Holder due to ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations) / EAR (Export Administration Regulations) compliance requirements.
About the company
Job Location
Company Size
Our Story
Sift is transforming how modern machines are built and operated. Our platform goes beyond traditional monitoring, enabling automated data review that catches unusual conditions in systems too complex for manual checks. This not only enhances reliability but also dramatically speeds up development cycles. At our core, we provide a unified solution for ingesting, storing, and analyzing vast amounts of machine data. By combining powerful data processing with easy-to-use visualizations, we help engineers make sense of enormous amounts of information. From spacecraft to self-driving cars, Sift is the backbone of innovation for companies pushing technology to new limits. Born from the challenges of spaceflight, Sift aims to accelerate technological progress. We believe that by giving engineers better tools to understand and improve their creations, we can unlock a new era of innovation. Our mission goes beyond solving today's engineering problems; we're building the foundation for a future where the most ambitious machines are developed with confidence, run with precision, and constantly improved. We're also tackling related challenges like simplifying regulatory compliance, and improving manufacturing processes. By connecting data from various sources—from sensors to manufacturing records to regulatory requirements—we're empowering a new generation of engineers to build the technologies that will shape our world. Join us in our journey to usher in this new age of reliable, groundbreaking technology. Whether you're launching rockets, developing autonomous systems, or advancing energy and transportation, Sift is your partner in turning vast amounts of data into insights that drive innovation forward.