Software Engineer Intern - Full Stack and AI

Software Engineer Intern — Full-Stack & Applied AILocation: San Francisco Bay Area Workplace: On-site Employment Type: Internship Compensation: $20–$30 per hour Experience: Student, recent graduate, or up to one year of professional experienceAbout Protocol NineProtocol Nine is a stealth-mode cybersecurity startup building next-generation security infrastructure and an AI-native security platform.We use specialized language models and agentic systems to enable real-time threat detection, intelligent security analysis, and automated policy enforcement. Our mission is to help organizations protect critical assets as digital environments become increasingly complex.About the RoleWe are looking for a hands-on Software Engineer Intern interested in building full-stack products and production-grade generative AI systems.You will work alongside experienced engineers to develop user-facing applications, backend services, APIs, and AI-powered workflows. Projects may include integrating large language models, building retrieval-augmented generation systems, developing agentic applications, and creating interfaces that help users understand and act on complex security data.This is an on-site role in the San Francisco Bay Area and an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to an early-stage product—from prototype through production deployment.What You’ll Do Build and improve full-stack applications powered by AI and machine learning.Develop scalable backend services and APIs using Python and modern web technologies.Create responsive, intuitive user interfaces using React and TypeScript.Integrate LLMs, retrieval systems, tools, and agentic workflows into production applications.Build and evaluate RAG pipelines, including data ingestion, retrieval, prompt construction, and response generation.Help deploy, monitor, debug, and improve AI-powered services.Use AI coding tools and agent harnesses to accelerate development while maintaining engineering quality.Write clean, testable, secure, and maintainable code.Participate in technical design discussions, code reviews, and agile development cycles.Take ownership of features from initial prototype through testing and deployment.What We’re Looking ForCurrently pursuing or recently completed a bachelor’s or master’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related technical field.Strong programming fundamentals and working knowledge of data structures and algorithms.Proficiency in Python.Experience with JavaScript or TypeScript and a modern frontend framework, preferably React.Familiarity with backend development, databases, and REST APIs.Hands-on experience through coursework, personal projects, research, open-source contributions, or previous internships.Interest in generative AI, LLM applications, RAG, AI agents, or cybersecurity.Strong problem-solving and communication skills.Ability to learn quickly, work collaboratively, and take ownership in a fast-moving startup environment.Preferred QualificationsYou do not need experience with everything listed below. Experience in one or more of these areas is a plus:Building applications with LLM APIs or open-source language models.RAG systems, vector databases, embeddings, or semantic search.Agent frameworks, tool-calling systems, or AI coding agents.Node.js, GraphQL, SQL, or NoSQL databases.Docker and cloud platforms such as AWS, GCP, or Azure.Model evaluation, observability, or production AI infrastructure.Cybersecurity, network security, or security automation.Technology AreasLanguages: Python, TypeScript, JavaScriptFrontend: ReactBackend and APIs: Python, Node.js, REST, GraphQLAI: LLMs, RAG, embeddings, prompt engineering, agentic systemsData: SQL, NoSQL, vector databasesInfrastructure: Docker, Git, AWS, GCP, or AzureWhat We OfferCompetitive compensation of $20–$30 per hour.Direct mentorship from experienced engineers.Meaningful ownership of features used in a real product.Hands-on experience building production AI and cybersecurity systems.Access to modern AI development tools and technical resources.A collaborative, high-ownership startup environment.Flexible working hours within an on-site work structure.Potential opportunity to convert to a full-time position based on performance and company needs.Our CultureProtocol Nine values curiosity, ownership, thoughtful experimentation, and continuous learning. We believe strong products are built by teams with diverse experiences and perspectives.Interns are treated as contributing members of the engineering team. You will be encouraged to propose ideas, make technical decisions, and own meaningful projects—with guidance and support from experienced mentors.Protocol Nine is an equal-opportunity employer. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace.