INTERNSHIP DETAILS

Machine Learning Engineer Intern (Summer 2026)

CompanyCognitiv
LocationBellevue
Work ModeOn Site
PostedMarch 20, 2026
Internship Information
Core Responsibilities
The intern will work with a mentor on project planning and execution, including writing code to build and improve Machine Learning infrastructure and feature pipelines. Responsibilities also include performing data exploration, feature engineering, monitoring features, and collaborating with scientists and engineers.
Internship Type
full time
Salary Range
$30 - $32
Company Size
173
Visa Sponsorship
No
Language
English
Working Hours
40 hours
Apply Now →

You'll be redirected to
the company's application page

About The Company
Cognitiv is the leading advanced performance partner, powered by deep learning. Leveraging cutting-edge AI technology and data science since 2015 to more accurately predict consumer behavior and understand nuance, Cognitiv enables brands to connect with their customers in more precise, relevant, impactful moments at scale. Cognitiv’s Deep Learning Advertising Platform provides marketers with unprecedented flexibility, activating as a Dynamic Deal run through the DSP of your choice, as a managed service DSP, or through its industry-first ContextGPT product. Cognitiv is on a mission to bring intelligence to advertising.
About the Role
Are you ready to revolutionize the advertising industry? 
 
At Cognitiv, we are not just another AdTech company—we are industry trailblazers redefining media buying with our Deep Learning Advertising Platform. Since 2015, we have harnessed the power of cutting-edge deep learning technology and data science to transform how brands connect with their customers. Our mission? To bring intelligence to advertising and deliver unparalleled precision, relevance, and impact at scale. 
 
With our innovative platform, advertisers enjoy unprecedented flexibility—whether it is activating Dynamic Deals through their preferred DSP, leveraging our managed service DSP, or utilizing our industry-first ContextGPT product. As a part of Cognitiv, you will be at the forefront of AI-driven advertising solutions, driving change and achieving remarkable growth in a rapidly evolving industry.
 
Now, we’re growing!

Hybrid: Bellevue, WA (MTW in-office)

Internship Duration: June 1 - August 14, 2026

The Role

We are bringing on an MLE intern this summer to achieve the following:

  • Fresh Perspective on SOTA Research: Bring in new academic insights, especially in areas like Transformer-based feature generation or efficient DL training, to challenge our current paradigms.
  • Talent Pipeline: As our system scales to tens of billions of data points, we are looking for high-potential talent to tackle future architectural challenges.
  • Accelerated Innovation: Utilize the summer window to explore "high-reward" exploratory projects that are crucial for our long-term roadmap and require dedicated, deep-dive research.

What You’ll Do

  • Work with a mentor on project planning and execution, including regular check-ins and weekly 1:1s.
  • Write code to build and improve ML infrastructure and feature pipelines.
  • Perform data exploration, feature engineering, and monitoring features for data quality.
  • Collaborate with ML scientists and engineers in daily standups and weekly meetings.
  • Present progress and final project results

Tech Stack

  • Languages: Python
  • ML Frameworks: PyTorch
  • Data Processing: Spark, Ray, or similar distributed frameworks.
  • Streaming: Apache Flink, Kafka, or similar systems.
  • Infrastructure: Kubernetes, cloud platforms, distributed storage.
  • DevOps & Tooling: Git, CI/CD pipelines, GitHub Actions.

Who You Are

  • Currently pursuing a BS, MS, or PhD in Computer Science or a related technical field.
  • Strong programming skills in Python.
  • Experience with machine learning frameworks such as PyTorch or TensorFlow.
  • Familiarity with data processing and building ML workflows or pipelines.
  • Strong understanding of algorithms, data structures, and software engineering fundamentals.

Bonus Points:

  • Experience with large-scale data systems or distributed processing (e.g., Spark, Flink, Ray).
  • Exposure to ML systems or infrastructure (feature pipelines, training pipelines, model evaluation).
  • Interest or experience in modern ML approaches (e.g., Transformers, embeddings, LLM-related workflows).
  • Familiarity with cloud environments or production systems (e.g., AWS, Kubernetes, CI/CD).

Why Join Us?

This internship offers a rare combination of cutting-edge ML research and real-world production systems. Interns will work with large-scale data, modern ML techniques like embeddings and Transformers, and streaming/infra systems used in production. They will own impactful projects, contribute to systems that operate at significant scale, and collaborate with a highly experienced ML team. It’s an ideal opportunity for students who want to go beyond notebooks and gain true ML systems experience, with a strong pathway to full-time roles.

What Success Looks Like

By the end of the internship, the intern will have delivered an end-to-end ML project — from data exploration and feature engineering to building pipelines and running experiments. They will write clean, maintainable code, communicate their results clearly, and take ownership of their work. Success means their work can be used or extended in production and they can effectively collaborate in a fast-paced ML engineering team.

Compensation: $30-$32/hour USD

 

What We Offer

Compensation is based on experience, skills, and other factors. Base salary is just one part of your total rewards at Cognitiv—you’ll also receive equity and a comprehensive benefits package.
 
Highlights include:
  • Medical, dental & vision coverage (some plans 100% employer-paid)
  • 12 weeks paid parental leave + 4 weeks WFH
  • Unlimited PTO + Work-From-Anywhere August
  • Career development with clear advancement paths
  • Equity for all employees
  • Hybrid work model & daily team lunch
  • Health & wellness stipend + cell phone reimbursement
  • 401(k) with employer match
  • Parking (CA & WA offices) & pre-tax commuter benefits
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Comprehensive onboarding (Cognitiv University)
  • …and more!

What You’ll Find at Cognitiv

  • Festiv – We make work fun with cross-team games, events, and creative team bonding.
  • Responsiv – You’ll be close to clients and leadership, influencing real outcomes.
  • Inclusiv – Diversity and individuality are celebrated across all levels.
  • Inventiv – We reward curiosity and embrace bold ideas.
  • Transformativ – We support your growth with training, mentorship, and flexibility.
  • Collaborativ – We operate across coasts, connected by purpose and teamwork.
Cognitiv is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace for all.
Key Skills
PythonPyTorchSparkRayFlinkKafkaKubernetesCloud PlatformsGitCI/CDGitHub ActionsTransformer-based Feature GenerationDeep Learning TrainingData ExplorationFeature EngineeringML Infrastructure
Categories
TechnologyEngineeringScience & ResearchData & AnalyticsSoftware
Benefits
MedicalDentalVision coveragePaid parental leaveUnlimited PTOWork-From-AnywhereCareer developmentEquityHealth & wellness stipendCell phone reimbursement401(k) with employer matchParkingPre-tax commuter benefitsEmployee Assistance Program