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

Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. Dropbox is a global community shaping the future of work through innovative solutions. As a PhD Systems & AI/ML Research Intern, you will tackle meaningful infrastructure challenges in distributed systems and AI/ML, resulting in a working prototype aimed for internal adoption and potential external publication. 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 Skills 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 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 Benefits Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage Flexible PTO/Paid Time Off, paid holidays, Volunteer Time Off, and more, allowing you time to unplug, unwind, and refresh Perks Allowance to be used on what matters most to you, whether that’s wellness, learning and development, food and groceries, and much more Mental health and wellness benefits Monthly Internet Allowance Intern Social Stipend Annual Emerging Talent Summit, travel and hotel accommodations provided Company Overview Dropbox is a smart workspace company that provides secure file sharing, collaboration, and storage solutions. It was founded in 2007, and is headquartered in San Francisco, California, USA, with a workforce of 1001-5000 employees. Its website is Company H1B Sponsorship Dropbox has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships, with 127 in 2025, 105 in 2024, 103 in 2023, 166 in 2022, 197 in 2021, 157 in 2020. Please note that this does not guarantee sponsorship for this specific role.