Applied Science Intern, PhD

JobsCloseBy Editorial Insights

Roku is offering four summer internships in 2026 for PhD students or recent PhDs to join the AI @ Roku, Content, and Edge AI teams in Cambridge. Each intern works on clearly defined projects with senior supervision, aiming to deliver prototypes and a path to a permanent role. Projects span multi-modal AI with vision-language models, multimedia content generation, content understanding for episodic videos, and edge AI deployment. To stand out, emphasize a current or recent PhD in STEM, Python fluency, ML frameworks (PyTorch, TensorFlow), data visualization, and strong communication. Highlight KPI planning, collaboration, feasibility studies, and readiness to present to leadership; tailor your resume to Roku OS implications and cross-team impact.

Teamwork makes the stream work.

Roku is changing how the world watches TV

Roku is the #1 TV streaming platform in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, and we've set our sights on powering every television in the world. Roku pioneered streaming to the TV. Our mission is to be the TV streaming platform that connects the entire TV ecosystem. We connect consumers to the content they love, enable content publishers to build and monetize large audiences, and provide advertisers unique capabilities to engage consumers.

From your first day at Roku, you'll make a valuable - and valued - contribution. We're a fast-growing public company where no one is a bystander. We offer you the opportunity to delight millions of TV streamers around the world while gaining meaningful experience across a variety of disciplines.

About the team 

Roku continues a long-term trajectory of supporting summer internship roles within the organization, to provide applicants with experience of our enthusiasm, expertise and company culture.  

The Advanced Development, AI @ Roku (Roku’s internal AI productivity suite), Content, and Edge AI team within the Engineering organization has been granted 4 summer internships in 2026. These internships are only available to postgraduate students who are currently studying for a PhD or have recently successfully completed a PhD.

About the role 

The purpose of the internship is to involve each student in the work of the AI @ Roku, Content, and Edge AI team. Each student will be assigned a supervisor among the senior members of the team. This supervision aims to ensure that the intern finishes their contract with a clear view of what permanent employment within the AI @ Roku, Content, and Edge AI team would be like.  

All the intern projects will be clearly defined at the outset, easy to get started and challenging to complete, and relevant to the AI @ Roku, Content, and Edge AI team’s Q3 and Q4 2026 goals.  

Project outlines: 

• Multi-modal AI: Building new experiences for TVs with Vision-Language Models, focusing on multi-modal understanding and natural language interaction. 
• Developing multimedia content generation techniques 
• Content understanding and analysis for episodic and cinematic videos 
• Deploying and optimizing AI algorithms to the edge 

What you'll be doing 

• Define, agree, and track the meaningful measures (KPIs) of success in the project.  
• Collaborate effectively with other members of the project team to achieve goals.  
• Contribute meaningfully to the implementation and delivery of the project.  
• Identify and communicate key learnings within and across project teams.  
• Actively partner with experts in the project field in Cambridge, and internationally.  
• Conduct feasibility studies to determine if 'new-to-the-world' ideas are viable for long-term integration into the Roku OS. 
• Present findings and prototypes to the broader engineering and product leadership to influence Roku’s long-term innovation roadmap. 

We’re excited if you have 

• PhD in STEM discipline (current or recent)  
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills 
• Excellent communication and presentation skills 
• Proficient in data visualization and interpretation 
• High-level proficiency in Python 
• Background in mathematics, statistics, and CS 
• Ability to design and implement machine learning models 
• Familiarity with machine learning frameworks (PyTorch, Tensorflow) 
• Understanding of machine learning and computer vision algorithms and techniques 
• Experience with modern LLM orchestration frameworks (e.g., LangChain, LlamaIndex, LangFuse) is a plus. 

Our Hybrid Work Approach

Roku fosters an inclusive and collaborative environment where teams work in the office Monday through Thursday. Fridays are flexible for remote work except for employees whose roles are required to be in the office five days a week or employees who are in offices with a five day in office policy.

Benefits

Roku is committed to offering a diverse range of benefits as part of our compensation package to support our employees and their families. Our comprehensive benefits include global access to mental health and financial wellness support and resources. Local benefits include statutory and voluntary benefits which may include healthcare (medical, dental, and vision), life, accident, disability, commuter, and retirement options (401(k)/pension). Our employees can take time off work for vacation and other personal reasons to balance their evolving work and life needs. It's important to note that not every benefit is available in all locations or for every role. For details specific to your location, please consult with your recruiter.

Accommodations

Roku welcomes applicants of all backgrounds and provides reasonable accommodations and adjustments in accordance with applicable law. If you require reasonable accommodation at any point in the hiring process, please direct your inquiries to [email protected].

The Roku Culture

Roku is a great place for people who want to work in a fast-paced environment where everyone is focused on the company's success rather than their own. We try to surround ourselves with people who are great at their jobs, who are easy to work with, and who keep their egos in check. We appreciate a sense of humor. We believe a fewer number of very talented folks can do more for less cost than a larger number of less talented teams. We're independent thinkers with big ideas who act boldly, move fast and accomplish extraordinary things through collaboration and trust. In short, at Roku you'll be part of a company that's changing how the world watches TV. 

We have a unique culture that we are proud of. We think of ourselves primarily as problem-solvers, which itself is a two-part idea. We come up with the solution, but the solution isn't real until it is built and delivered to the customer. That penchant for action gives us a pragmatic approach to innovation, one that has served us well since 2002. 

To learn more about Roku, our global footprint, and how we've grown, visit https://www.weareroku.com/factsheet.

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