Requirements

Currently pursuing or recently completed a Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD in Computer Science, Mathematics, Software Engineering, Physics, or a similar field, or equivalent practical experience
Proficiency in at least one language such as Java, Rust, Scala, C++, or C
Strong foundations in algorithms, data structures, and concurrency
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Coursework or projects in databases, compilers, operating systems, or distributed systems
Contributions to open-source projects
Must be planning on graduating in 2028; this should be your final internship before graduating

Nice to Haves

Curiosity about how data systems work, from query optimisers and execution operators to file formats and distributed processing
A high bar for correctness and a willingness to dig until you understand why something behaves the way it does
Comfort following a problem across languages, services, and layers of the stack
A practical approach to performance, grounded in measurement rather than intuition
Eagerness to learn, ask questions, and incorporate feedback
Interest in applying deep systems engineering to real-world problems, with empathy for the people who depend on our software

Working deep inside systems related to computations, query plan optimizations, operator execution, and efficient data input/output
Building and extending on open-source engines and table formats such as Apache Spark, Apache DataFusion, and Apache Iceberg
Developing data processing infrastructure that supports Palantir Foundry and various applications in healthcare, supply chains, and more
Writing new planning rules, enhancing native execution engine capabilities, or improving performance on large tables
Participating throughout the development lifecycle: design, code review, testing, and release
Ensuring correctness, compatibility, and predictable performance in production systems
Collaborating with experienced engineers to solve real problems in production environments

Opportunity to learn and work with technologies including Java, Scala, Rust, Python, Apache Spark, Apache DataFusion, Apache Iceberg, Apache Arrow, Apache Parquet, Gradle, Cargo, and GitHub
No prior experience with specific technologies is required; training is provided
Chance to understand modern data systems from the inside and apply this knowledge to impactful societal problems