Software Engineer Intern

Job Description

Software Engineer Intern | The Trade Desk

The Tone:
This is a Software Engineer Intern position at The Trade Desk, a global technology company with a core mission to create a better, more open internet for everyone through principled, intelligent advertising. Their advanced platform operates at an unprecedented scale, handling over 1 trillion queries per day. This role provides a unique opportunity to contribute to this mission, solving challenging problems and making a meaningful difference in building a more efficient and equitable media ecosystem. The Trade Desk is recognized for its award-winning culture, which emphasizes trust, ownership, empathy, and collaboration, and is committed to fostering inclusive spaces where diverse perspectives are valued daily.

The TL;DR
• Role: Internship
• Type: Full-time (3 days in-office hybrid schedule)
• Location: North America (Hybrid)
• Pay: $46–$62 hourly
• Team: Globally connected engineering teams
• Mission: Develop and deliver an impactful software project from inception to completion within a principled, intelligent advertising platform.
• Tech Stack: Distributed systems, Petabyte-scale data processing, Machine learning/AI, UI/UX

What You’ll Actually Do
• Project Ownership: Take full ownership of a meaningful project, guiding it from initial design through to successful implementation and deployment, making a positive impact for the team and the company.
• Mentorship: Receive dedicated, personalized one-on-one mentorship from an experienced software engineer who will guide your development and provide valuable insights throughout your internship.
• Global Collaboration: Engage and collaborate effectively with a globally connected team of fellow engineers, other interns, and various departments across cities worldwide, fostering cross-cultural and interdisciplinary teamwork.
• Technology Exploration: Immerse yourself in and work with cutting-edge technologies across a broad spectrum of computer science domains, including large-scale distributed systems, petabyte-scale data processing, advanced machine learning/AI techniques, and modern UI/UX development.

The Must-Haves
• Background: You are currently enrolled in a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree program, with an expected graduation date between Autumn 2026 and Summer 2027. This intern role is specifically tailored for individuals at an early stage of their academic career, ready to engage in significant project ownership.
• Experience: You demonstrate strong fluency in one or more modern object-oriented programming languages and possess a firm grasp on fundamental data structures and algorithmic techniques, which are crucial for developing robust software solutions at scale.
• Skills: You are characterized by being a quick and self-directed learner, eager to take full ownership over the design, planning, and implementation phases of your projects, supported by a dedicated mentorship system.
• Availability: You must be available to work 3 days in person in the office each week, specifically on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, to facilitate direct collaboration and engagement with your team.