Software Automation Engineer Internships
Software automation engineer internships give university students, recent graduates, and early-career switchers hands-on project experience testing and building automated systems, mentorship from working engineers, and, at many employers, a path toward a full-time offer. Demand is strongest across {{top_industries_phrase}}, with Tesla, Rivian, and Keysight Technologies among the employers posting roles now.
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Showing 5 of 10+ Software Automation Engineer Internships
At Keysight, people come together to explore new ideas, challenge what's possible, and advance the technologies defining the future. Here, you'll find opportunities to do your best work, take your career further, and thrive in an award-winning culture. Learn more about our benefits.
- Design, model, and analyze photonic devices, subsystems, and integrated photonic systems using RSoft and related photonic simulation tools
- Develop software and automation frameworks for photonic design, electromagnetic simulation, optimization, and design trade studies
- Design and prototype agentic or semi-autonomous workflows that orchestrate multi-step photonic simulation, optimization, and evaluation pipelines
- Integrate RSoft, CODE V, and LightTools through software APIs and custom workflow automation
- Develop cross-product workflows that connect photonics, optical system, and illumination analyses to support end-to-end engineering studies
- Support photonic device characterization, design exploration, and performance optimization across multiple simulation environments
- Develop and validate numerical algorithms for optimization, workflow integration, and engineering decision support
- Explore AI-assisted or rule-based approaches for photonic design iteration, design-space exploration, and workflow coordination
- Document workflows and deliver reusable, production-quality software tools
- Collaborate closely with application engineers, photonics experts, and software development teams
- PhD candidate in Photonics, Optics, Optical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related field
- Strong foundation in electromagnetics, wave optics, photonic devices, photonic integrated circuits (PICs), optical communications, and computational photonics
- Hands-on experience with photonics design and simulation tools such as RSoft, Lumerical, COMSOL, or similar platforms
- Advanced programming skills in C++/Rust and Python
- Experience building research-grade or production-quality software tools
- Interest in automation, workflow orchestration, and engineering productivity solutions
- Familiarity with agent-based, workflow-oriented, or multi-step automation frameworks
Preferred / Differentiating Skills
- Experience designing photonic integrated circuits (PICs), optical communication systems, silicon photonics devices, waveguides, couplers, gratings, lasers, modulators, or related photonic technologies
- Experience with large-scale optimization problems involving photonic structures, inverse design, metasurfaces, or electromagnetic devices
- Knowledge of electromagnetic simulation methods including FDTD, BPM, RCWA, FEM, or similar techniques
- API-level integration with commercial photonics simulation tools
- Experience building software workflows that connect multiple engineering applications, including photonics, optical design, and system-level simulation environments
- Experience embedding optimization heuristics, decision logic, or AI-assisted capabilities into engineering workflows
- Familiarity with modern software development practices, including source control, code reviews, automated testing, continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD), and collaborative development workflows
- Demonstrated ability to translate advanced photonics research concepts into usable engineering software solutions
Careers Privacy Statement
Keysight Technologies Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other protected categories under all applicable laws.
At Keysight, people come together to explore new ideas, challenge what's possible, and advance the technologies defining the future. Here, you'll find opportunities to do your best work, take your career further, and thrive in an award-winning culture. Learn more about our benefits.
- Design, model, and analyze photonic devices, subsystems, and integrated photonic systems using RSoft and related photonic simulation tools
- Develop software and automation frameworks for photonic design, electromagnetic simulation, optimization, and design trade studies
- Design and prototype agentic or semi-autonomous workflows that orchestrate multi-step photonic simulation, optimization, and evaluation pipelines
- Integrate RSoft, CODE V, and LightTools through software APIs and custom workflow automation
- Develop cross-product workflows that connect photonics, optical system, and illumination analyses to support end-to-end engineering studies
- Support photonic device characterization, design exploration, and performance optimization across multiple simulation environments
- Develop and validate numerical algorithms for optimization, workflow integration, and engineering decision support
- Explore AI-assisted or rule-based approaches for photonic design iteration, design-space exploration, and workflow coordination
- Document workflows and deliver reusable, production-quality software tools
- Collaborate closely with application engineers, photonics experts, and software development teams
- PhD candidate in Photonics, Optics, Optical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related field
- Strong foundation in electromagnetics, wave optics, photonic devices, photonic integrated circuits (PICs), optical communications, and computational photonics
- Hands-on experience with photonics design and simulation tools such as RSoft, Lumerical, COMSOL, or similar platforms
- Advanced programming skills in C++/Rust and Python
- Experience building research-grade or production-quality software tools
- Interest in automation, workflow orchestration, and engineering productivity solutions
- Familiarity with agent-based, workflow-oriented, or multi-step automation frameworks
Preferred / Differentiating Skills
- Experience designing photonic integrated circuits (PICs), optical communication systems, silicon photonics devices, waveguides, couplers, gratings, lasers, modulators, or related photonic technologies
- Experience with large-scale optimization problems involving photonic structures, inverse design, metasurfaces, or electromagnetic devices
- Knowledge of electromagnetic simulation methods including FDTD, BPM, RCWA, FEM, or similar techniques
- API-level integration with commercial photonics simulation tools
- Experience building software workflows that connect multiple engineering applications, including photonics, optical design, and system-level simulation environments
- Experience embedding optimization heuristics, decision logic, or AI-assisted capabilities into engineering workflows
- Familiarity with modern software development practices, including source control, code reviews, automated testing, continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD), and collaborative development workflows
- Demonstrated ability to translate advanced photonics research concepts into usable engineering software solutions
Careers Privacy Statement
Keysight Technologies Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other protected categories under all applicable laws.
Software Automation Engineer Internship Market
Who's Hiring
Tips for Your Software Automation Engineer Internship Search
Apply in the fall for summer internships
Large employers open summer cohort applications the preceding fall and close them well before spring semester ends. Smaller companies and co-op programs post closer to start dates. Check listings throughout the year rather than waiting for one recruiting window so you don't miss roles that opened and closed early.
Build a portfolio before you apply
Intern hiring teams expect limited work history, so your projects are the evidence. Create two or three complete automation projects, each with a linked code repository that shows the test frameworks, scripting languages, and CI/CD tools you used. Document what the project does and why you built it the way you did.
Work your campus network alongside direct applications
Campus career fairs surface structured programs tied to your university, and recruiters there often move faster than online pipelines. Professors and career center staff frequently know which employers recruit from your school before roles post publicly. Applying directly to companies running smaller cohorts alongside campus activity widens the pool you can reach.
Practice your technical screen out loud before applying
Software automation engineer intern interviews typically include a coding screen covering data structures, algorithms, and scripting, plus questions on testing concepts and debugging approaches. Practice solving problems out loud and explaining your reasoning at every step. Interviewers weigh how you think through a problem as much as whether you reach the right answer.
Target structured internship programs at larger employers
Many large technology and manufacturing companies run formal automation or software engineering internship cohorts designed to train people new to the field. These programs are competitive and recruit early, often filling before smaller roles are even posted. Identify the programs that match your background and apply in their first recruiting wave.
Set your work-type filter before you start
On-site roles are 50% of the software automation engineer internships listed here. Decide what you can realistically commit to before you start applying, then filter by location and work type on Migrate Mate so you spend your time on roles you can actually take rather than sorting through listings that don't fit.
Software Automation Engineer Internships: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a software automation engineer internship?
Lead with coursework and personal projects rather than work history, since intern hiring teams expect limited professional experience. The concrete artifact that gets you assessed is a linked code repository showing automation scripts, test frameworks, or CI/CD pipelines you built yourself. Combine direct applications with campus career fairs, where recruiters often move faster for students they meet in person.
Can a software automation engineer internship turn into a full-time job?
Many employers extend return offers to strong interns, but conversion is never guaranteed. What drives it for software automation engineer interns is consistent performance on real work, positive team relationships, and available headcount at the time offers go out. Position yourself by treating every task as a demonstration of full-time readiness, without counting on a standing offer.
When should I apply for software automation engineer internships?
Earlier than most students expect. Large employers recruit summer interns the preceding fall, often closing cohorts before spring semester starts. Smaller companies and co-op programs post closer to their actual start dates, so openings appear year-round. Checking listings consistently, rather than waiting for a single recruiting season, is the most reliable approach.
Are software automation engineer internships paid?
Most professional software automation engineer internships in the United States are paid. Compensation varies by company size, industry, and location, so there is no single standard. Where employers disclose pay, it appears directly in the listing, making it straightforward to compare opportunities as you apply.
What should a software automation engineer internship resume include?
Lead with two or three complete, documented projects rather than work history. For software automation engineer candidates, the most useful proof is a linked code repository showing test automation frameworks, scripting work, or CI/CD pipeline configurations, with the specific tools called out clearly. Add relevant coursework in software testing, programming, or systems. Keep it to one page.
Are there remote software automation engineer internships?
Yes. Remote and hybrid roles make up 50% of the software automation engineer internship listings here, with the rest on-site. Remote cohorts fill fast because they draw applicants from across the country, so apply early and filter by work type to see them before they close.
Can international students get software automation engineer internships?
Yes. F-1 students can intern through CPT while enrolled or through OPT work authorization after finishing a degree, and the employer does not have to file anything for either, so many companies are open to international interns. Confirm your eligibility and timing with your university's international student office before accepting an offer.
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