STEM OPT AI ML Intern Jobs
AI ML Intern roles qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension if your degree falls under an eligible CIP code in computer science, data science, or a related STEM field. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify, and you'll need a signed I-983 training plan before your start date.
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Research Internships at Microsoft provide a dynamic environment for research careers with a network of world-class research labs led by globally-recognized scientists and engineers, who pursue innovation in a range of scientific and technical disciplines to help solve complex challenges in diverse fields, including computing, healthcare, economics, and the environment.
As part of the Systems Planning and Architecture (SPARC) group, you will contribute to research and exploration in advanced machine learning (ML) systems, focusing on the numeric, data types, and compute technologies that drive the next generation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) workloads at Azure scale. You will collaborate across Azure teams to investigate cutting-edge approaches in model efficiency ranging from low-precision formats, quantization strategies, and ML kernel development, to benchmarking and analyzing emerging model architecture and hardware capabilities.
As a Research Intern, you will be at the forefront of innovation in cloud-scale AI, helping shape how Microsoft designs and deploys efficient and performant ML infrastructure. Your work will directly inform decisions around compute platforms, acceleration strategies, and system-level optimizations that influence internal silicon efforts, software runtimes, and partnerships across the industry.
You will play a critical role in evaluating, prototyping, and analyzing new algorithmic and numerical techniques that improve the performance, cost, and efficiency of training and inference for large-scale models. This Research Internship offers opportunities to develop expertise in ML systems, emerging data types, kernel optimization, and performance modeling while gaining hands-on experience with the latest Azure AI and hardware technologies.
Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. As employees we come together with a growth mindset, innovate to empower others, and collaborate to realize our shared goals. Each day we build on our values of respect, integrity, and accountability to create a culture of inclusion where everyone can thrive at work and beyond.
Responsibilities
Research Interns put inquiry and theory into practice. Alongside fellow doctoral candidates and some of the world’s best researchers, Research Interns learn, collaborate, and network for life. Research Interns not only advance their own careers, but they also contribute to exciting research and development strides. During the 12-week internship, Research Interns are paired with mentors and expected to collaborate with other Research Interns and researchers, present findings, and contribute to the vibrant life of the community. Research internships are available in all areas of research, and are offered year-round, though they typically begin in the summer.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications
- Currently enrolled in a master’s, or PhD program in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related STEM field.
- Completed at least 2 academic courses or projects involving machine learning systems.
- At least 3 years of experience programming in Python, C++, or a similar systems-oriented language through work, projects, or research.
Other Requirements
- Research Interns are expected to be physically located in their manager’s Microsoft worksite location for the duration of their internship.
- In addition to the qualifications below, you’ll need to submit a minimum of two reference letters for this position as well as a cover letter and any relevant work or research samples. After you submit your application, a request for letters may be sent to your list of references on your behalf. Note that reference letters cannot be requested until after you have submitted your application, and furthermore, that they might not be automatically requested for all candidates. You may wish to alert your letter writers in advance, so they will be ready to submit your letter.
Preferred Qualifications
- Demonstrable Contribution to open-source ML framework or ML systems software.
- Deep and strong understanding of transformer-based model architectures, including attention mechanisms, KV cache behavior, and common training and inference bottlenecks.
- Experience with modern ML frameworks and runtimes such as PyTorch, Hugging Face Transformers, SGLang, vLLM, or TensorRT-LLM.
- Experience with GPU or accelerator programming using CUDA, Triton, or similar tools, and familiarity with profiling and performance analysis.
- Familiarity with benchmarking and performance profiling tools for ML workloads.
- Working knowledge of low-precision numeric, quantization methods, or hardware–software co-design considerations for large-scale model efficiency is a plus.
- Coursework, research, or project experience in areas such as ML systems, model optimization, kernel development, or numerical computing.
- Proficient analytical and problem-solving skills, with an interest in ML systems and computational performance.
Compensation
- The base pay range for this internship is USD $5,610 - $11,010 per month.
There is a different range applicable to specific work locations, within the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, and the base pay range for this role in those locations is USD $7,270 - $12,030 per month.
- The base pay range for this internship is USD $6,710 - $13,270 per month.
Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here: https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-intern-pay
This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.
Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance with religious accommodations and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process.
Overview
Research Internships at Microsoft provide a dynamic environment for research careers with a network of world-class research labs led by globally-recognized scientists and engineers, who pursue innovation in a range of scientific and technical disciplines to help solve complex challenges in diverse fields, including computing, healthcare, economics, and the environment.
As part of the Systems Planning and Architecture (SPARC) group, you will contribute to research and exploration in advanced machine learning (ML) systems, focusing on the numeric, data types, and compute technologies that drive the next generation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) workloads at Azure scale. You will collaborate across Azure teams to investigate cutting-edge approaches in model efficiency ranging from low-precision formats, quantization strategies, and ML kernel development, to benchmarking and analyzing emerging model architecture and hardware capabilities.
As a Research Intern, you will be at the forefront of innovation in cloud-scale AI, helping shape how Microsoft designs and deploys efficient and performant ML infrastructure. Your work will directly inform decisions around compute platforms, acceleration strategies, and system-level optimizations that influence internal silicon efforts, software runtimes, and partnerships across the industry.
You will play a critical role in evaluating, prototyping, and analyzing new algorithmic and numerical techniques that improve the performance, cost, and efficiency of training and inference for large-scale models. This Research Internship offers opportunities to develop expertise in ML systems, emerging data types, kernel optimization, and performance modeling while gaining hands-on experience with the latest Azure AI and hardware technologies.
Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. As employees we come together with a growth mindset, innovate to empower others, and collaborate to realize our shared goals. Each day we build on our values of respect, integrity, and accountability to create a culture of inclusion where everyone can thrive at work and beyond.
Responsibilities
Research Interns put inquiry and theory into practice. Alongside fellow doctoral candidates and some of the world’s best researchers, Research Interns learn, collaborate, and network for life. Research Interns not only advance their own careers, but they also contribute to exciting research and development strides. During the 12-week internship, Research Interns are paired with mentors and expected to collaborate with other Research Interns and researchers, present findings, and contribute to the vibrant life of the community. Research internships are available in all areas of research, and are offered year-round, though they typically begin in the summer.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications
- Currently enrolled in a master’s, or PhD program in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related STEM field.
- Completed at least 2 academic courses or projects involving machine learning systems.
- At least 3 years of experience programming in Python, C++, or a similar systems-oriented language through work, projects, or research.
Other Requirements
- Research Interns are expected to be physically located in their manager’s Microsoft worksite location for the duration of their internship.
- In addition to the qualifications below, you’ll need to submit a minimum of two reference letters for this position as well as a cover letter and any relevant work or research samples. After you submit your application, a request for letters may be sent to your list of references on your behalf. Note that reference letters cannot be requested until after you have submitted your application, and furthermore, that they might not be automatically requested for all candidates. You may wish to alert your letter writers in advance, so they will be ready to submit your letter.
Preferred Qualifications
- Demonstrable Contribution to open-source ML framework or ML systems software.
- Deep and strong understanding of transformer-based model architectures, including attention mechanisms, KV cache behavior, and common training and inference bottlenecks.
- Experience with modern ML frameworks and runtimes such as PyTorch, Hugging Face Transformers, SGLang, vLLM, or TensorRT-LLM.
- Experience with GPU or accelerator programming using CUDA, Triton, or similar tools, and familiarity with profiling and performance analysis.
- Familiarity with benchmarking and performance profiling tools for ML workloads.
- Working knowledge of low-precision numeric, quantization methods, or hardware–software co-design considerations for large-scale model efficiency is a plus.
- Coursework, research, or project experience in areas such as ML systems, model optimization, kernel development, or numerical computing.
- Proficient analytical and problem-solving skills, with an interest in ML systems and computational performance.
Compensation
- The base pay range for this internship is USD $5,610 - $11,010 per month.
There is a different range applicable to specific work locations, within the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, and the base pay range for this role in those locations is USD $7,270 - $12,030 per month.
- The base pay range for this internship is USD $6,710 - $13,270 per month.
Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here: https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-intern-pay
This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.
Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance with religious accommodations and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process.
See all 50+ STEM OPT AI ML Intern Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new STEM OPT AI ML Intern Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as an AI ML Intern
Verify your CIP code before applying
Check that your degree's CIP code appears on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List. AI and ML roles attract scrutiny when the degree field is adjacent, like information systems, so confirm the match before your DSO files the extension.
Filter employers by E-Verify enrollment status
Use the E-Verify employer search to confirm a company is actively enrolled before you apply. Internship postings rarely flag this, and discovering a mismatch after an offer is made can void your extension eligibility entirely.
Build a portfolio that maps to ML job zones
Recruiters screening STEM OPT interns for AI and ML roles compare your projects against O*NET occupation profiles. Annotate your GitHub repos with the specific tasks and tools listed in the relevant O*NET job zone to reduce screening friction.
Negotiate your I-983 training plan before signing
Request a draft I-983 from the employer during the offer stage, not after. The training plan must list specific learning objectives tied to your STEM degree, and vague plans are the most common reason DSOs delay extension approval.
Use Migrate Mate to find E-Verify enrolled employers
Search AI ML Intern roles on Migrate Mate, which filters for employers already enrolled in E-Verify. This removes the manual verification step and lets you focus your applications on companies that can legally support your STEM OPT extension.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an AI ML Intern role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
It qualifies if your degree's CIP code appears on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List and the role provides practical training directly related to that field. Degrees in computer science, electrical engineering, data science, and applied mathematics typically qualify. Your DSO confirms eligibility and files the extension through SEVIS. The internship itself must be paid and supervised by an E-Verify enrolled employer.
How do I confirm an employer is enrolled in E-Verify for my STEM OPT?
Use the E-Verify employer search tool to look up any company by name or employer identification number before accepting an offer. STEM OPT is invalid without an actively enrolled E-Verify employer, even if USCIS approves your EAD. If a startup or research lab isn't enrolled, they must complete E-Verify enrollment before your extension start date. You can also browse verified employers directly on Migrate Mate.
What goes into the I-983 training plan for an AI ML Intern position?
The I-983 must identify specific learning objectives tied to your STEM degree, list the tools and methodologies you'll use, name a designated supervisor, and include a formal evaluation schedule. For AI and ML roles, objectives should reference concrete skills like model training, data pipeline development, or evaluation frameworks rather than generic tasks. Your employer signs the form, then your DSO endorses it before USCIS approves the extension.
Can I start an AI ML internship on cap-gap if my H-1B is pending?
Cap-gap extends your OPT EAD automatically if you have an approved H-1B petition filed on your behalf before your OPT expires and the H-1B start date is October 1. Your work authorization continues through September 30 of the H-1B start year. You must remain in a valid OPT status, employed in a role tied to your STEM degree, and your employer must remain E-Verify enrolled throughout the cap-gap period.
Which STEM degrees make AI ML Intern roles eligible for the 24-month extension?
USCIS recognizes degrees in computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, statistics, applied mathematics, data science, and information technology as eligible for the STEM OPT extension when the role involves AI or ML work. Degrees in business analytics or information systems may qualify depending on their specific CIP code. Check the STEM Designated Degree Program List through USCIS and confirm your exact CIP code with your DSO before applying.