UX Designer Internships
Ux designer internships give university students, recent graduates, and early-career switchers hands-on project experience, mentorship from working UX designers, and, at many employers, a path toward a full-time offer. Openings are concentrated across Social Media, Media & Entertainment, and Technology & Software, with TikTok, Rakuten Global, and Candiclie Consultancy Pvt. Lt. among the employers posting roles now.
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Job Description:
The Intern Experience:
At Rakuten, we pride ourselves on giving interns a genuine, immersive experience that has a direct impact on company objectives. You will do meaningful work, and with us, you’ll be a true member of the team. We are also invested in your growth as an individual and professional. That’s why you can expect curated events such as professional development workshops, interactions with Rakuten leadership, and relationship building opportunities with other interns and professionals at the company.
You can visit rakuten.us and our Muse profile, to learn more about Rakuten’s culture and values, as well as hear from last year’s interns.
Business Unit Introduction:
Rakuten Group, Inc. is a global leader in internet services, offering a dynamic ecosystem of over 70 services across e-commerce, FinTech, digital content, and communications. Founded in 1997, Rakuten’s mission is to empower people and society through innovation and entrepreneurship. With a vision of driving disruptive innovation globally, Rakuten integrates various services under a unified brand, supported by a unique ecosystem model that leverages data and AI. The company’s popular "Rakuten Points" program and “One ID” system enhance user engagement, providing seamless access to its diverse services. Headquartered in Japan, Rakuten has achieved 27 consecutive years of revenue growth and is recognized for fostering a diverse and inclusive corporate culture, with English as its official language since 2012. In recent years, Rakuten has focused on AI and sustainability initiatives, aiming to drive further technological advancements and achieve carbon neutrality.
SUMMARY:
We are seeking innovative and dedicated Software Engineer to join the Rakuten AI User Experience team. Rakuten AI strives to be your Rakuten AI companion, providing the best AI user experience — generally, contextually, and personally. Rakuten AI aims to serve as the AI Core of the Rakuten ecosystem, enhancing interconnections between Rakuten services and users to delight customers worldwide more than ever before.
This role involves advancing the AI user experience to serve as the foundational core across the Rakuten products ecosystem by developing innovative AI user experience framework. The ideal candidate will have a strong passion for building solid, flexible, and immersive AI user experiences using state-of-the-art technologies and will contribute to a unified vision that enhances Rakuten AI foundation at scale.
We also welcome exceptional engineers from diverse fields who may not have direct experience in AI. This role is an opportunity to gain critical skills and knowledge needed to transition into the AI space. We are dedicated to supporting career changers who bring unique perspectives and expertise. Our commitment includes offering mentorship and resources to facilitate your growth in cutting-edge AI domains.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Develop and Maintain Web Applications: Design, build, and maintain front-end and back-end features for web applications, ensuring they are scalable and high-performing.
- Build AI Front-End User Experience: Use HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and frameworks like React, Angular, or Vue to create intuitive and responsive user interfaces.
- Develop AI Back-End Services: Build server-side logic and APIs using technologies like Node.js, Python, Java, or Ruby.
- Building highly flexible, scalable Agentic AI Framework by leveraging popular AI toolset like LangChain etc.
- Data schema design and database management: Design and manage databases, such as MySQL, MongoDB, PostgreSQL, or others, ensuring efficient data storage and retrieval.
- Integrate APIs and Third-Party Services: Integrate external APIs and services, such as OpenAI APIs, payment gateways, social media APIs, or analytics tools, as needed.
- Perform Testing and Debugging: Write unit, integration, and end-to-end tests, troubleshoot issues, and resolve bugs across the full stack of the application. Optimize for Performance: Improve performance by optimizing application code, databases, and server configurations to reduce latency and increase efficiency.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
- Proficiency in front-end technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, and experience with at least one modern front-end framework (e.g., React, Angular, or Vue).
- Proficiency in Back-End Development, knowledgeable of server-side languages such as C#, Java, Python, Node.js, Ruby, or PHP and familiarity with building RESTful APIs and knowledgeable of Web Development Frameworks
- Knowledge/familiarity with variety of data schema design, and database management, e.g. relational databases (e.g., MySQL, PostgreSQL) and/or NoSQL databases (e.g., MongoDB, Cassandra).
- Proficiency in debugging and problem-solving across both front-end and back-end systems.
- Ability to write clean, maintainable code, adherence to coding standards and best practices, with a focus on creating well-organized, readable, and maintainable code.
- Adaptability and willingness to learn, ability to quickly learn new technologies and adapt to changing project requirements.
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:
- Bachelor’s Degree or above in Computer Science or related field or equivalent practical experience.
- Experience with testing practices and experience with unit testing, integration testing, and end-to-end testing.
- Experience in AI-related projects or products strongly preferred.
Five Principles for Success
Our worldwide practices describe specific behaviors that make Rakuten unique and united across the world. We expect Rakuten employees to model these 5 Shugi Principles of Success.
Always improve, Always Advance - Only be satisfied with complete success - Kaizen
Passionately Professional - Take an uncompromising approach to your work and be determined to be the best
Hypothesize - Practice - Validate – Shikumika - Use the Rakuten Cycle to succeed in unknown territory
Maximize Customer Satisfaction - The greatest satisfaction for our teams is seeing their customers smile
Speed!! Speed!! Speed!! - Always be conscious of time - take charge, set clear goals, and engage your team
Rakuten provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type. Rakuten considers applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, provincial or local laws.
Job Description:
The Intern Experience:
At Rakuten, we pride ourselves on giving interns a genuine, immersive experience that has a direct impact on company objectives. You will do meaningful work, and with us, you’ll be a true member of the team. We are also invested in your growth as an individual and professional. That’s why you can expect curated events such as professional development workshops, interactions with Rakuten leadership, and relationship building opportunities with other interns and professionals at the company.
You can visit rakuten.us and our Muse profile, to learn more about Rakuten’s culture and values, as well as hear from last year’s interns.
Business Unit Introduction:
Rakuten Group, Inc. is a global leader in internet services, offering a dynamic ecosystem of over 70 services across e-commerce, FinTech, digital content, and communications. Founded in 1997, Rakuten’s mission is to empower people and society through innovation and entrepreneurship. With a vision of driving disruptive innovation globally, Rakuten integrates various services under a unified brand, supported by a unique ecosystem model that leverages data and AI. The company’s popular "Rakuten Points" program and “One ID” system enhance user engagement, providing seamless access to its diverse services. Headquartered in Japan, Rakuten has achieved 27 consecutive years of revenue growth and is recognized for fostering a diverse and inclusive corporate culture, with English as its official language since 2012. In recent years, Rakuten has focused on AI and sustainability initiatives, aiming to drive further technological advancements and achieve carbon neutrality.
SUMMARY:
We are seeking innovative and dedicated Software Engineer to join the Rakuten AI User Experience team. Rakuten AI strives to be your Rakuten AI companion, providing the best AI user experience — generally, contextually, and personally. Rakuten AI aims to serve as the AI Core of the Rakuten ecosystem, enhancing interconnections between Rakuten services and users to delight customers worldwide more than ever before.
This role involves advancing the AI user experience to serve as the foundational core across the Rakuten products ecosystem by developing innovative AI user experience framework. The ideal candidate will have a strong passion for building solid, flexible, and immersive AI user experiences using state-of-the-art technologies and will contribute to a unified vision that enhances Rakuten AI foundation at scale.
We also welcome exceptional engineers from diverse fields who may not have direct experience in AI. This role is an opportunity to gain critical skills and knowledge needed to transition into the AI space. We are dedicated to supporting career changers who bring unique perspectives and expertise. Our commitment includes offering mentorship and resources to facilitate your growth in cutting-edge AI domains.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Develop and Maintain Web Applications: Design, build, and maintain front-end and back-end features for web applications, ensuring they are scalable and high-performing.
- Build AI Front-End User Experience: Use HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and frameworks like React, Angular, or Vue to create intuitive and responsive user interfaces.
- Develop AI Back-End Services: Build server-side logic and APIs using technologies like Node.js, Python, Java, or Ruby.
- Building highly flexible, scalable Agentic AI Framework by leveraging popular AI toolset like LangChain etc.
- Data schema design and database management: Design and manage databases, such as MySQL, MongoDB, PostgreSQL, or others, ensuring efficient data storage and retrieval.
- Integrate APIs and Third-Party Services: Integrate external APIs and services, such as OpenAI APIs, payment gateways, social media APIs, or analytics tools, as needed.
- Perform Testing and Debugging: Write unit, integration, and end-to-end tests, troubleshoot issues, and resolve bugs across the full stack of the application. Optimize for Performance: Improve performance by optimizing application code, databases, and server configurations to reduce latency and increase efficiency.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
- Proficiency in front-end technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, and experience with at least one modern front-end framework (e.g., React, Angular, or Vue).
- Proficiency in Back-End Development, knowledgeable of server-side languages such as C#, Java, Python, Node.js, Ruby, or PHP and familiarity with building RESTful APIs and knowledgeable of Web Development Frameworks
- Knowledge/familiarity with variety of data schema design, and database management, e.g. relational databases (e.g., MySQL, PostgreSQL) and/or NoSQL databases (e.g., MongoDB, Cassandra).
- Proficiency in debugging and problem-solving across both front-end and back-end systems.
- Ability to write clean, maintainable code, adherence to coding standards and best practices, with a focus on creating well-organized, readable, and maintainable code.
- Adaptability and willingness to learn, ability to quickly learn new technologies and adapt to changing project requirements.
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:
- Bachelor’s Degree or above in Computer Science or related field or equivalent practical experience.
- Experience with testing practices and experience with unit testing, integration testing, and end-to-end testing.
- Experience in AI-related projects or products strongly preferred.
Five Principles for Success
Our worldwide practices describe specific behaviors that make Rakuten unique and united across the world. We expect Rakuten employees to model these 5 Shugi Principles of Success.
Always improve, Always Advance - Only be satisfied with complete success - Kaizen
Passionately Professional - Take an uncompromising approach to your work and be determined to be the best
Hypothesize - Practice - Validate – Shikumika - Use the Rakuten Cycle to succeed in unknown territory
Maximize Customer Satisfaction - The greatest satisfaction for our teams is seeing their customers smile
Speed!! Speed!! Speed!! - Always be conscious of time - take charge, set clear goals, and engage your team
Rakuten provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type. Rakuten considers applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, provincial or local laws.
UX Designer Internship Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Social Media
- Media & Entertainment
- Technology & Software
Tips for Your UX Designer Internship Search
Apply in the fall for summer roles
Large companies and structured design programs recruit summer interns the preceding fall, with some cohorts closing before winter break. Smaller studios and co-ops post closer to their start dates and hire year-round. Knowing which type of employer you are targeting tells you when to start watching for openings.
Build a portfolio before you apply
Recruiters reviewing ux designer intern applications use your portfolio to assess how you think, not just what you made. Document two or three end-to-end projects with research, wireframes, prototypes, and final decisions in a case study format. Include the tools you used and make every project accessible through a single link you can paste into any application.
Work your campus network alongside direct applications
Campus career fairs surface structured programs tied directly to your university, and professors or career center staff often know which employers recruit from your school before roles appear publicly. Applying directly to companies running smaller design cohorts at the same time widens the pool you reach and covers employers who never visit campus at all.
Practice your portfolio walkthrough out loud
Ux designer intern interviews typically include a portfolio presentation or design critique where you walk through a past project and respond to questions about your decisions. Interviewers weigh how you explain your reasoning as much as the final design. Practice narrating each project out loud, anticipate questions about trade-offs, and be ready to sketch or iterate on the spot.
Target structured design programs early
Larger companies run rotational or cohort-based design internship programs built specifically to train people new to the field. These programs offer mentorship, structured feedback, and a cohort of peers at your level. They recruit early and fill fast, so identify the programs that match your background and submit in the first application window.
Set your work-type filter before you start
On-site roles are 78% of the ux designer internships listed here. Decide what you can realistically commit to before you start sorting through openings, then filter by location and work type so you are only reviewing roles you can actually take. Migrate Mate's work-type filter lets you narrow the list in one step.
UX Designer Internships: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a ux designer internship?
Lead with your portfolio, not your work history, hiring teams expect limited professional experience at the intern level and use a portfolio of case studies to assess how you think through design problems. Document two or three projects showing your full process, from research through final mockups, using the tools you actually worked in. Pair direct applications with campus career fairs, where recruiters often move faster for students they meet in person.
Can a ux designer internship turn into a full-time job?
Many employers extend return offers to strong interns, but conversion is never guaranteed. What drives it for ux designer interns is the quality of your work on real projects, whether the team has open headcount at the end of the summer, and how early return-offer conversations begin. Treat the internship as your audition, deliver consistently, and ask your manager about the return-offer process before the midpoint.
When should I apply for ux designer internships?
Earlier than most expect. Large tech companies and agencies recruit summer interns the preceding fall, sometimes as early as August or September. Smaller studios and co-op programs post closer to their start dates, so openings appear year-round. Checking regularly and applying as soon as a role opens gives you the best chance before cohorts fill.
Are ux designer internships paid?
Most professional ux designer internships in the U.S. are paid. Compensation varies by company size, industry, and location, a large tech company in San Francisco pays differently from a regional agency or nonprofit. Where employers disclose pay, the listing will show it, so you can factor it in before applying.
What should a ux designer internship resume include?
Lead with projects, not work history. List two or three complete, documented design projects, naming the tools you used (Figma, Adobe XD, Sketch, or others) and linking directly to your case studies or portfolio. Add relevant coursework in interaction design, user research, or information architecture. Keep everything to one page, recruiters reviewing intern applications move quickly.
Are there remote ux designer internships?
Yes. Remote and hybrid roles make up 22% of the ux designer internship listings here, with the rest on-site. Remote cohorts tend to fill fast because they draw applicants from across the country, so apply early once you decide what arrangement works for you, and filter by work type to see those openings first.
What is a UX research internship and how does it differ from a general ux designer internship?
A UX research internship focuses specifically on user interviews, usability studies, and synthesizing findings rather than visual or interaction design. These roles suit candidates with coursework in psychology, cognitive science, or human-computer interaction. They recruit on a similar timeline to design internships but expect a portfolio of research artifacts, screeners, discussion guides, and written findings, rather than visual case studies.
Can international students get ux designer 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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