AI Native Hardware & Software Codesign internship 2027

IBM
IBM

Software Engineering, Other Engineering, Design, Data Science · Intern

Remote

Posted on Sep 16, 2026
Introduction

AI is changing both the systems we build and the way we conduct research and engineering. Within IBM Research AI Native Systems, our mission is to position IBM at the forefront of enterprise AI deployment while transforming how future systems are designed and built.

The AI-Native Hardware-Software Co-design Methodologies organization brings hardware and software together through a continuous co-design loop. Our research portfolio spans AI-assisted compiler development, kernel generation and optimization, RTL generation, hardware implementation, verification, and cross-layer system optimization. We also investigate reinforcement learning and other post-training techniques that can extend open models to solve increasingly difficult hardware and software engineering problems.

Interns join focused projects within this broader research portfolio based on their experience and interests. By connecting insights across teams and technical layers, we aim to shorten development cycles, improve end-to-end system performance and efficiency, and uncover optimization opportunities that may be missed when hardware and software are developed independently.

This internship offers the opportunity to work with a multidisciplinary research team, contribute to emerging AI-native engineering methods, and explore ideas that can shape future IBM systems and the broader computing ecosystem.

Your role and responsibilities

As an AI-Native Hardware-Software Co-design Research Intern, you will join a project aligned with your technical background and interests. Project areas may include AI-assisted compiler development, kernel generation and optimization, RTL generation, hardware verification, cross-layer hardware-software optimization, or reinforcement learning methods that extend open models to address challenging engineering problems. You are not expected to have experience across all these areas.

Working with a research mentor and an interdisciplinary team, you will:

  • Contribute to research and prototype development in one or more project areas aligned with your expertise.
  • Apply machine learning, generative AI, automated reasoning, reinforcement learning, or systems techniques to a well-defined hardware or software engineering challenge.
  • Depending on the project, investigate reinforcement learning and related post-training methods for extending the capabilities of open models on complex tasks such as RTL generation, optimization, and verification.
  • Design experiments and benchmarks to evaluate correctness, performance, efficiency, engineering productivity, or development-cycle improvements.
  • Explore connections between your assigned area and adjacent layers of the computing stack.
  • Collaborate with researchers and engineers across AI, compilers, computer architecture, digital design, verification, and systems software.
  • Document your methods and findings and communicate results through technical presentations, reports, code, and potential research publications.

Projects may involve the IBM Spyre accelerator software stack and IBM Systems, including IBM Z and IBM Power, while also exploring methods applicable to future processors, accelerators, and computing platforms.

Required education
Bachelor's Degree
Preferred education
Master's Degree
Required technical and professional expertise
  • Currently enrolled in a Master's or PhD program in computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, or a closely related field.
  • Strong programming or hardware-development skills using languages relevant to the candidate's area of expertise, such as Python, C, C++, Verilog, or SystemVerilog.
  • Demonstrated experience in at least one of the following areas: compilers, kernel development, machine learning systems, reinforcement learning, computer architecture, digital design, RTL development, hardware verification, or hardware-software co-design.
  • Experience conducting technical experiments, debugging complex systems, analyzing quantitative results, or developing research prototypes.
  • Ability to communicate technical ideas and collaborate effectively in a multidisciplinary research environment.A44
Preferred technical and professional experience

Experience in one or more of the following areas is beneficial. Candidates are not expected to meet every preferred qualification.

  • Reinforcement learning, reward modeling, model evaluation, or related post-training techniques for extending open models to address complex reasoning, code-generation, or engineering tasks.
  • Applying generative AI, large language models, program synthesis, or automated reasoning to code, systems, hardware design, or verification.
  • Compiler or kernel technologies such as LLVM, MLIR, Triton, CUDA, PyTorch, JAX, or related frameworks.
  • Verilog or SystemVerilog development, hardware simulation, synthesis, formal verification, or electronic design automation tools.
  • AI accelerators, heterogeneous computing, performance modeling, workload characterization, or cross-layer hardware-software optimization.
  • Research demonstrated through publications, technical projects, open-source contributions, previous internships, or advanced coursework.

ABOUT BUSINESS UNIT

IBM Research is the organic growth engine of IBM and an innovation engine for our customers and partners. As part of this mission, IBM Research anticipates and examines 'What's Next in Computing' to ultimately create and integrate the technologies the world relies upon to solve big challenges and unlock new opportunities. We create and pioneer new markets for IBM, our partners and customers as exemplified in our ongoing quest to reach practical and large-scale quantum computing. Across IBM Research, we realize the power and potential to accelerate discovery with our partners and clients by combining the power of high performance computing, AI, and Quantum, all integrated through the hybrid cloud.

YOUR LIFE @ IBM

In a world where technology never stands still, we understand that, dedication to our clients success, innovation that matters, and trust and personal responsibility in all our relationships, lives in what we do as IBMers as we strive to be the catalyst that makes the world work better.

Being an IBMer means you’ll be able to learn and develop yourself and your career, you’ll be encouraged to be courageous and experiment everyday, all whilst having continuous trust and support in an environment where everyone can thrive whatever their personal or professional background.

Our IBMers are growth minded, always staying curious, open to feedback and learning new information and skills to constantly transform themselves and our company. They are trusted to provide on-going feedback to help other IBMers grow, as well as collaborate with colleagues keeping in mind a team focused approach to include different perspectives to drive exceptional outcomes for our customers. The courage our IBMers have to make critical decisions everyday is essential to IBM becoming the catalyst for progress, always embracing challenges with resources they have to hand, a can-do attitude and always striving for an outcome focused approach within everything that they do.

Are you ready to be an IBMer?

ABOUT IBM

IBM’s greatest invention is the IBMer. We believe that through the application of intelligence, reason and science, we can improve business, society and the human condition, bringing the power of an open hybrid cloud and AI strategy to life for our clients and partners around the world.

Restlessly reinventing since 1911, we are not only one of the largest corporate organizations in the world, we’re also one of the biggest technology and consulting employers, with many of the Fortune 500 companies relying on the IBM Cloud to run their business.

At IBM, we pride ourselves on being an early adopter of artificial intelligence, quantum computing and blockchain. Now it’s time for you to join us on our journey to being a responsible technology innovator and a force for good in the world.

IBM is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, pregnancy, disability, neurodivergence, age, or other characteristics protected by the applicable law. IBM is also committed to compliance with all fair employment practices regarding citizenship and immigration status.

OTHER RELEVANT JOB DETAILS

Supplemental 1 employees may be eligible for up to 8 paid holidays, minimum of 56 hours paid sick time and the IBM Employee Stock Purchase Plan. IBM offers paid family medical leave and disability benefits to eligible employees where required by applicable law.
This position was posted on the date cited in the key job details section and is anticipated to remain posted for 15 days from this date or less if not needed to fill the role.
We consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable law.

IBM will not be providing visa sponsorship for this position now or in the future. Therefore, in order to be considered for this position, you must have the ability to work without a need for current or future visa sponsorship.

The compensation range and benefits for this position are based on a full-time schedule for a full calendar year. The salary will vary depending on your job-related skills, experience and location. Pay increment and frequency of pay will be in accordance with employment classification and applicable laws. For part time roles, your compensation and benefits will be adjusted to reflect your hours. Benefits may be pro-rated for those who start working during the calendar year.

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