About the job
PhD Internship: Machine Learning Engineer
About Handshake
At Handshake, we are revolutionizing career development in the AI economy. With a network of over 20 million skilled professionals and partnerships with 1,600 educational institutions and 1 million employers, including all Fortune 50 companies, Handshake is the go-to platform for career exploration, hiring, and skill enhancement. Join us as we help individuals transition from freelance opportunities to internships and full-time roles, connecting talent with opportunities at every career stage.
Our unique position in the market has catalyzed impressive growth, with projections indicating that we will triple our ARR by 2025.
Why You Should Join Handshake Now:
Contribute to the evolution of careers in the AI economy on a global scale, making a tangible impact.
Collaborate with top AI labs, Fortune 500 companies, and prestigious educational institutions.
Play a key role in building a fast-growing business targeting multi-billion-dollar revenues.
Position Overview
As a Machine Learning Engineering Intern, you will be instrumental in crafting intelligent product experiences that assist students in discovering and securing opportunities. Your responsibilities will encompass search algorithms, recommendations, and matching systems that enhance job exploration on Handshake.
This internship will provide you with practical experience in developing, assessing, and deploying machine learning models within a production environment, as well as insights into the design, optimization, and maintenance of large-scale ML systems.
This is a paid, full-time summer internship with two cohort options:
May 18 – August 7, 2026
June 15 – September 4, 2026
Key Responsibilities:
Collaborate with experienced engineers and data scientists to develop machine learning models that enhance product features and improve user experience.
Engage in experimentation, model evaluation, and performance monitoring.
Participate in technical discussions, brainstorming sessions, and team reviews.
Document methodologies and findings to facilitate knowledge sharing and long-term improvements to systems.
Qualifications
Essential Qualifications:
Currently pursuing a PhD in Computer Science, Data Science, Machine Learning, or a related field.
Strong programming skills in Python and familiarity with machine learning libraries (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch).
Experience with data analysis and statistical modeling.
Excellent problem-solving abilities and analytical thinking.
Strong communication skills and ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.

