At Sift, we’re redefining how modern machines are built, tested, and operated. Our platform gives engineers real-time observability into high-frequency telemetry—eliminating bottlenecks and enabling faster, more reliable development.
Sift was born from our work at SpaceX on Dragon, Falcon, Starlink, and Starship—where scaling telemetry, debugging flight systems, and ensuring mission reliability demanded new infrastructure. Founded by a team from SpaceX, Google, and Palantir, Sift is built for mission-critical systems where precision and scalability are non-negotiable.
As a Software Engineering Intern, you’ll gain hands-on experience working on real features that impact our customers. You’ll be paired with mentors who will help you learn modern engineering practices while contributing to our core product.
In This Role, You’llBuild and test new product features alongside experienced engineers
Learn how to design reliable, efficient systems for real-time data processing and visualization
Participate in code reviews, design discussions, and team demos
Work on projects that will be used by real customers
Grow your skills in distributed systems, data engineering, and modern frontend/backend technologies
Actively pursuing a degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Math, Physics, or another STEM field
Coursework in programming, data structures, and algorithms
Excitement to learn new technologies and apply them in real-world settings
Team-oriented, curious, and proactive in asking questions
School, internship, or side projects involving data-intensive or distributed systems
Familiarity with React, TypeScript, or similar frontend frameworks
Exposure to cloud or DevOps tools (AWS, Docker, GitHub Actions, Kubernetes)
Engineering At Sift:
You'll have the opportunity to help evolve and scale our platform because we're still in the early stages of building the product. Relevant technologies include:
Web frontend & backend: ECharts, Go, gRPC, PostgreSQL, Protobuf, Radix, React, Redux, and TypeScript
Data: Rust, Arrow, DataFusion, Kafka, Flink, Parquet
Infrastructure: Docker, AWS, Kubernetes, Linux, Grafana
Location:
Sift’s headquarters is in El Segundo, CA. We collaborate in person twice a week—on Mondays and Thursdays—and come together for a full week every two months. We’re open to relocating candidates to LA for the right candidate.
Salary range: $45 - $65 per hour.
Eligibility:
U.S. Person Required: Must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or protected individual such as an asylee or refugee in compliance with ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations) / EAR (Export Administration Regulations) regulations.
Top Skills
What We Do
Sift is transforming how modern machines are built and operated. Our platform goes beyond traditional monitoring, enabling automated data review that catches unusual conditions in systems too complex for manual checks. This not only enhances reliability but also dramatically speeds up development cycles.
At our core, we provide a unified solution for ingesting, storing, and analyzing vast amounts of machine data. By combining powerful data processing with easy-to-use visualizations, we help engineers make sense of enormous amounts of information. From spacecraft to self-driving cars, Sift is the backbone of innovation for companies pushing technology to new limits.
Born from the challenges of spaceflight, Sift aims to accelerate technological progress. We believe that by giving engineers better tools to understand and improve their creations, we can unlock a new era of innovation. Our mission goes beyond solving today's engineering problems; we're building the foundation for a future where the most ambitious machines are developed with confidence, run with precision, and constantly improved.
We're also tackling related challenges like simplifying regulatory compliance, and improving manufacturing processes. By connecting data from various sources—from sensors to manufacturing records to regulatory requirements—we're empowering a new generation of engineers to build the technologies that will shape our world.
Join us in our journey to usher in this new age of reliable, groundbreaking technology. Whether you're launching rockets, developing autonomous systems, or advancing energy and transportation, Sift is your partner in turning vast amounts of data into insights that drive innovation forward.
