Netflix is one of the world's leading entertainment services, with over 300 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, films and games across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can play, pause and resume watching as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, and can change their plans at any time.
The Role
As part of the Video Algorithm team during this 3-month Summer internship, you will be actively developing machine-learning-based models for quality improvement of encoded video in formats such as AV1, HEVC, or H.264. Video encoding aims to reduce the data size, allowing files to be easily transferred between locations. However, it introduces undesirable artifacts at mid and low bitrates. The use of ML models alongside traditional signal processing approaches can improve their quality. The goal of the project is to curate a content database and leverage it to obtain production-ready ML models that enhance non-pristine input content so that it can be promptly used on the received sources before the encoding pipeline.
Who Are You?
Currently pursuing a PhD in a technical field such as Computer Science, Engineering, Math, or Statistics, graduating in December 2026, Summer 2027 or later.
To be intern-eligible, you must be returning to school for one semester or quarter post-Summer internship.
Thrives working in complex, dynamic, and fast-moving environments.
Articulate communicator across written and verbal communication mediums.
Strong software development skills and feels comfortable with software engineering best practices (e.g., version control, testing, code review, etc.).
Successful track record in Machine Learning, Video Algorithms, Video Coding research, or adjacent fields (Video Processing, Computer Vision, Video Quality).
Solid understanding of machine learning and deep learning concepts, hands-on experience with training and evaluating ML models
Able to program fluently in Python and C/C++.
Bonus points:
Solid understanding of video compression and processing, including codec standards such as HEVC and AV1.
Experience with software performance optimization on constrained hardware.
Involvement in open-source multimedia projects (ffmpeg, etc).
Experience with large-scale distributed systems and cloud computing
To learn more about our team, check out the following articles:
https://research.netflix.com/research-area/video-encoding-and-quality
Internships at Netflix
At Netflix, we offer a personalized experience for interns, and our aim is to offer an experience that mimics what it is like to actually work here. We match qualified interns with projects and groups based on interests and skill sets, and fully embed interns within those groups for the summer. Netflix is a unique place to work and we live by our values, so it's worth learning more about our culture.
Internships are paid and are a minimum of 12 weeks, with a choice of a few fixed start dates in May or June 2026 to accommodate varying school calendars. Conditions permitting, our summer internships will be located in our Los Gatos, CA office, or in our Los Angeles, CA office, depending on the team.
At Netflix, we carefully consider a wide range of compensation factors to determine the Intern top of market. We rely on market indicators to determine compensation and consider your specific job, skills, and experience to get it right. These considerations can cause your compensation to vary and will also be dependent on your location.
The overall market range for Netflix Internships is typically $40/hour - $110/hour.
This market range is based on total compensation (vs. only base salary), which is in line with our compensation philosophy. Netflix is a unique culture and environment. Learn more here.
Inclusion is a Netflix value and we strive to host a meaningful interview experience for all candidates. If you want an accommodation/adjustment for a disability or any other reason during the hiring process, please send a request to your recruiting partner.
We are an equal-opportunity employer and celebrate diversity, recognizing that diversity builds stronger teams. We approach diversity and inclusion seriously and thoughtfully. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, ancestry, national origin, caste, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, age, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic makeup, marital status, or military service.
Job is open for no less than 7 days and will be removed when the position is filled.
Netflix Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Netflix and has not been reviewed or approved by Netflix.
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Fair & Transparent Compensation — Compensation is positioned as “personal top of market” with regular recalibration and broad posted ranges for senior roles that signal the philosophy. The cash‑forward structure and clearly described pay‑mix choices help set expectations on how pay is determined.
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Equity Value & Accessibility — Employees can choose the mix of cash versus fully vested 10‑year stock options, with grants structured to be retained even after departure. This employee‑directed design increases accessibility and control over equity participation.
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Healthcare Strength — Health coverage is described as comprehensive across medical, dental, vision, and mental health, with employer funding designed to offset premiums. Additional resources like counseling/coaching and wellness support reinforce breadth in care access.
Netflix Insights
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What We Do
Netflix is the world's leading streaming entertainment service with 209 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, documentaries and feature films across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can watch as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, on any internet-connected screen. Members can play, pause and resume watching, all without commercials or commitments.
