About the role#
We are looking for Software Engineering Interns to join our San Francisco team. You will build real features on our AI-powered tax platform. This is a hands-on role where you ship production code used by hundreds of accounting firms. You will work directly with senior engineers and gain experience with our stack, which includes Vue, Nuxt, TypeScript, and Tailwind CSS on the frontend, and Go, Docker, and PostgreSQL on the backend.
What you'll do#
- Ship product features end to end on our live customer platform.
- Build and test AI-powered components, including inference pipelines and prompt engineering.
- Fix bugs and make product improvements based on real customer feedback.
- Create internal tools to help the engineering team work more efficiently.
- Learn our full stack and contribute across frontend, backend, and AI layers.
- Participate in code reviews, architecture discussions, and product planning.
What you'll need#
- Currently pursuing or recently completed a degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field.
- Strong programming fundamentals, including the ability to write clean code and debug efficiently.
- Familiarity with web development and experience with any modern framework.
- Curiosity about AI and a willingness to learn.
- High attention to detail and a bias for shipping.
- Ability to work on-site in San Francisco.
- Experience with AI coding tools like Cursor, Claude Code, or GitHub Copilot is a plus.
Location & details#
- This role is based on-site in San Francisco, California.
- The position is full-time and paid.
- We offer rolling start dates.
About Instead
Instead is a software company based in San Francisco that builds tools for tax strategy, calculation, and filing. Founded in 2023, the firm employs between 11 and 50 people. Its platform uses artificial intelligence to automate tax processes for businesses and accounting firms. The software covers tax jurisdictions across the United States with plans for international expansion.
How to get in at Instead
Applying early gives you a distinct advantage at Instead because recruiters review applications as they arrive. Intern Insider sends an instant alert the moment a role matching your target is published, so you can be among the first to apply before the applicant pool grows. This helps you avoid the frustration of getting lost in a massive pile of resumes. You should aim to submit your materials while the posting is fresh to ensure your profile gets seen by the team. Reaching the recruiter directly often yields better results than submitting through a standard queue. Intern Insider surfaces the recruiters behind the company roles so you can reach out to ask about the position or a referral. A direct connection can materially improve your response rates and help you stand out from the crowd.
