Software Engineer PhD Intern, Streaming Algorithms (Summer 2026)

About the role#

The streaming algorithms team is seeking a PhD student to contribute to the scalability and quality of experience (QoE) for Netflix Live streaming. This role involves interdisciplinary research combining streaming technologies, computer networking, and encoding to support concurrent live streams on millions of devices.

What you'll do#

• Enhance the scalability and streaming QoE of the Netflix Live system.
• Evolve system architecture across the entire streaming path.
• Conduct controlled field experiments to validate system improvements.

What you'll need#

• Currently an early-stage PhD student, or a later-stage student with a thesis closely aligned with Live QoE and scalability.
• Academic background in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or Electrical Engineering.
• Research experience in network measurement, network performance algorithms (e.g., congestion control, adaptive streaming), content delivery, or encoding technology.
• A bias to action, with the ability to take smart risks and avoid analysis paralysis.
• Experience with statistics and experimentation is a plus.
• Experience with video is a plus.

Location & details#

• Location: Los Gatos, California.
• Term: Summer 2026 (12-week duration, 40 hours per week).
• Modality: On-site.
• Employment type: Full-time internship.