Software Engineer Intern, Streaming Media

Roku • San Jose, CA

11h • Hybrid

About The Position

Teamwork makes the stream work.
Roku is changing how the world watches TV
Roku is the #1 TV streaming platform in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, and we've set our sights on powering every television in the world. Roku pioneered streaming to the TV. Our mission is to be the TV streaming platform that connects the entire TV ecosystem. We connect consumers to the content they love, enable content publishers to build and monetize large audiences, and provide advertisers unique capabilities to engage consumers.
From your first day at Roku, you'll make a valuable - and valued - contribution. We're a fast-growing public company where no one is a bystander. We offer you the opportunity to delight millions of TV streamers around the world while gaining meaningful experience across a variety of disciplines.
Build the future of streaming with real ownership
Join Roku’s MediaPlayer team as a Software Engineer Intern, where you will work at the intersection of embedded systems and digital media. During this paid 12-week internship starting in Summer 2026, you will contribute to the core component of RokuOS that handles video and audio streaming. You’ll be assigned a high-impact project designed to enhance the media playback engine optimizing playback performance, or improving the reliability of our media stack across millions of devices.
Why this program stands out
High-impact work, not side projects. You’ll be matched to a scoped, production-grade project aligned to real business outcomes.
Clear success metrics. Define and track KPIs with your team, so progress and value are obvious from day one.
Senior mentorship. A dedicated senior engineer supervises your journey and gives you direct, actionable feedback.
Velocity + autonomy. Expect rapid iteration, ownership of decisions, and a culture that favors building over bureaucracy.
Tech breadth + depth. Exposure to Core OS, Cloud Infrastructure, Advertising Technology, Platform Portability, Advanced Development, and ML—with opportunities to go deep where you’re strongest.
Global collaboration. Partner with experts across the US and internationally (including Cambridge) on cross-functional initiatives.

Requirements

• Education & Experience: Pursuing an MS in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related technical field; prior internship experience preferred.
• Technical Fundamentals: Strong command of data structures, algorithms, Object-Oriented Design (OOD), and systems design.
• Systems Programming: Practical expertise in C++, Python, and Bash, with a focus on developing and debugging within Linux-based embedded systems.
• Linux Expertise: Deep understanding of Linux kernel concepts, multi-threading, standard Linux tools/libraries, and the open-source development ecosystem.
• AI Productivity: Proficient in leveraging generative AI tools (e.g., GitHub Copilot, OpenAI) to streamline development workflows and optimize code efficiency.
• Cloud & Emerging Tech: Exposure to Cloud platforms (AWS/Azure/GCP), Machine Learning, SDK/API design, and comprehensive integration testing. Familiarity with streaming technologies (HLS, MPEG-DASH), compression formats, video/audio codecs, and tools like FFmpeg is a plus

Responsibilities

• Own a project within the MediaPlayer stack; examples include implementing new media features, optimizing for media playback KPIs, or enhancing support for modern streaming protocols and codecs.
• Develop high-performance C++ code on Linux-based systems to improve the efficiency and stability of the core media pipeline.
• Use advanced debugging and analysis tools to reproduce, isolate, and fix complex playback issues across various hardware profiles.
• Collaborate with senior engineers across firmware and platform teams to innovate on the next generation of media features that delight Roku users

Benefits

• Roku is committed to offering a diverse range of benefits as part of our compensation package to support our employees and their families.
• Our comprehensive benefits include global access to mental health and financial wellness support and resources.
• Local benefits include statutory and voluntary benefits which may include healthcare (medical, dental, and vision), life, accident, disability, commuter, and retirement options (401(k)/pension).
• Our employees can take time off work for vacation and other personal reasons to balance their evolving work and life needs.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Intern