Internships or Master's Theses

About the Roles

Our team at IBM Research in Zürich is shaping the future of data processing for AI systems, creating self-optimizing platforms that deliver exceptional cost/performance, and are effortless for users. We work at the intersection of research and real-world impact — developing new methods, implementing them in widely used open-source projects, and supporting production teams to bring the latest innovation to our clients.

We have several positions open for Master theses or internships, around the following topics:

• Explore how caching and resource management can make modern data for AI platforms faster and more efficient.
• How multi-modal workloads can be supported, represented and optimized across heterogeneous engines in a lakehouse.
• Explore efficient data sharing protocols when complex workloads are distributed across heterogeneous engines.
  

What we are looking for

Motivated students who are at the intersection of AI and data processing systems, leveraging machine learning to tackle real system-level optimization challenges. You approach problems holistically, analyzing and addressing issues across the entire technology stack.

If you’re passionate about contributing to the next-gen data systems and want to see your work in the hands of real users, we’d love to hear from you.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Machine Learning or Systems, or a closely related field
• Strong programming skills
• Strong interest in applying AI/ML techniques to optimize database and data-processing systems
• Proficiency in Python
• Excellent communication and presentation skills in English
• Team-oriented, self-motivated, and able to solve problems independently
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with data management systems
• Experience in using ML/AI to optimize database and data-processing systems (GNNs, Transformer models, etc.)
• Experience with various data formats (e.g. Parquet, Iceberg, Arrow, Substrait)
• Hands-on experience with PyTorch
• Ability to work independently and adapt in a fast-paced, evolving research environment
  

Diversity

IBM is committed to diversity at the workplace. With us you will find an open, multicultural environment. Excellent flexible working arrangements enable all genders to strike the desired balance between their professional development and their personal lives.

How to apply

Please submit you application with a cover letter and curriculum vitae through the link below.