Why This Job is Featured on The SaaS Jobs
This PhD Systems & AI/ML Research Intern role stands out in the SaaS landscape because it sits at the intersection of large-scale product infrastructure and applied machine learning. In a company like Dropbox, research work tends to be tightly coupled to real usage patterns and production constraints, which is a defining characteristic of mature SaaS platforms where systems decisions directly shape reliability, cost, and user experience.
For a SaaS-focused career, the internship offers a useful vantage point on how research translates into shipped capabilities rather than remaining purely academic. Experience gained in systems thinking, experimentation, and ML-driven optimisation tends to transfer across many SaaS categories, particularly where performance, storage, search, collaboration, or intelligent automation are core to the product. Exposure to cross-functional environments—through an emerging talent program spanning multiple departments—can also help clarify how technical research connects to customer outcomes and business priorities in subscription software.
This posting is best suited to PhD-level candidates who prefer problem framing, prototyping, and evidence-based iteration, and who want their work to be evaluated in the context of real product constraints. It will resonate with researchers interested in bridging systems and ML, and in learning how SaaS organisations operationalise research within broader engineering and product workflows.
The section above is editorial commentary from The SaaS Jobs, provided to help SaaS professionals understand the role in a broader industry context.
Job Description
The Dropbox Emerging Talent program shapes the future of work by empowering the next generation of innovators. We transform potential into impact by connecting exceptional early-career professionals with meaningful challenges that can touch hundreds of millions of lives. Our program allows interns and apprentices to work alongside industry experts, bringing fresh perspectives while solving interesting problems. We foster growth through hands-on learning, dedicated mentorship, and a vibrant community that supports your journey from day one. If you're ready to launch your career in an environment that combines real-world impact with genuine connection, join our Emerging Talent program.
We will be hiring for these departments in 2025: Engineering, Customer Experience, Sales, Legal, Office of the CEO
