Software Engineering Intern, AI Labs

Description

AI Labs is Paylocity's rapid-experimentation function — we test real AI opportunities fast, prove or kill them with evidence in weeks rather than quarters. This summer, you'll join our founding early-career engineering team in the Rochester, NY area (Pittsford), working hands-on on real AI Labs bets alongside a dedicated technical manager and a small team of Associate Software Engineers. This internship is the entry point into that team's ongoing pipeline: at the end of the summer, a limited number of interns will be offered full-time Associate Software Engineer roles on the same team. This role reports to the Engineering Manager, AI Labs (Rochester), for the duration of the internship.

Who You Are

• Currently pursuing a BS/BA in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field, with an anticipated graduation date between December 2027 and August 2028.
• Comfortable with programming fundamentals like data structures, algorithms, at least one modern language either from coursework, prior internships, or personal projects.
• Curious about AI technologies and interested in getting hands-on experience with AI services and LLMs, not just studying them.
• Comfortable with ambiguity and genuinely energized by exploratory, fast-moving work rather than a fixed set of instructions. Growth-oriented, and comfortable asking questions and learning in public.
• Excited about the possibility of a full-time offer at the end of the summer, and willing to put in real effort toward earning one.
• Able to work hybrid, based in or willing to relocate for the summer to the Rochester, NY area (Pittsford), alongside your manager and team.

What You Will Do

• Spend the summer embedded with the Rochester-based AI Labs team, contributing real, shipped work on active AI Labs bets under close mentorship.
• Use frontier AI tools as part of your daily workflow.
• Participate in the team's agile process: sprint planning, code review, demos, retros.
• Present your work at the end of the summer to the team and AI Labs leadership.
• Be considered, alongside your cohort, for one of a limited number of return offers into a full-time Associate Software Engineer role on the same team.

What You Bring

• Actively pursuing a BS/BA in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a closely related field, with an anticipated graduation date between December 2027 and August 2028.
• Coding experience from coursework, prior internships, or personal/academic projects.
• Working knowledge of programming fundamentals; exposure to .NET/C# is a plus.
• Genuine interest in AI/LLM technologies.
• Strong communication skills and comfort collaborating in a small, in-person team for the full duration of the internship.

We embrace and encourage our employees’ differences in age, culture, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion or spiritual belief, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, veteran status, and other characteristics that make our employees unique. We actively cultivate these differences through our employee resource groups (ERGs), employee experiences, perspectives, talents, and approaches to drive innovation in the software and services we provide our customers.

We comply with federal and state disability laws and make reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. To request reasonable accommodation in the job application or interview process, please contact View email address on click.appcast.io. This email address is exclusively designated for such requests, aligning with federal and state disability laws. Please do not send resumes to this email address, as they will be removed.

This role can be performed from any office in the US. The pay range for this position is $30/hr; however, base pay offered may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. This information is provided per the relevant state and local pay transparency laws for the location in which this position will be performed. Base pay information is based on market location.