Job Specifications
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.
What you’ll be doing
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
You’ll thrive here if you have
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
Program details
Duration: 12 weeks, Summer 2026
Locations: Boston, San Jose, New York, Austin (on-site expectations vary by team)
Project matching: Based on your skills, interests, and team needs—clearly defined, challenging to complete, and easy to start.
Career visibility: Understand what full-time life at Roku looks like through mentorship, collaboration, and showcasing your outcomes to engineering leaders and peers.
How to apply
Submit your resume and a brief note on the impact you want to make this summer. Include links to GitHub, portfolio, publications, or notable projects.
Highlight the systems you’ve built, the decisions you owned, and the measurable outcomes you drove.
Ready to build at streaming scale? Let’s talk.
Our Hybrid Work Approach
Roku fosters an inclusive and collaborative environment where teams work in the office Monday through Thursday. Fridays are flexible for remote work except for employees whose roles are required to be in the office five days a week or employees who are in offices with a five day in office policy.
Benefits
Roku is committed to offering a di
About the Company
With the #1 platform for streaming television in the U.S., Roku wants to revolutionize the way the world watches TV.
Our Roku-branded TVs, Roku TV models, Smart Home system, streaming players, audio equipment, and the purpose-built operating system that powers it all can turn any home into a home theater, with seamless integration of hardware and software. Our commitment to our users extends to our brand studio, which creates innovative Roku Originals exclusively for The Roku Channel, a free channel that reaches approximat...
Know more