Software Engineering Intern – Distributed Simulation Systems

About this role

ABOUT ASTERA Astera is a private foundation on a mission to steer science and technology toward an abundant future. We believe the coming years will bring an era of unprecedented scientific and technological advancement as exponential progress in AI converges with central advances in other fields to dramatically accelerate innovation. This inflection point provides an unparalleled opportunity to fundamentally rethink the institutions, systems, and tools that drive scientific progress. Unlike traditional non-profit research organizations, projects supported by Astera operate like high-velocity startups, allowing us to focus on ambitious goals, match structure to problem, and attract strong technical talent and leadership. You can read more about our mission, vision, and programming here https://astera.org/vision/. POSITION SUMMARY Astera Institute is seeking a Software Engineering Intern to help build infrastructure for large-scale distributed simulation systems, including biological systems and physics-based environments. This internship is ideal for someone excited about systems programming, simulation, distributed computing, or scientific infrastructure. You’ll work closely with experienced engineers on real technical problems spanning simulation, networking, orchestration, and performance optimization. You do not need prior professional experience in all of these areas — we care most about strong technical fundamentals, curiosity, and a willingness to learn quickly. Areas you may work on include: - Distributed computing systems - High-performance C++ infrastructure - Biological system simulation - 3D physics simulation environments - Networking and communication systems - Simulation tooling and visualization RESPONSIBILITIES - Contribute to distributed simulation infrastructure and tooling - Help build networking and communication systems for multi-node simulations - Assist with development of MuJoCo-based or other 3D simulation environments - Work on systems for large-scale biological simulations - Improve simulation throughput and system reliability - Debug and profile performance bottlenecks - Build internal tools for orchestration, visualization, and developer workflows - Collaborate with researchers and engineers across simulation and infrastructure projects QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE - Strong programming fundamentals - Experience with C++, Python, or similar systems languages - Familiarity with Linux development environments - Understanding of data structures, algorithms, and concurrency fundamentals - Interest in distributed systems, simulation, or systems engineering - Ability to learn quickly and work independently on technical problems NICE TO HAVE - Experience with C++ projects - Familiarity with networking or distributed systems concepts - Experience with physics simulators such as MuJoCo, Unity, or Unreal - Experience with Python, PyTorch, or scientific computing - Familiarity with GPU programming or CUDA - Open-source, research, robotics, or simulation project experience - Interest in biology, neuroscience, or scientific infrastructure LOCATION This position is hybrid at our office in Emeryville, CA. Some travel may occasionally be required for collaboration and team events. Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States without the need for employer sponsorship, now or in the future. COMPENSATION The posted salary range is based on location in the Bay Area. The successful candidate will receive a competitive compensation package, commensurate with their experience and location. CULTURAL ALIGNMENT - Surprising problem-solver – you love finding unexpected solutions to problems we don't even know we have, and see options where others only see constraints. - Flexible by default – you don't draw hard lines around your job description and expect your role to evolve significantly over 6–12 months. - Bias to action – you launch and iterate on thoughtful experiments rather than waiting for perfect plans, and you're energized by novel problems. - High standards, internally driven – you believe you can build the world's best vehicle for unleashing extraordinary individuals to create public goods, and you hold yourself to that bar without benchmarking against others. - Open to feedback – You create opportunities to give and receive honest feedback, staying focused on both personal and team growth, and committing to transparency even when it’s uncomfortable. - Operate with the highest levels of integrity, judgment, and stewardship -- you treat residents, peers, and vendors with genuine respect for their time and contributions. - Embrace the tools that define great work today – Astera is building for an AI-driven future and equips the team accordingly. We see these as genuine force multipliers, not optional extras, and we expect our people to use them.