Hardware and Systems Developer Intern 2027 -Austin TX

Introduction

IBM Hardware and Systems engineers design and deliver the compute platforms that power the world's most advanced AI, cloud, and enterprise technologies. From silicon to system, our teams collaborate across mechanical, electrical, computer, materials, and firmware engineering to design, prototype, and test next-generation IBM hardware. We are seeking Hardware and Systems Development Interns to join our U.S. development labs for 2026. These roles provide hands-on experience in design, prototyping, testing, and process development across IBM's high-performance systems portfolio.

Your role and responsibilities

As an intern, you will:

• Collaborate across disciplines to design, model, and validate next-generation hardware and systems.

• Support mechanical, thermal, electrical, optical, and logic design using CAD, EDA, and simulation tools.

• Participate in PCB layout, power and signal integrity, circuit design, firmware development, and system bring-up.

• Conduct experiments, analyze data, and contribute to reliability, process, and materials development projects.

• Write scripts and automation tools using Python, C/C++, or Bash to support testing and validation.

You'll have opportunities to work in focus areas such as:

• Mechanical & Thermal Design - SolidWorks, CFD, FEM, design for manufacturing, and reliability testing.

• Electrical & Logic Design - PCB/IC layout (Cadence, Allegro), digital logic, circuit, and system design.

• Optics & Photonics - Fiber optics, photonics, lasers (DFB, VCSEL), optical networking, and data center systems.

• Firmware & Automation - Embedded systems, firmware testing, scripting, and hardware debugging.

• Materials & Process Engineering - Composites, metallurgy, heat transfer, and process development.

Required education

High School Diploma/GED

Preferred education

Bachelor's Degree

Required technical and professional expertise

• B.S. or M.S. student in Mechanical, Electrical, Materials, Chemical, Industrial, or related Engineering disciplines.

• Strong academic background with an interest in hardware design, optics, logic, process, or materials engineering.

• Experience with CAD tools (SolidWorks, AutoCAD, Allegro, Cadence) and/or simulation tools (CFD, FEM, HFSS).

• Programming experience with Python, C/C++, or Bash for automation or data analysis.

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and teamwork skills.

Preferred technical and professional experience

• Experience with firmware development, test automation, or embedded systems.
• Hands-on experience with lab tools (LabVIEW, MATLAB, oscilloscopes, thermal chambers, or optical test equipment).
• Familiarity with design-of-experiments (DOE) or project management in a research or lab environment.
• Experience in signal or power integrity modeling, optical systems, logic design, or materials process engineering.
• M.S. or Ph.D. students with research focus in electrical packaging, photonics, signal integrity, or thermal design are encouraged to apply.

ABOUT BUSINESS UNIT

IBM Systems helps IT leaders think differently about their infrastructure. IBM servers and storage are no longer inanimate - they can understand, reason, and learn so our clients can innovate while avoiding IT issues. Our systems power the world's most important industries and our clients are the architects of the future. Join us to help build our leading-edge technology portfolio designed for cognitive business and optimized for cloud computing.

YOUR LIFE @ IBM

In a world where technology never stands still, we understand that, dedication to our clients success, innovation that matters, and trust and personal responsibility in all our relationships, lives in what we do as IBMers as we strive to be the catalyst that makes the world work better.

Being an IBMer means you'll be able to learn and develop yourself and your career, you'll be encouraged to be courageous and experiment everyday, all whilst having continuous trust and support in an environment where everyone can thrive whatever their personal or professional background.

Our IBMers are growth minded, always staying curious, open to feedback and learning new information and skills to constantly transform themselves and our company. They are trusted to provide on-going feedback to help other IBMers grow, as well as collaborate with colleagues keeping in mind a team focused approach to include different perspectives to drive exceptional outcomes for our customers. The courage our IBMers have to make critical decisions everyday is essential to IBM becoming the catalyst for progress, always embracing challenges with resources they have to hand, a can-do attitude and always striving for an outcome focused approach within everything that they do.

Are you ready to be an IBMer?

ABOUT IBM

IBM's greatest invention is the IBMer. We believe that through the application of intelligence, reason and science, we can improve business, society and the human condition, bringing the power of an open hybrid cloud and AI strategy to life for our clients and partners around the world.

Restlessly reinventing since 1911, we are not only one of the largest corporate organizations in the world, we're also one of the biggest technology and consulting employers, with many of the Fortune 500 companies relying on the IBM Cloud to run their business.

At IBM, we pride ourselves on being an early adopter of artificial intelligence, quantum computing and blockchain. Now it's time for you to join us on our journey to being a responsible technology innovator and a force for good in the world.

IBM is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, pregnancy, disability, neurodivergence, age, or other characteristics protected by the applicable law. IBM is also committed to compliance with all fair employment practices regarding citizenship and immigration status.

OTHER RELEVANT JOB DETAILS

Supplemental 1 employees may be eligible for up to 8 paid holidays, minimum of 56 hours paid sick time and the IBM Employee Stock Purchase Plan. IBM offers paid family medical leave and disability benefits to eligible employees where required by applicable law.

This position was posted on the date cited in the key job details section and is anticipated to remain posted for 15 days from this date or less if not needed to fill the role.

We consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable law.

IBM will not be providing visa sponsorship for this position now or in the future. Therefore, in order to be considered for this position, you must have the ability to work without a need for current or future visa sponsorship.

The compensation range and benefits for this position are based on a full-time schedule for a full calendar year. The salary will vary depending on your job-related skills, experience and location. Pay increment and frequency of pay will be in accordance with employment classification and applicable laws. For part time roles, your compensation and benefits will be adjusted to reflect your hours. Benefits may be pro-rated for those who start working during the calendar year.