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Data Engineer Internship Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Data Engineer

Palo Alto, CA · On-site

$134K - $161K/yr

Required : • Bachelor's degree in computer science, data science, physics, mathematics, or a STEM discipline • 1+ years of data/software engineering experience (internship experience is ...

Bachelor's degree in computer science, data science, physics, mathematics, or a STEM discipline * 1+ years of data/software engineering experience (internship experience is applicable) * Experience ...

Data Engineer II

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$110K - $135K/yr

A combination of internships, research, and substantial project experience that clearly demonstrates equivalent data engineering capability Regardless of path, you should be able to demonstrate ...

Data Engineer

Palo Alto, CA

$134K - $161K/yr

Bachelor's degree in computer science, data science, physics, mathematics, or a STEM discipline * 1+ years of data/software engineering experience (internship experience is applicable) * Experience ...

Data Engineer

Palo Alto, CA · On-site

$134K - $161K/yr

Bachelor's degree in computer science, data science, physics, mathematics, or a STEM discipline * 1+ years of data/software engineering experience (internship experience is applicable) * Experience ...

New

Intern Systems Test Engineer assists in verifying that software or hardware systems meet ... Preparing the necessary environment for testing, which may include hardware, software, and data.

Data Engineer II

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$134K - $162K/yr

A combination of internships, research, and substantial project experience that clearly demonstrates equivalent data engineering capability Regardless of path, you should be able to demonstrate ...

New graduates or early-career professionals with relevant coursework, internships, or personal projects Mid Level (2-5 years): Solid experience with data systems and data engineering Senior Level (5+ ...

Research Data Engineer

Carlsbad, CA · On-site

$110K - $130K/yr

We are seeking a Research Data Engineer to support clinical research activities by building and ... Internship or project experiences can be considered for years of experience Equal Employment ...

Lead Data Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$134K - $162K/yr

Lead Data Engineer Do you love building and pioneering in the technology space? Do you enjoy ... At least 4 years of experience in application development (Internship experience does not apply)

Intern Systems Test Engineer assists in verifying that software or hardware systems meet ... Preparing the necessary environment for testing, which may include hardware, software, and data.

Lead Data Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$134K - $162K/yr

Lead Data Engineer Do you love building and pioneering in the technology space? Do you enjoy ... At least 4 years of experience in application development (Internship experience does not apply)

Data Engineer (Starlink)

Hawthorne, CA · On-site

$145K - $175K/yr

Bachelor's degree in computer science, data science, physics, mathematics, or another STEM discipline * 1+ years of professional data engineering or software engineering experience (internship ...

Bachelor's degree in computer science, data science, physics, mathematics, or another STEM discipline * 1+ years of professional data engineering or software engineering experience (internship ...

Data Engineer (Starlink)

Hawthorne, CA · On-site

$145K - $175K/yr

Bachelor's degree in computer science, data science, physics, mathematics, or another STEM discipline * 1+ years of professional data engineering or software engineering experience (internship ...

AI Data Engineer

Los Angeles, CA

$123K - $148K/yr

Prior production engineering experience with data pipelines, integrations, or analytics infrastructure - internship, contract, or full-time all qualify * Daily fluency with a standard engineering ...

AI Data Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$123K - $148K/yr

Prior production engineering experience with data pipelines, integrations, or analytics infrastructure - internship, contract, or full-time all qualify * Daily fluency with a standard engineering ...

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Showing results 1-20

Data Engineer Internship information

See California salary details

$13

$25

$38

How much do data engineer internship jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 16, 2026, the average hourly pay for data engineer internship in California is $25.08, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $20.38 and $28.46 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Data Engineer Internship position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Data Engineer Intern, you need a solid background in programming (especially Python or Java), SQL, and basic data management concepts, often gained through coursework in computer science, data science, or related fields. Experience with tools like SQL databases, ETL pipelines, and cloud platforms (such as AWS or Azure), as well as familiarity with big data frameworks like Hadoop or Spark, is highly valuable. Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, and the ability to communicate technical information clearly help interns collaborate effectively within diverse teams. These skills are vital for supporting data infrastructure development, ensuring data quality, and contributing to impactful data-driven solutions.

What is a Data Engineer Internship job?

A Data Engineer Internship is a temporary, entry-level role where interns gain hands-on experience in data infrastructure, ETL pipelines, and database management. Interns typically work with large datasets, assist in building data models, and collaborate with data scientists and analysts to ensure efficient data processing. They learn tools like SQL, Python, and cloud platforms while improving data quality and automation processes. This role provides valuable industry experience and prepares interns for full-time data engineering positions.

What types of projects or tasks can I expect to work on during a Data Engineer Internship?

As a Data Engineer Intern, you can expect to assist with building and maintaining data pipelines, cleaning and transforming datasets, and supporting the integration of new data sources. You may also help optimize database performance, troubleshoot data quality issues, and collaborate with data scientists or analysts to ensure data accessibility. Interns often work on real-world projects that offer hands-on experience with tools and technologies common in the industry. This exposure not only builds your technical skills but also provides valuable insights into how data engineering supports business decision-making and analytics.

What are the most commonly searched types of Data Engineer jobs in California? The most popular types of Data Engineer jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Data Engineer Internship jobs? Cities in California with the most Data Engineer Internship job openings:
Infographic showing various Data Engineer Internship job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 83% Full Time, 12% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $52,174 per year, or $25.1 per hour.

Data Engineer

xAI

Palo Alto, CA • On-site

$134K - $161K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 22 days ago


Job description

Job Summary:
xAI is focused on creating AI systems that enhance human knowledge and scientific discovery. The Data Engineer will develop systems and processes for data acquisition, preparation, and quality evaluation to support model training, collaborating with various teams to ensure high-quality data is available for AI models.
Responsibilities:
• Analyze the performance and impact of data used throughout the model training lifecycle
• Investigate anomalous model behavior and rigorously identify the data issues that drive poor downstream performance
• Design, build, and improve the data cleaning, transformation, and quality-control steps required to produce high-quality training data
• Research, evaluate, and develop frontier methods for improving data quality and effectiveness in AI model development
• Apply statistical techniques and empirical analysis to make informed, data-driven decisions about dataset quality and model outcomes
• Partner across teams to identify where data needs exist and define the highest-impact opportunities for new data acquisition and improvement
• Build and maintain production-grade data pipelines, tooling, and software systems that ingest, process, validate, and deliver data for training
• Develop metrics, evaluation frameworks, and monitoring systems to assess how data quality influences model behavior at scale
• Fuse data from multiple sources into reliable, usable datasets for research and production model training
• Create shared datasets, tooling, and internal data products that enable other teams to analyze, debug, and improve model performance
Qualifications:
Required:
• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, data science, physics, mathematics, or a STEM discipline
• 1+ years of data/software engineering experience (internship experience is applicable)
• Experience in implementing or analyzing language models or neural networks
Preferred:
• Professional experience in analytics, data science, machine learning, or data engineering
• Experience building and operating production data pipelines for neural network or large-scale machine learning workloads
• Strong experience with Python and the broader ecosystem of libraries and tools used in modern machine learning and data development
• Experience working with Parquet or similar columnar storage formats in large-scale data systems
• Familiarity with Kubernetes and distributed production environments
• Experience developing predictive models and machine learning pipelines, including clustering, forecasting, anomaly detection, or related techniques
• Experience working with very large-scale datasets, including terabyte- to petabyte-scale data systems
• Strong statistical intuition and the ability to use quantitative analysis to guide technical and product decision, including familiarity of scaling ladder design studies
• Ability to operate effectively in a dynamic environment with evolving priorities, changing requirements, and fast-moving technical challenges
• Demonstrated ability to take ownership of ambiguous problems, drive projects independently, and develop new expertise where needed
Company:
xAI develops AI software and computational infrastructure designed for scientific discovery, automated reasoning, and data processing It is a sub-organization of SpaceX. Founded in 2023, the company is headquartered in Palo Alto, USA, with a team of 1001-5000 employees. The company is currently Late Stage.