Applied AI Engineer (Internship)

Fortinet

Posted about 23 hours ago

Internship

Santa Clara, California

In Person

Smart Summary

The engineer will architect and implement scalable AI agent and backend systems for high-volume, real-time operational workloads, integrating LLMs and GenAI components into production workflows. Key tasks include designing robust data flows, defining service contracts, and contributing to trustworthy AI delivery through structured outputs and guardrails.

This internship requires a candidate with experience in backend development and AI integration to build scalable AI agent systems. Proficiency in a backend language like Python or Go, API design, databases, and familiarity with AI/ML concepts such as RAG and prompt engineering are essential. Strong communication and problem-solving skills are also required for collaborating with cross-functional teams.

Must Have Skills for ATS

Backend Systems

AI Agent Development

LLMs

Generative AI

Real-time Systems

Data Flows

Prompt Orchestration

RAG

Python

Go

APIs

Databases

Distributed Systems

Authentication

Authorization

Observability

Job Description

We’re a cybersecurity company building a next-generation AI-driven operations platform, designed to power complex, high-stakes workflows. The product integrates generative AI deeply into real-time operational environments—combining reasoning, retrieval, and automation into scalable, trustworthy systems.

We’re looking for an Applied AI Engineer with strong backend and AI experience who can architect, build, and scale secure, performant systems. You’ll work closely with product, AI/ML, and design teams to deliver capabilities that drive investigation speed, streamline operations, and unlock new modes of human-AI collaboration.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

 Development

  • Architect and implement scalable AI agent and backend systems for high-volume, real-time operational workloads.
  • Integrate LLMs and GenAI components into production workflows, including fine-tuning, prompt orchestration, retrieval pipelines, and evaluation loops.
  • Design and implement robust data flows (e.g., event streams, message queues, job orchestration) to support next-gen SOC/NOC capabilities.
  • Define clear contracts between AI services, backend APIs, and frontend clients.
  • Contribute to trustworthy AI delivery: streaming responses with structured outputs, redaction/guardrails, and human-in-the-loop review.

Collaboration

  • Partner with backend team to build data pipeline.
  • Collaborate with design and frontend engineers to translate complex backend/AI systems into intuitive UIs.
  • Lead technical reviews, and help shape coding standards and architectural patterns.
  • Communicate clearly with both technical and non-technical stakeholders about trade-offs, performance, and reliability.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

 Experience

  •  Proven track record shipping data-intensive and AI-enhanced applications.

Technical Skills

Core Backend & Platform

  • Proficiency with at least one modern backend runtime/language (e.g., Python, Go) and associated frameworks.
  • Strong background in designing APIs (REST/WebSocket/GraphQL) and integrating with real-time/event-driven systems.
  • Deep understanding of databases and storage paradigms (e.g., Postgres, graph DBs, time-series stores).
  • Experience with authentication/authorization, session management, and enterprise integrations.
  • Familiarity with distributed systems, scalability, and observability best practices.

AI/ML Integration

  • Hands-on experience building or integrating AI systems in production.
  • Familiarity with multi-agent, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), prompt engineering, evaluation, and guardrails.
  • Exposure to model fine-tuning workflows or orchestration frameworks for multi-tool AI agents.

Communication & Soft Skills

  • Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication.
  • Comfortable operating in fast-moving, ambiguous contexts.
  • Experience working with distributed teams.

WHAT WE OFFER

  • Opportunity to shape the future of AI-assisted cybersecurity and operations at scale.
  • End-to-end ownership of high-impact product surfaces used daily by enterprise customers.
  • Collaborative environment with experienced engineers, researchers, and designers.
  • Continuous learning in AI/ML, distributed systems, and modern web technologies.
  • Terrific benefits and competitive compensation.

The US Hourly Pay Range for this temporary position (Summer Internship) is $35-45 USD. Wage ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, and job level. Exact salary offers will be determined by factors such as the candidate's subject knowledge, skill level, qualifications, experience, and geographic location.

Why Join Us:
We encourage candidates from all backgrounds and identities to apply. We offer a supportive work environment and a competitive Total Rewards package to support you with your overall health and financial well-being. Embark on a challenging, enjoyable, and rewarding career journey with Fortinet. Join us in bringing solutions that make a meaningful and lasting impact to our 660,000+ customers around the globe.


Fortinet (NASDAQ: FTNT) secures the largest enterprise, service provider, and government organizations around the world. Fortinet empowers its customers with intelligent, seamless protection across the expanding attack surface and the power to take on ever-increasing performance requirements of the borderless network - today and into the future. Only the Fortinet Security Fabric architecture can deliver security without compromise to address the most critical security challenges, whether in networked, application, cloud or mobile environments. Fortinet ranks number one in the most security appliances shipped worldwide and more than 500,000 customers trust Fortinet to protect their businesses.
We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for all qualified individuals with disabilities. If you require assistance or accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at accommodations@fortinet.com.   Fortinet is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity in our company, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, military/veteran status or any other applicable legally protected characteristics in the location in which the candidate is applying.

Fortinet

Fortinet makes possible a digital world that we can always trust through its mission to protect people, devices, and data everywhere. This is why the world’s largest enterprises, service providers, and government organizations choose Fortinet to securely accelerate their digital journey.

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