AI Software Engineer Internship ( Read description)

Company DescriptionOakwood is an AI-powered real estate technology startup developing software that helps landlords, property managers, and investors simplify complex operations through automation and intelligent systems. Founded from real-world challenges in Philadelphia's real estate industry, we are building tools that bring fragmented processes into one scalable platform.We are not simply creating another software product. We are tackling practical problems through AI agents, integrations, reliable engineering, and thoughtful product design. As an early-stage startup, we operate in a competitive, rapidly evolving technology environment. Our ambitions require excellent engineers who combine curiosity, technical discipline, creativity, and a willingness to learn.Role DescriptionOakwood is seeking a Software Engineering & AI Intern who is serious about developing exceptional engineering skills. This is a hands-on, learning-focused opportunity to collaborate with our team, explore modern software systems, and gain exposure to the challenges of building an AI-powered platform from the ground up.This is an unpaid, six-month internship that requires significant time, consistent participation, and genuine commitment. It is not a casual or low-effort experience. Startup priorities evolve, technical problems can be difficult, and progress requires focused research, testing, communication, and persistence. We want applicants who understand those realities before applying.Key ResponsibilitiesSoftware Engineering: Assist with designing, developing, testing, and improving platform features and software components.AI Development: Research and experiment with AI agents, large language models, intelligent workflows, and automation.Backend Systems: Support learning projects involving APIs, databases, integrations, and data processing.Technical Research: Evaluate frameworks, developer tools, and emerging technologies relevant to our product.Troubleshooting: Reproduce bugs, investigate root causes, test fixes, and learn sound debugging practices.Quality and Documentation: Write tests, document engineering work, and communicate technical findings clearly.Product Thinking: Understand user problems, technical trade-offs, and how well-designed software creates value.Assignments will be aligned with the intern's experience, educational objectives, and the team's capacity to provide mentorship and supervision. Opportunities for greater responsibility will depend on demonstrated skills and appropriate learning goals.QualificationsFoundational knowledge of programming, algorithms, data structures, and software development.Experience with Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, or another programming language.Familiarity with Git, GitHub, APIs, databases, cloud services, or software testing is helpful.Strong interest in AI systems, machine learning, agentic workflows, or automation.Ability to research unfamiliar concepts and work through technical challenges thoughtfully.Personal projects, open-source contributions, or a GitHub portfolio are encouraged.Clear communication, reliability, collaboration, and openness to constructive feedback.Students, recent graduates, and self-taught developers with relevant experience are welcome. You do not need expertise in every technology listed. We value demonstrated ability, engineering potential, initiative, and commitment more than credentials alone.What We ExpectThis opportunity calls for substantial effort throughout the full six months. Candidates should be ready to learn continuously, participate in technical discussions, follow through on agreed assignments, document progress, and ask questions when they need support.We are looking for people who become curious when something breaks, investigate how systems work, and care about building reliable, maintainable software. Strong engineers do more than write code: they consider security, testing, scalability, clarity, and the people who will use their products.Please do not apply if you need paid work, cannot realistically participate for six months, want an internship with minimal engagement, or have little interest in software engineering or AI. We respect different financial situations, academic obligations, and career priorities. If this is not the right fit, we encourage you to pursue an opportunity better aligned with your needs.Compensation & Learning ExperienceThis internship is unpaid. There is no salary, stipend, or guaranteed financial compensation. Please evaluate your financial circumstances carefully before applying.The intended educational experience includes exposure to software architecture, AI workflows, testing, technical documentation, product development, and startup decision-making. Interns may receive mentorship and feedback from team members and opportunities to strengthen their skills through appropriate technical projects. Any portfolio use of project work is subject to confidentiality and intellectual property requirements.Why You Might Want to ApplyIf you love engineering, enjoy exploring AI, and want to understand how a startup develops real technology, Oakwood may offer a valuable learning environment. You can gain firsthand exposure to the engineering process, see how technical ideas are evaluated, and develop stronger judgment through research, experimentation, and collaboration.We are especially interested in candidates who build personal projects, study unfamiliar technologies, and take initiative because they genuinely enjoy solving problems. We are not expecting perfect engineers. We are looking for people with the foundation, discipline, and ambition to become great ones.What Oakwood Offers: An Internship That Can Transform Your CareerAt Oakwood, we believe the right opportunity, combined with ambition, mentorship, and dedication, can change the direction of someone's career.This internship is designed to offer more than technical exposure. It is an opportunity to develop as an engineer, gain firsthand experience with emerging AI technologies, collaborate with startup founders and engineers, and understand what it takes to build a technology company from the ground up.You'll have opportunities to strengthen your technical judgment, develop practical problem-solving skills, explore modern engineering tools, and gain valuable experience in software development and innovation.What makes this opportunity potentially transformative is the possibility of growth beyond the internship itself.Six months of focused learning, consistent effort, and professional development can help build the foundation for a stronger engineering career.As Oakwood expands, exceptional interns may be considered for continued collaboration, additional responsibilities, and potential long-term positions, depending on business needs and available resources.While future employment is not guaranteed, we want to create an environment where motivated individuals can develop their abilities, discover their potential, build meaningful professional relationships, and potentially grow alongside the company.For the right person, this could be more than six months of experience. It could be the beginning of a meaningful career in technology.Six Months as a Bridge to Future OpportunitiesWe see the six-month period as a potential bridge to a longer professional relationship, not merely a short-term experience. As Oakwood grows, interns who show strong technical progress, reliability, collaboration, and initiative may be considered for an extension, continued collaboration, or potential long-term roles.Our goal is to identify talented engineers who share our vision and could potentially become important members of Oakwood's engineering organization.Future positions are not guaranteed. Any extension or paid employment depends on performance, available openings, company resources, and business needs. The internship does not promise a job, equity, or compensation at its conclusion.A Message to Serious ApplicantsIf you have read this description carefully, understand the unpaid six-month commitment, and genuinely believe this opportunity matches what you are looking for, we invite you to learn more about Oakwood.Visit our website, research our company, and find our official company email address. If you believe in what we are building, consider reaching out directly.Introduce yourself, explain why our mission interests you, describe something you have built or a difficult technical problem you solved, and share your resume, GitHub, or portfolio if available.We appreciate thoughtful, specific messages that demonstrate genuine curiosity, resourcefulness, and initiative. Direct email is optional; applicants who apply through LinkedIn will receive equal consideration.We are looking for promising engineers who want to learn, contribute thoughtfully, and potentially grow alongside Oakwood as our technology and team evolve.Important: This is an unpaid, six-month internship requiring significant dedication. No extension or future employment is guaranteed.