Intern - Software Engineering, AI User Experience Job at Rakuten International i

Job Description Rakuten International is a division of Rakuten Group, Inc., a Japanese global technology leader in services that empower individuals, communities, businesses and society. Headquartered in San Mateo, California, Rakuten International has a business portfolio that includes market leaders in e-commerce, digital marketing, advertising, communications and entertainment. We create products and services that provide exceptional value by aligning members and the businesses that want to engage them in a shared community. Job Summary We are seeking an innovative and dedicated Software Engineer to join the Rakuten AI User Experience team. Rakuten AI strives to be your Rakuten AI companion, providing the best AI user experience—generally, contextually, and personally. This role involves developing an AI user experience framework that serves as a foundational core across the Rakuten product ecosystem. The ideal candidate will have a strong passion for building solid, flexible, and immersive AI user experiences using state‑of‑the‑art technologies and will contribute to a unified vision that enhances Rakuten AI foundation at scale. We also welcome exceptional engineers from diverse fields who may not have direct experience in AI. Key Responsibilities Develop and maintain web applications: design, build, and maintain front‑end and back‑end features for web applications, ensuring they are scalable and high‑performing. Build AI front‑end user experience: use HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and frameworks like React, Angular, or Vue to create intuitive and responsive user interfaces. Develop AI back‑end services: build server‑side logic and APIs using technologies such as Node.js, Python, Java, or Ruby. Build highly flexible, scalable Agentic AI framework by leveraging popular AI toolsets like LangChain. Design data schemas and manage databases: design and manage databases such as MySQL, MongoDB, PostgreSQL, or other systems, ensuring efficient data storage and retrieval. Integrate APIs and third‑party services: integrate external APIs and services such as OpenAI APIs, payment gateways, social media APIs, or analytics tools, as needed. Perform testing and debugging: write unit, integration, and end‑to‑end tests; troubleshoot issues and resolve bugs across the full stack of the application. Optimize for performance: improve performance by optimizing application code, databases, and server configurations to reduce latency and increase efficiency. Qualifications Proficiency in front‑end technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, and experience with at least one modern front‑end framework (e.g., React, Angular, or Vue). Proficiency in back‑end development, knowledgeable of server‑side languages such as C#, Java, Python, Node.js, Ruby, or PHP, and familiarity with building RESTful APIs and Web Development Frameworks. Knowledge/familiarity with a variety of data schema design and database management, e.g., relational databases (MySQL, PostgreSQL) and/or NoSQL databases (MongoDB, Cassandra). Proficiency in debugging and problem‑solving across both front‑end and back‑end systems. Ability to write clean, maintainable code adhering to coding standards and best practices, with a focus on creating well‑organized, readable, and maintainable code. Adaptability and willingness to learn; ability to quickly learn new technologies and adapt to changing project requirements. Minimum Requirements Bachelor’s Degree or above in Computer Science or related field, or equivalent practical experience. Experience with testing practices, including unit testing, integration testing, and end‑to‑end testing. Experience in AI‑related projects or products strongly preferred. Salary At the time of posting, Rakuten expects the hourly rate for this role to be between $30 - $50 per hour. Individual compensation will vary based on job‑related factors, including the skills, qualifications, and experience of the successful candidate as well as business need and geographic location. EEO Statement Rakuten provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type. Rakuten considers applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, provincial or local laws. #J-18808-Ljbffr