Data Engineer Intern

Firework • San Mateo, CA

6d • Onsite

About The Position

Firework is seeking a motivated and curious Data Engineer Intern to join its engineering team and gain hands-on experience building and maintaining data infrastructure. The intern will work alongside experienced engineers to support data pipelines, data processing systems, and analytics tools used for business intelligence, product development, and data-driven decision-making. The role offers meaningful project work and exposure to real-world data systems, modern data engineering technologies, and engineering best practices in a collaborative, fast-paced environment.

The position is on-site at the San Mateo office, and candidates should be located in the Bay Area. The expected compensation is $20–$25 per hour; the final starting pay may depend on work location, skills and experience, market demands, and internal parity.

Requirements

• Currently pursuing a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Software Engineering, Information Systems, or a related technical field.
• Foundational knowledge of Python and SQL, including experience writing queries, manipulating data, or developing scripts through coursework, projects, or internships.
• Basic understanding of databases, data structures, and data processing concepts.
• Familiarity with ETL/ELT processes, data pipelines, or data warehousing concepts.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and willingness to learn.
• Good communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively in a team environment.
• A proactive attitude, intellectual curiosity, and enthusiasm for working with data and emerging technologies.
• Ability to work on-site at the San Mateo office; candidates should be in the Bay Area.

Nice To Haves

• Interest in learning modern AI and data technologies such as Claude, Snowflake, BigQuery, Apache Spark, Flink, or Apache Airflow.
• Previous technical projects, relevant coursework, or internship experience in data engineering, software development, or analytics; not required.

Responsibilities

• Assist in designing, developing, and maintaining data pipelines and infrastructure for analytics, business intelligence, and machine learning applications.
• Support the development of ETL/ELT processes to collect, transform, and organize data from various sources.
• Write and optimize SQL queries and Python scripts for data processing, reporting, and analysis.
• Collaborate with data engineers, software engineers, and analytics teams to improve data accessibility, quality, and reliability.
• Help build and maintain data tools and dashboards that provide insights into business and product performance.
• Gain hands-on experience with cloud-based data infrastructure, data warehouses, and modern data processing technologies.
• Assist in troubleshooting data pipeline issues, identifying performance improvements, and implementing solutions with guidance from senior engineers.
• Participate in code reviews, technical discussions, and team meetings while learning engineering best practices.
• Document data processes, workflows, and technical solutions to support development and knowledge sharing.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Intern