Reports To: Engineering Lead
Location: San Francisco, CA

Reinventing Government Interactions for a Sustainable Future

At Symbium, we’re on a mission to streamline how citizens interact with local government and cut through the red tape in permitting processes. Imagine a world where homeowners and contractors can effortlessly navigate complex regulations, instantly determine what projects are possible on their property, and secure approvals with the click of a button. Symbium is making that world a reality. By transforming dense rules into user-friendly software, we empower people to get work done without frustration and delay.

Symbium’s proprietary computational law (Complaw®) technology – initially developed at Stanford’s AI Lab – performs permit compliance checks in real time, enabling instant permit approvals. Symbium is currently partnered with 60 California cities – and growing fast. Our platform accelerates clean energy adoption by simplifying approvals for installations of solar panels and EV chargers to heat pumps and beyond. This streamlined process helps communities transition more quickly to decarbonization and energy independence.

The Opportunity

As a Software Engineering Intern at Symbium, you’ll work closely with a small, fast-moving team to support and maintain our applications. This role is designed to give you meaningful exposure to how production software is built, tested, and maintained, with guidance from experienced engineers. You’ll work on well-scoped projects — ranging from the building of internal tools to feature contributions — and gain insight into real-world software development processes. You’ll also have the opportunity to learn how we build Complaw® systems using logic programming, and see how your work fits into the broader mission of making complex regulations more accessible.

You’ll tackle challenging technical problems (think translating law into code!), collaborate with a passionate team, and expand your engineering skills in a supportive environment.If you love the idea of using technology to disrupt the status quo and make a positive impact on society, you’ll thrive in this role.

What you’ll do (Responsibilities)

• Bug fixes and internal tooling: Support our engineering team by helping maintain internal tools, refining user experience details, and resolving issues in production code.
• Contribute to feature development: Work in partnership with our development team to provide meaningful contributions to new features and products.
• Exposure to Complaw®: Learn about logic programming and how our proprietary Complaw® technology is used to model and interpret complex regulations.
• Team collaboration: Participate in team discussions and code reviews to develop a shared understanding of problems and build effective solutions.
• Time-sensitive problem solving: Identify and address issues under tight deadlines while balancing clarity, correctness, and efficiency.
• Testing: Perform unit, integration, and regression testing to maintain high code quality and reliability.
• Clear communication:
• Proactively monitor progress, address roadblocks, and adjust strategies as needed to support timely execution.
• Communicate clearly with the team about project updates, blockers, and timelines. Strong communication is essential – you should be responsive to messages and emails, provide timely updates, and ensure alignment across the team and stakeholders to maintain smooth execution.

Who we’re looking for (Qualifications)

We welcome creative problem solvers who are excited by our mission. You might be a great fit if you have:

• Academic background: Pursuing a bachelor’s or master’s degree in Computer Science or a related field, with plans to graduate in the next academic year.
• Foundational skills: Strong understanding of core programming and computer science principles.
• JavaScript / Node.js: Familiarity with modern JavaScript or backend development frameworks.
• Version control: Familiarity with Git or other version control systems.
• Ownership: Willingness to take responsibility for your work, follow through on tasks, and contribute proactively to team discussions.
• Quality-focused mindset. Interest and experience in testing, debugging, and ensuring code reliability.
• Strong communication and documentation skills. Ability to write clearly, explain technical concepts, and present ideas effectively.
• Team player attitude. Passion for being part of a tight-knit, agile team. You communicate well, enjoy collaborating, and take accountability for your work (and welcome feedback from others).

Nice-to-Have Skills (Not required, but let us know if you have them)

• Databases: Experience working with relational or non-relational databases.
• Logic programming: Exposure to logic programming or rule-based systems (e.g. Prolog). This will help in understanding our Complaw engine, though you can learn it here too.
• APIs: Understanding of how to use and interact with web APIs.
• Mission alignment: Interest in civic tech, urban planning, or tools that support decarbonization and public engagement.

Our Culture & Why You’ll Love Symbium

• Mission with Impact: Your work will directly accelerate the adoption of clean energy and make government services more accessible. Every feature you build can help someone install solar panels, get an EV charger, or improve their home with less hassle. If you’ve wanted to do good with your coding skills, this is it.
• High-Ownership Environment: We believe in ownership and accountability. On our team, everyone trusts each other to deliver results. You’ll have the freedom to innovate, make decisions, and drive projects, with the support of experienced mentors when you need it.
• Tight-Knit & Hands-On: We work side by side every day – C-level executives, engineers, and interns alike – sharing ideas and tackling problems together. You’ll find us walking to the Ferry Building for lunch, debating product decisions, and jumping in wherever needed to keep things moving. Everyone has a voice, and we focus on collaboration and execution over titles and hierarchy.

How to Apply

If Symbium’s mission and team resonate with you, we’d love to hear from you! To apply, please send an email to careers@symbium.com with your resume, LinkedIn information, and a brief note about why you’re excited to intern at Symbium.

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis and be willing to relocate to California prior to the start of employment. Symbium does not provide visa sponsorships at this time.

Symbium is an equal opportunity employer.