Job details

2025 Summer Internship, Research Scientist - PhD (NYC)

Spotify is looking for enthusiastic students/recent graduates with a passion for music and an ambition to go far. This isn't just any internship! Our paid internship program will give you the chance to gain in-depth knowledge of what it's like to be a Spotify employee as well as get the opportunity to see the technology side of a fast growing company! Our summer internships will last for approximately 10 weeks this summer and start in the beginning of June.

We are looking for Research Scientist Interns to join our Audio Intelligence team. Our mission is to advance the state of the art in AI-based machine listening technologies to unlock differentiating product opportunities for Spotify. During your internship, you’ll help to develop intelligent, efficient and intuitive new ways to search, explore, re-use, and process audio. Your work will change the way the world experiences music, and the way artists can make a living.

This is your chance to help craft the way the world listens, learn more about what we do, how we do it – and why it all matters. We’re looking for enthusiastic students with a passion for audio experiences and an ambition to go far. This isn’t just any internship, you’ll make an impact and play a real part in the success of Spotify, all over one unforgettable summer!

What You'll Do

Work with Research Scientists to develop and evaluate machine listening methods, combining machine learning, audio signal processing, generative modeling, probabilistic modeling and many other fields.
Learn to run experiments at scale, having access to a catalog of 100M+ songs, 602M+ monthly active users, and making use of Spotify’s computing infrastructure.
Leverage best practices in building new datasets powering the next generation of machine learning research.
Communicate your results and their importance to both key partners and in external publications.
Be a valued member of an autonomous, cross-functional team of researchers, product managers, software engineers and others across the company.

Who You Are

You have, or are pursuing a PhD degree in Computer Science, Mathematics, Engineering or a related field.
Strong preference for a graduation year date of 2025 or 2026.
You currently have valid work authorization to work in the country in which this role is based that will extend from June to August 2025.
You are available from June 9th to August 15th 2025 to participate in the summer internship.
You are experienced with two or more of the following: machine learning, music information retrieval, speech processing, audio signal processing, generative modeling, probabilistic modeling.
You have strong coding skills in several languages/libraries: Python, NumPy, TensorFlow, PyTorch.
You are experienced with independently driving research projects, and in leading publications.
You know how to explain sophisticated topics in simple terms, and you love building positive relationships with colleagues and team members.

Where You'll Be

This role will be in New York City.
Our internship program has a lot to offer with in office events and networking opportunities. To allow you to be fully immersed in our program and make the most of your time with us, we ask that you come into the office 3 days a week.

The United States hourly rate for this position is $55 USD and is overtime eligible. These rates may be modified in the future. The role is eligible for select benefits such as Paid Public Holidays, and Learning and Development Trainings.

Our paid summer internships last for approximately 10 weeks and start at the beginning of June. The last day to apply is February 6th 2025 at 12 PM ET.

Spotify is an equal opportunity employer. You are welcome at Spotify for who you are, no matter where you come from, what you look like, or what’s playing in your headphones. Our platform is for everyone, and so is our workplace. The more voices we have represented and amplified in our business, the more we will all thrive, contribute, and be forward-thinking! So bring us your personal experience, your perspectives, and your background. It’s in our differences that we will find the power to keep revolutionizing the way the world listens.

Spotify transformed music listening forever when we launched in 2008. Our mission is to unlock the potential of human creativity by giving a million creative artists the opportunity to live off their art and billions of fans the chance to enjoy and be passionate about these creators. Everything we do is driven by our love for music and podcasting. Today, we are the world’s most popular audio streaming subscription service.

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CEO of Spotify

Daniel Ek

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Average salary estimate

$114000 / YEARLY (est.)

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$114000K

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What You Should Know About 2025 Summer Internship, Research Scientist - PhD (NYC), Spotify

Spotify is excited to welcome passionate students and recent graduates for the 2025 Summer Internship in Research Scientist - PhD in New York City! This isn't just any internship; it's a vibrant opportunity to dive deep into the world of audio intelligence while having a real impact on how the world experiences music. Imagine working alongside our innovative Audio Intelligence team, where our mission is to revolutionize AI-based machine listening technologies to create groundbreaking product openings for Spotify. Over a fun-filled 10 weeks, starting in early June, you will collaborate with skilled research scientists to develop and evaluate state-of-the-art machine learning methods. With access to our vast catalog of 100 million songs and over 602 million monthly active users, you'll have the chance to run experiments at scale and contribute to the technology powering the next generation of music experiences. We’re looking for passionate individuals pursuing a PhD in Computer Science, Mathematics, Engineering, or a related field, who are eager to bring their knowledge of audio signal processing and machine learning to the table. At Spotify, we value creativity and individuality, fostering a work environment that is inclusive and dynamic. So, if you're ready to embark on a unique journey where you can learn, innovate, and have a real say in the future of music, we want to hear from you! Join us and play a crucial part in shaping the way the world listens, all while enjoying exciting in-office events and networking opportunities in the heart of NYC!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for 2025 Summer Internship, Research Scientist - PhD (NYC) Role at Spotify

What are the key responsibilities of the Research Scientist Intern at Spotify?

As a Research Scientist Intern at Spotify, your primary responsibilities will involve collaborating with seasoned researchers to develop and evaluate machine listening methods. You will engage in hands-on experience by running experiments on an extensive dataset, communicate results effectively to stakeholders, and contribute to external publications. This opportunity allows you to gain valuable insights into AI applications in the music industry while working within a diverse and innovative team.