At a Glance
- Tasks: Dive into machine learning and spatial AI, developing algorithms that make a real-world impact.
- Company: Join Cartesian, a cutting-edge startup revolutionising indoor inventory visibility for global retailers.
- Benefits: Gain hands-on experience, work in a collaborative environment, and enjoy significant ownership of your projects.
- Other info: Located in vibrant Kendall Square, Cambridge, with flexible internship duration.
- Why this job: Contribute to innovative solutions while working alongside a talented team in a fast-paced setting.
- Qualifications: PhD student in Computer Science or related field with a strong research background.
The predicted salary is between 20000 - 30000 £ per year.
About Cartesian
Cartesian is building spatial intelligence for indoor environments to drive operational efficiency. We’re tackling one of the biggest challenges in the $35T global retail industry: in-store inventory visibility. Our platform delivers accurate indoor positioning and actionable product location insights, helping retailers streamline operations, optimize workflows, and reduce inefficiencies. By fusing wireless signals and mobile computer vision, we provide a uniquely scalable, infrastructure-free solution already deployed by international fashion brands. Founded by an MIT engineering professor and alumni behind award-winning, patented core technologies, Cartesian spun out in 2023. Originally backed by a U.S. National Science Foundation SBIR Award, we’ve bootstrapped to a live product now deployed in multiple countries and are scaling aggressively.
About the Role
We are looking for an Applied ML/CS PhD intern to join Cartesian at an exciting moment in our growth. This internship is a chance to contribute to core algorithms, dig deep into a deployed product, and ship changes that reach enterprise customers, while also driving new research directions in spatial AI. This is a hands-on role at the intersection of machine learning, perception, estimation, and signal processing, with direct impact on a deployed enterprise product. You’ll gain exposure to the full journey of research in production, working in a fast-paced, hands-on environment where your work makes a tangible impact. This internship is product- and impact-driven. Due to the IP-sensitive nature of the core models and algorithms, the internship is not expected to involve publications.
Location: In-person at the Cartesian HQ in Kendall Square, Cambridge.
Internship type: Full-time, PhD internship
Duration and timing: 12–24 weeks, Summer 2026; flexible start dates
What You’ll Do
- Explore new research directions in sensor fusion and spatial AI aligned with product needs
- Develop and improve algorithms for indoor positioning and spatial perception
- Run experiments on real-world customer deployments: collect data, analyze failures, propose fixes, and validate improvements
- Contribute to production ML and signal processing pipelines (modeling, evaluation, deployment)
- Collaborate with engineering and product to ship features to enterprise customers
Qualifications
- Currently enrolled in a PhD program in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, or a related field.
- Research track record of published work in top-tier CS/ML, vision, robotics, or related venues.
- Strong foundations in at least one of: machine learning, perception, sensor fusion, and/or signal processing.
- Demonstrated research output (e.g., strong publications, open-source projects, or impactful applied work)
- Excellent communication skills and ability to work in a small, fast-moving team.
- Curiosity, ownership, and a bias toward action and real-world impact
Nice to Have
- Startup or early-stage company experience
- Experience shipping products (e.g., part of internships)
- Experience or strong interest in spatial AI (3D vision, SLAM, mapping, sensor fusion, geometric deep learning, …) is highly desirable.
Why Cartesian
- Work on hard, real-world problems with immediate and visible impact
- Join a small, highly technical team with significant ownership and autonomy
- Build systems that are deployed and used globally
- Collaborative, thoughtful, low-ego culture focused on learning and execution
- In-person team culture in the heart of Kendall Square, Cambridge
Interview Process
- Introductory call to assess motivation and overall fit (20m)
- Technical interview focused on past projects (60m)
- Technical design interview (45m)
- Coding interview (45m)
- Meet Prof. Fadel Adib (20m)
- Meet the team and references
Applied ML/CS PhD Internship (6+ months) in Cambridge employer: Cartesian Systems
Cartesian is an exceptional employer, offering a unique opportunity to work on cutting-edge spatial intelligence solutions in the vibrant tech hub of Kendall Square, Cambridge. With a collaborative and low-ego culture, employees enjoy significant ownership and autonomy while tackling real-world challenges that have immediate impact. The company fosters growth through hands-on experience in a fast-paced environment, making it an ideal place for aspiring researchers and engineers to thrive.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Applied ML/CS PhD Internship (6+ months) in Cambridge
✨Join Data-Science Meetups
Get yourself along to local data-science meetups or workshops. They're goldmines for networking, and you'll learn from industry pros who might just point you in the direction of internships. Plus, discussing the latest trends with like-minded individuals can really amp up your game.
✨Utilise University Career Services
Check in with your uni's career services since they often have connections with companies looking for interns. They might even organise information sessions with firms, which can be a great chance for you to learn more about potential internships and make some key contacts.
✨Show Off Your Stuff on GitHub
If you're into data science, having a GitHub profile with your projects is essential. Make sure your portfolio is public and showcases your best work! Recruiters love to see your coding skills and problem-solving approach, and it’s a brilliant way to stand out.
✨Apply Directly on Our Website
Don’t forget to check out the internships listed on our site! It's always a good idea to apply directly through our website because it makes your application easier for our team to find, and you might just catch the hiring manager’s eye by showcasing exactly what you're passionate about in data science.
We think you need these skills to ace Applied ML/CS PhD Internship (6+ months) in Cambridge
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Technical Skills:For a data science internship, we want to see those analytical skills shine! List your programming languages, like Python or R, and make sure to highlight any relevant projects or courses you've completed. If you've dabbled with tools like Pandas, NumPy, or machine learning algorithms, don’t hold back – include those in your CV!
Share Your Curiosity in Your Cover Letter:As an intern, your motivation and eagerness to learn are key! In your cover letter, talk about specific data science concepts that excite you and how this internship at Cartesian Systems will help you grow. Share what you hope to achieve and how you plan to tackle real-world data problems - we love enthusiasm!
Include Any Relevant Certifications:If you've earned any certifications, such as from Coursera or DataCamp, make sure to include these in your application. They show us that you're proactive and committed to expanding your data science skillset. This could make a real difference in how we assess your application!
Keep It Relevant and Concise:Remember, as an intern, you don’t need to have decades of experience. Focus on showcasing relevant coursework, personal projects, or even related volunteer work in data science. Keep your CV and cover letter concise but impactful – we appreciate clear and straightforward communication!
How to prepare for a job interview at Cartesian Systems
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
As a data science intern, you might get grilled on your programming skills. Expect to tackle some coding challenges using languages like Python or R. We recommend practising basic algorithms or data manipulation tasks so you can show off your tech skills with confidence.
✨Show Off Your Projects
Prepare to discuss any projects you’ve done, whether in your studies or on your own time. Having a strong portfolio of data analyses or machine learning models will really set you apart. We can use platforms like GitHub to showcase your work to impress Cartesian Systems.
✨Know Your Stats and ML Basics
Brush up on your statistics and machine learning concepts because interviewers love to dig into this! Be ready to explain your understanding of algorithms or how you would approach a given data problem. This will highlight your theoretical background alongside your practical skills.
✨Be Eager to Learn and Adapt
Internships are all about potential and growth. Make sure you convey your eagerness to learn and adapt to new tools or methodologies. Show Cartesian Systems that you’re not just looking for experience, but that you're keen to contribute and grow within the team.
