9 minute read
Hear from an intern, intern mentor and intern manager all about what it's like to be a Software Engineering intern.
Uber interns learn through real-world experience, supported by both a manager and mentor. Across our Aarhus, Amsterdam, and Sofia tech hubs, they’re encouraged to grow, take ownership, and bring new ideas to the table.
Yukie Nomiya
Software Engineer I | Intern Alumni
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
“In July 2022 I moved to Amsterdam to start a 6 month Software Engineering internship at Uber while studying Computer Science at university in Rome. I had a very positive experience and really enjoyed the projects I was working on, and loved my team. I knew I wanted to work here long term, so I was thrilled to receive an offer for a full-time position. I officially joined Uber again in March 2023 and I’m now working as a Full Stack Engineer in the Driver Earnings Experience team where I contribute to ‘bringing clarity to earnings for all of our customers by providing trustworthy systems and experiences.”
“I found out about this opportunity while I was looking for internships in Europe, and at that time I didn’t know much about Uber. After applying, I was invited to an info session where former interns and now employees shared their own internship experience stories. That gave me a glimpse into what life at Uber would be like, and it made me really want to experience it myself. I can’t really pinpoint what it was, but everyone on that call seemed like people I wanted to work with and be surrounded by. We can call it positive energy, vibes or something else, but my gut feeling was not wrong and I was proven right later on!”
“The first couple of months, the focus was on onboarding me to our codebase and tech stack.
My mentor at that time was working on modernizing and migrating a very big web application that consisted of multiple services and features, and I contributed to this project by working on the smaller features of this application. This worked out great because it allowed me to learn by doing without feeling too overwhelmed, and to be mentored and guided while still being somewhat independent.
About halfway through the internship, I was assigned a new project that I had complete ownership over, and that consisted of updating the user interface of one of our features. I liked this project the most because it gave me a chance to write a design document, evaluate different possible solutions and collaborate with my colleagues to finalize product and design decisions.”
“The delivery event! In an effort to understand our users’ perspective and provide a better experience, we got on our bikes and became Uber Eats couriers for one afternoon. We had fun delivering food in pairs all around Amsterdam and we got a lot of great feedback and ideas to improve our products.”
“What helped me grow the most was constantly asking/receiving feedback and acting on it. Luckily there were dedicated periods during the internship for formal feedback, aka evaluations, but when in doubt, I found it easier to just ask. On the technical side, I think having the right project (both in terms of scope and type) and the right guidance made all the difference, because it allowed me to learn gradually and organically.”
“There were multiple moments during the internship where I needed to step out of my comfort zone and get used to doing scary things in order to get work done and improve as an engineer, so I’m proud I was able to step up when I needed to.”
“Go for it! During the application and interview process I truly believed I had no chance of getting selected, but applying anyway and trying my best paid off in the end. Other than that, I would suggest to ask a lot of questions and to not be afraid to voice your opinions.”
Eleonora Di Gregorio
Software Engineer II | Intern Mentor
Aarhus, Denmark
“I’m a Software Engineer on the UCS team (Unified Configuration System), where we are building part of the infrastructure that allows thousands of services to run and tens of thousands of weekly code rollouts.
I joined Uber in September 2021 as an intern after looking for opportunities in distributed systems. After a few exciting months of hands-on experience on crucial systems for configuration distribution and low level services deployment, I realized that I still had so much to learn, and I couldn’t get enough of the challenges and opportunities Uber faces every day.”
“The growth process you can observe for both parties. While sharing your experience and knowledge, you see the intern developing their own skills and knowledge, building the base for their future career and bringing a fresh perspective and ideas to the table. As a mentor you also have the opportunity to grow as a good listener and communicator, basic aspects to build meaningful relationships in the workspace.”
“My own experience as an intern really helped me understand and support interns. I shared what worked for me and what didn’t and how to make the most of their time in the program. Having been an intern myself also helped me to better empathize with the challenges of starting a new job and being in a new environment. I also felt like I was kind of a role model, seeing someone who has gone through the program and is still at Uber is motivating.”
“You are part of the team. You take part in all the team activities. Learn all the processes. And never left behind. You work on challenging and carefully selected projects. You can really learn a lot from this and have a tangible impact on our business. Projects aren’t blockers for the broader team, so you can take your time and proceed at your own pace, experiment and not feel under pressure.”
“Lots of Leetcode. Remember to show your willingness to learn. Learn as much as you can and ask questions.”
Nikolay Georgiev Samardzhiev
Engineering Manager II | Intern Manager
Sofia, Bulgaria
“I spent my first 2 years at Uber as a Software Engineer before switching to an Engineering Manager role. I am based in Sofia, Bulgaria and lead one of the teams in the Fintech area. Our teams are responsible for business-critical flows at Uber that issue billions of financial documents annually and process thousands of events per second.”
“It is a privilege and responsibility to be able to play an integral role in someone’s career journey. By serving as a role model and providing coaching and guidance, you have the unique opportunity to help them launch their career and shape their future success.
Another aspect that I find highly enjoyable is the opportunity to engage with people who possess a brand new, unbiased perspective. These interactions often provide me with novel ideas and fresh perspectives that I can apply to my own work.
Finally, witnessing the curiosity, enthusiasm, and eagerness to learn displayed by our interns is incredibly refreshing. It takes me back to my own early years and serves as a reminder of why I love my job so much.”
“At Uber, we view our interns as the potential leaders of our future and are committed to setting them up for success right from the start. Our internship program is designed to be highly practical and offers a well-rounded blend of formal training, mentorship, and on-the-job learning opportunities.
Our primary objective is to provide an internship program that follows as closely as possible a typical engineering position. Our program offers interns the opportunity to work on projects that have an impact in solving real-world business challenges. Through this experience, interns are exposed to various stages of the development lifecycle, including engineering craftsmanship, producing quality design documents, and utilizing testing and observability features. In addition to technical skills, we also prioritize the development of soft skills, including collaboration with colleagues, training in communication and presentation, and building project management capabilities.”
“Think big and avoid setting limits for yourself. A positive attitude and diligent preparation are the keys to success. Start with researching the interview process and make sure to ask any questions or uncertainties that you have. Afterward, invest time in your preparation.
For the coding portion of the interview, it’s crucial to have a solid understanding of the fundamentals of algorithms and data structures. It’s a good idea to give yourself time to review and refresh your knowledge in these areas. Additionally, we highly recommend practicing solving coding problems on online platforms, with a focus on easy and medium tasks. This will help build your confidence and provide valuable experience to increase your likelihood of success during the interview.
When preparing for the cultural interview, take some time to reflect on your past projects. Consider what you’re most proud of, the challenges you faced, and your contributions and role, particularly if it was a team project.
When it comes to the interview itself, my best advice is to approach it with the mindset that it’s a challenge, as this will make the whole process a way more enjoyable experience. It is highly beneficial to think out loud and share your thought process with the interviewer – this will help them evaluate your knowledge and problem-solving skills better. Lastly, remain open-minded and honest throughout all conversations, as well as don’t hesitate to take the opportunity to ask any important questions that come to your mind.”
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