Intern, Software Development

Cactus typically conducts a three‑stage interview process: an online aptitude test, a technical interview focusing on Python, FastAPI, and system design, followed by an HR round. The difficulty is moderate; candidates should be comfortable with coding on a whiteboard or shared editor and be ready to discuss past projects. Practicing data‑structure problems and reviewing micro‑service concepts helps significantly.

Cactus promotes a remote‑first, inclusive culture where employees are encouraged to take ownership and collaborate across time zones. The company offers ample learning resources, mentorship programs, and a balanced work‑life environment that values personal growth alongside business goals.

Eligible candidates must be pursuing or have completed a B.Tech/M.Tech/BE/M.Sc in Computer Science, Information Technology, Electronics & Communication, or related fields. Minimum aggregate of 60% (or CGPA 6.0/10). Final year students (batch 2024‑2026) are preferred. No active backlogs at the time of joining. Must have legal authorization to work in India.

Round 1: Online aptitude/Logical reasoning test → Round 2: Technical interview focusing on Python, FastAPI, system design and coding → Round 3: HR interview assessing cultural fit and communication skills

Cactus Communications, founded in 2002, has grown into a global technology and services powerhouse that helps researchers publish, fund, and disseminate their work. With more than 3,000 experts spread across offices in Princeton, London, Singapore, Beijing, Shanghai, Seoul, Tokyo and Mumbai, the company combines deep domain expertise with cutting‑edge AI/ML solutions. Its flagship brand Editage offers a suite of services ranging from language editing to AI‑driven tools such as Mind the Graph, Paperpal and R Discovery, positioning Cactus as a leader in the scientific publishing ecosystem. The organization is known for its employee‑first policies, flexible work arrangements and a culture that encourages continuous learning and cross‑border collaboration. Cactus Labs, the research and development arm of Cactus Communications, focuses on building AI/ML products that tackle complex problems in natural language processing, explainable AI and big data. The lab operates as a remote‑first, multicultural team spread across six+ countries, delivering high‑impact APIs that power the workflows of leading academic publishers worldwide. As part of the micro‑services team, the Intern, Software Development will contribute to building scalable, low‑latency services that expose knowledge extracted by NLP experts and machine‑learning engineers. **Role Summary** The intern will work closely with senior engineers to design, develop, and maintain robust micro‑services using Python and FastAPI. Responsibilities include understanding existing codebases, adding new features, optimizing performance, writing unit tests, and collaborating with cross‑functional teams to deliver end‑to‑end solutions that serve millions of users. **Key Responsibilities** 1. Quickly grasp existing system architecture and contribute new features. 2. Design, build, and maintain highly scalable and secure micro‑services. 3. Write clean, well‑documented Python code with comprehensive unit test coverage. 4. Optimize and refactor legacy code to improve performance and reliability. 5. Stay updated with emerging technologies and recommend suitable tools. 6. Participate in sprint planning, effort estimation and task prioritisation. 7. Collaborate with NLP experts, data engineers and product managers. 8. Consume and develop RESTful APIs adhering to best practices. 9. Ensure code quality through peer reviews and CI/CD pipelines. 10. Document technical decisions and create knowledge‑sharing artifacts. **Tech Stack**: Python, FastAPI, Git, Linux/Ubuntu, REST APIs, Docker (optional), LLM/GenAI frameworks, PostgreSQL/MySQL, CI/CD tools. **Growth Path**: Successful interns can transition to full‑time Software Engineer roles, gaining exposure to AI‑driven product development, cloud architecture, and leadership opportunities within Cactus Labs. **Why Join CACTUS?** The company offers a remote‑first environment, mentorship from seasoned AI professionals, and the chance to work on products that impact the global research community. Employees enjoy flexible work hours, a supportive culture that values diversity, and clear pathways for skill development and career progression.