Megan H. 

Employer Brand Co-op

At Toast, interns don’t just shadow engineers; they actively contribute to innovations that shape the future of the restaurant industry. From AI- driven projects to company-wide showcases, interns are trusted to deliver and are given a front-row seat to real impact. Hear from our R&D interns, all across the globe, below about their experience with Toast this summer. 

Projects with a Purpose

For many interns, the summer wasn’t just about “learning by watching,” it was about creating real tools and solutions that other teams rely on. 

“I got to build a product that will have a lasting impact. It was incredibly rewarding to see my work come together into something tangible that can make our processes more efficient and help other teams at Toast work more independently.”

- April R., Software Engineer Intern Data Platform Team, MIT ‘27

 

“I was given ownership of projects. I wasn’t just doing side tasks- I was trusted with work that was meaningful and impactful.”

- Joy R., Software Engineer Intern Payroll Onboarding Team, University of Michigan ‘27

Pushing Boundaries with AI & Tech 

With AI and fast-moving technology at the forefront of the industry, Toast interns were able to drive and explore how these tools could transform Toast products. They weren’t just observing. They were experimenting, testing, and helping to define what's next. 

 

“What stood out most to me was the sense of ownership and impact. I was given a meaningful project and the support to see it through to completion. It was incredibly rewarding to contribute code that directly enhances the Toast platform and helps our customers.”

- Vinayak S., Software Engineer Intern, IIIT Senapati, Manipur ‘25

Work that Gets Noticed  

Interns weren’t just doing work in the background – they were invited to share their projects directly with R&D, engineers, and product leaders regularly. These opportunities gave them valuable feedback but also the confidence to know that their contributions would make a lasting impact. 

“I got to present my project to the R&D department during the "Show and Tell" session. This experience provided a platform not only to showcase the work I had accomplished but also to receive direct feedback from a diverse group of experienced engineers and product leaders.” 

- Sasank M., Software Engineer Intern, Cellore Institute of Technology AP’25

The R&D Culture at Toast 

What made these opportunities possible was the culture. Interns described R&D at Toast as collaborative, welcoming, and open to new ideas. They consistently emphasized how much they were trusted, how approachable their teammates were, and how much value was placed on curiosity. 

“In addition to all the fast-moving things and new tools to learn, my favorite part of the internship was by far the people, both my team and the fellow interns. My team was beyond supportive, making me feel welcome and valued for my thoughts and opinions. The other interns were also amazing. Everyone is so curious and gelled together super well. I couldn't ask for a better group to enjoy and explore Boston and career paths.”

- Timothy Z., Software Engineer Intern, UC Berkeley ‘27

Empowered to Experiment 

For many interns, the most rewarding part of their time at Toast was seeing an idea go from concept to reality. Whether testing features at customer sites or hacking together prototypes, they were empowered to take risks and learn by doing. 

“I was lucky enough to work with my team to hack together a few features and test live at a customer site. It's really exciting to move from research to live testing within a few weeks. It's great when a company leans into innovation and encourages employees to explore new tools.”

- Alex F., MBA Product Management Intern, MIT Sloan ‘26

 

“Our engineering teams offer opportunities to work on a variety of impactful areas, including Android and iOS development, web front-end, back-end infrastructure, AI/machine learning models, cybersecurity and compliance, and more. Having that range to explore added so much value to my experience.”

- Naveen B., Software Engineer Intern, IIIT Allahabad “25

At Toast, the opportunity to make an impact doesn’t wait until you're a full-time employee; interns are treated as teammates from the very start. Interns shape real projects while being part of a culture built on collaboration, curiosity, and trust. From experimenting with new technology to sharing ideas openly with leaders, interns are given the space to take initiative and make a lasting impact. 

Learn more about our Early Career program here.