Performance Engineering Working Student - Stream Processing

Ververica is the company behind Apache Flink®, the world’s leading open-source stream processing framework. We empower enterprises to build real-time data applications at scale. Our team includes core Flink committers and experts in distributed systems, JVM internals, and low-latency computing.

We are seeking a highly motivated Master’s-level student with strong computer science fundamentals and a passion for understanding systems at a deep level. As a Performance Engineering Intern, you will work closely with our architects and performance engineering teams to push the boundaries of what’s possible in large-scale stream processing.

You will contribute directly to performance improvements in Apache Flink and Ververica’s next-generation stream processing engine (VERA), exploring optimizations and enhancing the efficiency of complex data processing workloads.

This internship offers the opportunity to work on real, production-grade systems that powers mission-critical systems worldwide and gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge distributed runtime technologies.

• Analyze JVM behavior (e.g., JIT compilation, garbage collection, class loading) under real-world streaming workloads.
• Profile, and benchmark runtime behavior, identifying hotspots, inefficiencies, and opportunities for speedups.
• Work with native code integration, reflection usage, and dynamic class loading patterns—understanding their impact on runtime efficiency.
• Design and prototype compiler- and runtime-level optimizations for stream processing operators and execution pipelines.
• Document findings, present insights, and contribute to internal knowledge sharing on performance engineering topics.

Requirements

• Currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a closely related field—with outstanding academic performance.
• Deep understanding of the Java Virtual Machine (JVM): You can confidently explain concepts such as bytecode interpretation vs. JIT compilation (C1/C2), garbage collection algorithms (e.g., G1, ZGC), heap/non-heap memory management, and class initialization.
• Strong programming skills in Java (and optionally other JVM languages), with attention to performance-sensitive code (e.g., object allocation, escape analysis, inlining).
• Familiarity with performance analysis tools (e.g., async-profiler, JFR, JITWatch, GC logs).
• Interest in distributed systems, stream processing, or systems programming.
• Ability to work independently on complex problems, with strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Bonus: Experience with Apache Flink, reactive systems, or low-latency JVM applications.

Benefits

• Work on foundational technology used by Fortune 500 companies and cloud providers.
• Direct mentorship from experts in Apache Flink, JVM, compilers, and distributed systems.
• Opportunity to present at internal tech talks or international conferences
• Flexible, inclusive, and intellectually rigorous environment.