Internship
About PFN Internship
Qualities We Look For in Candidates
We welcome applicants who demonstrate the following qualities, regardless of the course they apply for:
PFN Values
Learn or Die
A willingness to go beyond one’s area of expertise, proactively learn new knowledge and technologies with an open mindset, and continuously grow by putting that learning into practice.
Beyond Customer Expectations
A passion for deeply understanding the fundamental challenges faced by customers and society, and for leveraging one’s knowledge and experience in research and development to create unprecedented value through technology.
Think Big, Act Quick
The ability to act with agility even in uncertain situations, uncover the unknown through rapid iteration and learning, and ultimately deliver outcomes with exceptional quality and quantity.
Be Proactive
The ability to identify challenges independently, take initiative, and drive positive change by collaborating with others to achieve outcomes that cannot be accomplished alone.
Respect & Unite
Basic communication skills, with the ability to respect people with different areas of expertise and backgrounds, and to build trust through open and constructive dialogue while working collaboratively.
Fundamental Knowledge
A basic understanding of computer science, along with a strong interest in advanced technologies such as deep learning and computing infrastructure, and relevant experience gained through university studies, internships, or other activities.
Internship Courses and Themes
For the 2026 internship program, PFN offers two types of courses with different durations, each with its own set of themes. Interns will be mentored by PFN employees working across a wide range of fields, including research and development, large language models, life sciences, finance, computer vision, product and service development, and materials science, allowing you to experience research and development at PFN. In addition, regardless of the course or theme, there will be opportunities during the internship to interact with PFN’s management team and full-time members. You will be asked to select your preferred course and theme when submitting the screening assignment, which will be provided after your application. The final theme and scope of your work will be determined through discussions with PFN members during the screening process.
Click here for the full list of internship themes (PDF)Please note that, regardless of the course, any intellectual property generated during the internship will belong to PFN. When selecting a theme, please refrain from bringing in your existing research topics from your affiliated institution. We also encourage interns to share their work through open-source software (OSS), academic papers, or articles on the PFN Research & Development Blog, provided there are no confidentiality or intellectual property concerns.
Short-Term Course
This is a short-term internship where you will join one of PFN’s project teams and gain hands-on experience in research and development. In principle, participants are expected to attend all working days during the internship period.
Period: The program will be offered in the following two sessions (15 business days each)
・ Friday, August 7 – Friday, August 28, 2026
・ Monday, August 31 – Friday, September 18, 2026
Long-Term Course
In this course, you will work closely with PFN engineers and researchers, engaging in in-depth discussions, research, and development, with the goal of achieving meaningful R&D outcomes.
Period: Thursday, August 6 – Friday, September 18, 2026
In principle, your internship period should fall within your university’s official summer break. Start and end dates can be adjusted based on your academic schedule and other commitments. Absences during the internship—for example, due to lab activities, academic conferences, or returning to your hometown—can be accommodated flexibly.
Each theme is categorized as either a “Development-Focused Theme” or a “Research-Focused Theme” depending on its focus. Examples from last year are provided below for your reference when selecting a theme.
Development-Focused Themes
Internships focused on practical problem-solving, where you will work on project-based tasks involving core technology R&D as well as product and service development.
Research-Focused Themes
Internships focused on pioneering and challenging research, with the potential to aim for publication in top international conferences.
Qualifications
To be eligible for the internship program, applicants must meet the following requirements:
・ Eligibility: Applicants must be students aged 18 or older at the time the internship begins, and must not be employed as a full-time employee at another company (exceptions may be considered on a case-by-case basis).
・ Language Proficiency: Fluency in either Japanese or English is required, along with the ability to communicate proactively.
・ Office Attendance: Applicants must be able to work at the Otemachi office near Tokyo Station on weekdays during the internship period, as required (accommodation support is available for those living far away; see below for details).
・ Legal Eligibility: Applicants must have the legal right to engage in internship or part-time work in Japan (e.g., Japanese nationality, permanent residency, or a valid student visa).
・ Regulatory Requirement: Applicants must be considered a “resident” under the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act of Japan (please refer to the application form for details).
・ Equipment: Applicants must have a personal laptop that can be used for development tasks during the internship.
During the PFN internship period, participants are generally expected not to engage in internships or part-time work at other companies. The internship assumes an 8-hour workday, and we expect participants to be fully committed. If you wish to participate in other part-time work or short-term internships (e.g., one-day internships) during the PFN internship due to unavoidable circumstances, please consult with us in advance. In addition, knowledge and development experience relevant to the themes listed in the section will be taken into account during the screening process. Please refer to each theme description for details. Applicants without extensive development experience are also encouraged to apply. If you have applied in previous years, you are welcome to apply again. However, those who have already participated in a PFN internship program or have prior part-time work experience with PFN are not eligible to apply. If you plan to receive university credit for this internship, please contact us in advance. Please note that we may not be able to accommodate cases involving complex administrative procedures.
For International Students
If you are an international student enrolled at a university in Japan under a student visa, you must obtain permission to engage in activities outside your visa status (資格外活動許可) before the internship begins. You will also be required to submit a copy of your residence card when signing your internship contract.
Development Environment
Participants are required to prepare their own laptop for development during the internship. In principle, laptops will not be provided by the company.
Notes on Preparing Your Laptop:
・ The company does not provide laptops or financial assistance for purchasing one. Laptops loaned by your university or organization cannot be used for internship work.
・ You must use a laptop that is personally owned by you or your family and is for your exclusive use.
・ Depending on your assigned work, you may be required to install software specified by PFN.
Your laptop does not need to have high-end specifications; it only needs to be sufficient for typical university tasks such as coursework and assignments. Below are examples of recommended specifications:
・ OS：Windows 11 Pro (Intel) or macOS 15 or later
・ Please use an OS version that is supported by the manufacturer.
・ If you are using Windows 11 Home, you will be required to upgrade to Windows 11 Pro after receiving an offer and before the internship begins. The upgrade cost will be subsidized for eligible participants.
・ Windows on ARM is not supported, as some required software may not function properly.
・ MacBook Neo is not supported, as its operation for business use cannot be guaranteed.
・ If you prefer to use Linux or other OS, please indicate this in the application form. Compatibility may be discussed during the screening process.
・ Network: Wireless LAN capability
・ Other: Your laptop should be capable of handling online meetings and web browsing without issues.
・ High-performance specifications for highly computational or data-intensive workloads, such as machine learning model training, are not required.
※In exceptional cases, if you are unable to prepare a suitable laptop due to unavoidable circumstances, or if your current device significantly limits your ability to perform your work, a laptop may be provided by the company. Whether a laptop can be provided will be determined on a case-by-case basis based on your request and the nature of your internship work. Please note that participation is not intended to be contingent on receiving a laptop, and we cannot guarantee that laptops will be provided to all those who request one.
How to Apply
Please apply using the application form below:
※You will need to log in with a Google account to access the application form. ※Please use a personal Google account rather than a university-issued account. ※Personal information entered in the application form will be used for the purpose of internship screening and recruitment activities.
Application Deadline
At 23:59 on Sunday, April 19, 2026 (JST) Applications submitted after the deadline will not be accepted.
Important Notes Upon Applying
・ Please submit your resume in PDF format via the application form.
・ The email address you provide in the application form will be used as your ID throughout the screening process. Please use the same email address when submitting assignments or contacting us.
Tips for Writing Your Resume
・ We recommend reviewing the application form before preparing your resume, as it includes questions about information we encourage you to include in the resume. If the relevant details are already covered in your resume, you may omit those sections in the application form.
・ Your resume will be used to assess how well your profile aligns with . Please describe your experience and skills as specifically as possible so that they can be evaluated by someone who is not familiar with your background.
・ Even if you do not consider your achievements particularly notable, they may still provide valuable insights for evaluation. Please describe your awards, research presentations, programming experience, and other relevant activities in as much detail as possible.
・ You do not need to include a motivation statement specific to your preferred theme in your resume. You will be asked to provide your motivation along with your preferred theme when submitting the screening assignment later in the process.
Screening Process
Assignment assessment (coding test, theme-based assignment, etc.) → Online interview → Final result announcement
23:59 on Sunday, April 19: Application deadline Tuesday, April 21: Assignments sent to applicants Wednesday, May 6 (Public Holiday): Deadline for submission of assignments Mid-May to late June: Online interview Tuesday, June 30: Final result announcement
*Please note that the schedule above is subject to change.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about the PFN internship, please feel free to contact us via Inquiry Form. Whether you have questions about the screening process, specific themes, the work environment at PFN or any other aspects of the internship or about our company, please don't hesitate to contact us.
We also encourage you to check the section.
Salary and Benefits
Hourly Wage
2,500 yen per hour for technical college, university, and graduate school students
Working Hours
In principle, 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays
Workplace
PFN Office is located in Otemachi Bldg., 1-6-1, Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan 100-0004
You will work in a hybrid style combining in-office and remote work. Fully remote work is not available. Depending on the course or theme, full in-office attendance may be required. Details will be provided before the internship begins. Commuting expenses will be covered based on company-approved routes from your home or accommodation.
Support for Participants from Distant Areas
PFN provides support for travel and accommodation costs for participants joining from distant locations.
・ Travel: If travel by plane or Shinkansen is required, PFN will cover one round-trip transportation cost from your place of residence.
・ Accommodation: Accommodation will be arranged by PFN.
・ You will stay in accommodation provided by the company. Requests regarding location or room type cannot be accommodated.
In principle, this support is available to participants whose place of residence at the start of the internship is outside the following prefectures:
・ Tokyo, Chiba, Kanagawa, Saitama, Ibaraki, Tochigi, and Gunma
Employment Type
Fixed-term employment