Software Engineering Intern

This isn't a traditional internship.

You won't spend months shadowing engineers or waiting to make meaningful contributions. We believe exceptional talent should be given exceptional responsibility regardless of age or years of experience.

You'll own core pieces of our product from Day 1. You'll build consumer-grade interfaces that plug directly into DeFi protocols, aggregators, and crypto APIs while contributing meaningful work across our stack.

We're willing to make outsized bets on exceptional talent. An exceptional individual that consistently delivers outstanding work is preferable to a mediocre engineer with ten years of experience.

We expect you to:

• Build and ship production-ready features across the frontend and backend.
• Contribute across our stack (Node.js, PostgreSQL) to ship features end-to-end.
• Work directly with leading DeFi protocols, aggregators, bridges, and data providers.
• Solve difficult problems independently and communicate effectively.
• Operate with urgency and ownership—identify problems, propose solutions, and execute.
• Learn extremely quickly and consistently exceed expectations.

What We're Looking For

• Raw Intelligence & Drive — We hire for brains, grit, and commitment over pedigree. Ten years of mediocrity can't beat raw talent and obsession.
• Builder Mentality — You build things because you can't help yourself. We care significantly more about what you've built than what you've studied.
• Crystal Clear Communication — No translators.
• Startup Killer DNA — Self-starter, thrives in chaos, relentless problem-solver.
• Velocity — We ship extremely fast and expect exceptional execution. You pride yourself on delivering results quickly without sacrificing quality.
• Product Sense — You empathize with users, anticipate what they actually need, and build features that deliver real value rather than simply implementing requirements.
• High Agency — You're comfortable operating independently and creating clarity where none exists.

Nice to Haves

• Previous contributions to open-source projects (we'll ask about them if applicable).
• Previous experience building products, side projects, startups, or hackathon projects.
• Experience with Next.js, React, TypeScript, Node.js, PostgreSQL, or related technologies.
• Web3 experience.
• Trading experience or participation in mathematics, programming, or other competitive Olympiads (not having this will not be viewed negatively).
• An eye for design and user experience.

What to Expect

• Ownership from Day 1 — You'll own core pieces of our product. Don't sit around waiting.
• Direct Impact — Your code will shape how thousands interact with our platform.
• High-Performance Environment — Maniacal urgency, no fluff, no politics.
• Upside Potential — Exceptional performance is rewarded disproportionately. We care far more about what you can do than where you've worked or how old you are.
• Mission First Culture — We demand excellence. Camaraderie is secondary to winning.

Software Engineering Interns at Nika aren't treated like traditional interns. You'll be expected to contribute meaningful work, challenge assumptions, move quickly, and take ownership of difficult problems. If you're looking for highly structured environments or months of onboarding before shipping code, this role probably isn't for you.

Our Interview Process

We do not believe in traditional interview processes, and a practical experience is better for us to gauge your experience. Work trials are paid generously and we may fly you out to integrate with the team.

Application Requirements

• Links to live products you've built or contributed to (highlight your role).
• GitHub profile and any relevant repositories.
• Anything you've built that demonstrates exceptional ability.
• (Optional) Open-source contributions, hackathon projects, startups, side projects, or anything else that demonstrates exceptional talent and curiosity.

We care significantly more about intelligence, work ethic, ownership, and execution than years of experience.