Summer 2026
Software Engineer Intern
Updated on 6/24/2026
pony.ai
501-1,000 employees
Full-stack autonomous driving platform licensing
Compensation Overview
$40.38 - $57.69/hr
Fremont, CA, USA
In Person
Onsite in Fremont, at least 3 months; rolling start.
 Software Engineering |
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- Strong programming skills in C/C++, Python, and software design
- Strong foundation in mathematics and theoretical computer science, such as linear algebra, calculus, graph theory, computational geometry, combinatorial optimization algorithms, stochastic processes, and complexity analysis
- Possessing solid engineering discipline, or demonstrating strong interest and potential in building large-scale systems, with the ability to maximize performance while keeping complexity and cost to a minimum
- Pursuing a BS/MS or Ph.D in Computer Science or a related field
- Experience in large data set processing and familiarity with real time systems
- Solid experience in a fast-paced and structured engineering environment
- Design and implement algorithms and evaluation metrics to drive core AI decision-making
- Build scalable data pipelines and toolchains for large-scale data ingestion, batch processing, and evaluation
- Design system-level evaluation metrics, testing frameworks, and simulation environments across business components
- Full stack experience including both front end and back end is preferred
- Statistics analysis experience is preferred
Pony.ai builds Level 4 autonomous driving systems as a full-stack, vehicle-agnostic Virtual Driver that combines its own software and hardware. Its main offerings span Robotaxi (via the PonyPilot app in Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Shenzhen), Robotruck (autonomous freight and platooning), and licensing technology for Personally Owned Vehicles. The company earns revenue from ride-hailing services, freight logistics, and licensing fees through automaker partnerships with companies like Toyota, Sany, and Dongfeng Liuzhou Motor. Its goal is to scale Level 4 autonomy by expanding deployment of robotaxi and robotruck services, broadening licensing partnerships, and advancing automotive-grade hardware and software for mass production.
Company Size
501-1,000
Company Stage
IPO
Headquarters
Fremont, California
Founded
2016
Your Connections
People at pony.ai who can refer or advise you
Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Singapore public launch via Zig app June 22, 2026, advances dual-engine growth strategy with deep local partnerships[1][7].
- Robotaxi revenue surged 395% to $8.6M in Q1 2026, with full-year 2026 revenue expected to exceed 3.5x 2025 levels[8][10].
- Targeting 3,500 robotaxis across 20+ cities by end-2026, including new services in Croatia, Dubai, Luxembourg, and South Korea[3][4].
What critics are saying
- Tesla Gen 6 platform gaining China regulatory approval mid-2026 with 10x cheaper hardware, forcing price war in robotaxi sector[11].
- Uber integrating Tesla self-driving cars into global app by Q3 2026, bypassing Pony.ai's Uber partnership and capturing 60% ride volume[11].
- China autonomous driving safety review imposing stricter Level 4 licensing in Q3 2026, risking revocation of exclusive license if Gen 7 fails validation[11].
What makes pony.ai unique
- Pony.ai's platform-agnostic Virtual Driver enables faster OEM deployment across robotaxi, robotruck, and POV use cases[1][2].
- Dual U.S.-China operations with Toyota and BAIC partnerships provide rare safety validation and global regulatory expertise[1][6].
- PonyWorld 2.0 reinforcement-learning model delivers superior navigation in peak traffic and extreme weather, driving consistent rider willingness to pay[2].
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Benefits
Health Insurance
401(k) Retirement Plan
401(k) Company Match
Life Insurance
Paid Vacation
Parental Leave
Disability Insurance
Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
↑ 0%1 year growth
↑ 0%2 year growth
↑ 0%Pony.ai has launched PonyWorld 2.0, an upgraded world model for autonomous driving that can diagnose its own weaknesses and guide targeted improvement. The system offers three core capabilities: self-diagnosis, targeted data collection in scenarios where performance falls short, and more efficient training focused on difficult cases. The company has been developing PonyWorld since 2020 as a reinforcement learning training system spanning cloud-side training and vehicle-side deployment. The new version includes a structured intention layer that enables the system to review its own decisions, identify scenarios requiring additional learning, and generate targeted data-collection tasks. Pony.ai plans to expand its fleet to over 3,000 vehicles by year-end, deployed across 20 cities globally, with nearly half in overseas markets. The company believes this self-improving approach could become relevant to broader physical AI training systems beyond autonomous driving.
HSBC initiated coverage of Pony AI with a Buy rating and a $16.60 price target on 31 March 2026. The investment bank noted the company's robotaxi fleet reached 1,159 vehicles by the end of 2025, exceeding its 1,000-vehicle target, and said the current valuation offers attractive risk-reward. Pony AI reported Q4 revenue of $29.13 million, with robotaxi services revenue reaching $6.7 million, up 159.5% year-over-year. The company achieved unit economics breakeven in multiple cities and plans to scale its fleet to over 3,000 vehicles across more than 20 cities globally. On 19 March, Pony AI announced delivery of over 100 seventh-generation robotaxis to Guangzhou Chenqi Mobility Technology for commercial operations on the OnTime Mobility platform.
Chinese autonomous driving company Pony.ai has launched commercial robotaxi operations in Zagreb, Croatia, in partnership with Uber and Verne, marking what it claims is Europe's first commercial robotaxi service. Passengers can book rides through the Verne app, with Uber platform integration planned later. The initial service covers approximately 90km², including central Zagreb and its airport, with further expansion expected. Pony.ai provides autonomous driving systems and operational expertise, whilst Verne handles local operations and regulatory compliance. The deployment follows recent unit economics breakeven milestones achieved in two Chinese tier-one cities. Pony.ai aims to expand its fleet to 3,000 vehicles by year-end as part of its dual-engine growth strategy targeting markets beyond China.
Pony.ai has launched a robotaxi passenger service in Singapore, part of plans to deploy over 3,000 robotaxis across more than 20 cities this year, with nearly half operating overseas. The Singapore launch follows a September 2025 partnership with ComfortDelGro. The expansion comes after Pony.ai's Gen-7 robotaxis reached per-vehicle unit economics breakeven in Guangzhou and Shenzhen. In Shenzhen, each vehicle generated an average daily net revenue of 338 yuan ($49) with 23 orders per day as of 28 February. Costs decreased following a 70% reduction in autonomous driving kit components and roughly 50% lower commercial insurance costs compared to traditional taxis. Pony.ai's "dual-engine" strategy pairs it with local transport operators in markets like Singapore and Dubai, focusing on government-backed locations with strong infrastructure.
Pony.ai's Singapore AV deployment enters by-invite rides, advancing dual-engine strategy. Apr 07, 2026, 05:24 ET * Received regulatory approval to enter by-invite rides in Singapore, the final phase before public-facing services * Marks a key milestone in Pony.ai's collaboration with ComfortDelGro and its overseas commercialization roadmap SINGAPORE, April 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - Pony AI Inc. ("Pony.ai") (NASDAQ: PONY; HKEX: 2026), a global leader in the large-scale commercialization of autonomous driving technology, today announced that its autonomous mobility service, operated in collaboration with ComfortDelGro in Singapore, has received regulatory approval to enter by-invite rides, the final phase before public-facing services. This marks a significant milestone in Pony.ai's deployment in Singapore and further advances the company's dual-engine strategy, under which Pony.ai is scaling its autonomous mobility business across both China and overseas markets. The latest progress in Singapore also reflects Pony.ai's ongoing collaboration with local partners and regulators to support the deployment of autonomous mobility in Singapore. Operated on a 12-kilometre route in north-east Punggol, the service connects residents in Punggol Northshore and Waterway Sunrise to key amenities including Oasis Terraces, Punggol Plaza, One Punggol and Punggol Coast Mall, while also providing direct access to Punggol Coast MRT station and bus interchange. The route takes around 55 minutes to complete and is expected to save residents up to 15 minutes compared with current public transport options. Dr. James Peng, Founder and CEO of Pony.ai, said: "Singapore is an important step in Pony.ai's global commercialization strategy. Entering by-invite rides with ComfortDelGro moves this project into a more operational phase and brings our autonomous mobility technology closer to real daily commuting scenarios. We look forward to continuing to work closely with ComfortDelGro and local stakeholders to support the next phase of deployment in Singapore." Pony.ai first announced its Singapore deployment in September 2025, positioning the market as an important part of its international expansion. The program builds on Pony.ai's broader strategic partnership with ComfortDelGro, which began with the signing of an MoU in July 2024 and was followed by an autonomous mobility pilot in Guangzhou in March 2025. Together, the two companies have been working to support autonomous mobility deployment in Singapore in alignment with the city-state's efforts to strengthen first- and last-mile connectivity through new transport solutions. The Singapore milestone also reflects Pony.ai's broader dual-engine growth strategy. With a Robotaxi model that has already validated unit economics and demonstrated commercial viability in China, Pony.ai is now bringing that proven experience to more international markets, while continuing to broaden and deepen its domestic footprint. Singapore represents an important step in applying Pony.ai's proven commercialization experience to overseas markets. The by-invite rides phase will allow invited participants from the local community to experience the service ahead of its next stage of deployment. During this phase, Pony.ai and ComfortDelGro will continue to work closely with Singapore's Land Transport Authority and local stakeholders to gather rider feedback and further refine service operations as the program progresses toward public-facing service. About Pony AI Inc. Pony AI Inc. is a global leader in achieving large-scale commercialization of autonomous mobility. Leveraging its vehicle-agnostic Virtual Driver technology, a full-stack autonomous driving technology that seamlessly integrates Pony.ai's proprietary software, hardware, and services, Pony.ai is developing a commercially viable and sustainable business model that enables the mass production and deployment of vehicles across transportation use cases. Founded in 2016, Pony.ai has expanded its presence across China, Europe, East Asia, the Middle East and other regions, ensuring widespread accessibility to its advanced technology. SOURCE Pony AI Inc.