At El Pollo Loco, we are on a mission to be the nation’s leading fire-grilled chicken restaurant. When it comes to our people, we are all about growth. Whether that means specialized training, a clearly laid out career trajectory or collaborating cross-functionally, we are committed to the success of our people the same way we’ve been committed to the success of the El Pollo Loco brand for the last 50 years. In fact, we see you as our secret ingredient. While our chicken is fire, it’s our people who set us ablaze.

Our restaurants are only the tip of the flame! If you’re looking for an innovative, winning, and welcoming workplace, then a flamin’ good career in our Restaurant Support Center is right for you.

At our Support Center, we believe our best work is done Together, when departments collaborate and everyone is confident in contributing their ideas. This is why we are in the office 3 days per week.

Let’s Get Loco!

What’s in it for you!

• STRONG office culture recognized as a Great Place to Work® and driven by our core values: Simple. Together. Relentless. Ownership. Nimble. Growth
• Career growth opportunities
• Competitive pay and bonus potential
• Employee Assistance Program
• PerkSpot discounts program

POSITION PURPOSE:
The Software Engineering Intern will support strategic cloud migration initiatives and AI-driven application development on Amazon Web Services (AWS). This role offers hands-on exposure to enterprise cloud architecture, modern software engineering practices, and artificial intelligence integration within a collaborative, innovation-driven environment.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Support the migration of on-premises applications and workloads to AWS environments.
• Collaborate with senior engineers to develop, test, and deploy scalable applications using industry best practices.
• Assist in configuring and managing core AWS services.
• Contribute to the design and implementation of automated software delivery.
• Participate in code reviews, technical design discussions, and agile ceremonies.
• Support the integration of AI capabilities in software development projects.
• Maintain clear technical documentation, including architecture decisions and migration playbooks.
• Troubleshoot application and infrastructure issues in development and staging environments.

QUALIFICATIONS – EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, LICENSE/CERTIFICATIONS:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to satisfactorily perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. The requirements listed below are representative of the education and/or experience required.

Education/Work Experience:

• Undergraduate student, college seniors, or recent college graduate (within the last 12 months).
• Must be actively enrolled or recently graduated from a degree program in Software Engineering, Computer Science or related technical discipline.
• AWS certifications (e.g., AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner) are a plus.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Proficiency in at least one modern programming language (e.g., Python, Java, JavaScript, or Go).
• Foundational understanding of cloud computing concepts and the AWS ecosystem.
• Working knowledge of application development fundamentals, including RESTful APIs, databases, and software design patterns.
• Experience with Git and collaborative development workflows.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Hands-on experience or knowledgeable with AI frameworks.
• Familiarity with AWS AI services preferred.

Our Company

In 1980 the first American El Pollo Loco opened on Alvarado Street in Los Angeles, quickly becoming a destination for the best citrus-marinated, fire-grilled pollo in town. Over the past four decades, El Pollo Loco has grown into more than 500 restaurants across 9 states, becoming an L.A. mainstay and cultural benchmark along the way. Today, we continue to work just as hard to always provide our customers with Quality Chicken. Fast. Easy. Affordable.

The pay range identified is the hourly or salary rate El Pollo Loco expects to pay for the posted position. This range does not include any benefits or bonus opportunities that might be available for the position based on position and eligibility criteria. At El Pollo Loco, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at the high end of the range. Individual pay decisions will vary based on a variety of factors including years of experience, industry experience, education, geography, etc.