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Real Products.
Lasting Impact.
Ancestry Co-Ops
Program Overview
Our co-op experience is a part-time, work-study opportunity designed for those pursuing advanced degrees in technology-related fields. You'll work alongside experienced professionals, contribute to real projects, and grow through hands-on learning and mentorship.
- Time Commitment: 20 hours per week
- Duration: 6 months (with the possibility of extension)
- Location: Hybrid or remote options available depending on team and role
Who We’re Looking For
Our Graduate Co-op Program brings together exceptional Master's and Ph.D. students across engineering, science, design, and product to solve some of Ancestry's most interesting challenges. who are:
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Inquisitive and driven, with a passion for applying research and theory to real-world challenges
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Experienced in relevant programming languages or tools (e.g., Python, TensorFlow, SQL, etc.)
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Excited about working on original, impactful projects — not just shadowing
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Ready to collaborate, learn, and contribute in a mission-driven environment
Each co-op will be paired with a dedicated mentor who will deliver meaningful work that will support our product and research goals.
Why Our Program is Different
Most co-ops observe. Ours build. You'll work on problems that don't have established answers yet, and you'll see the results of that work shape products used by millions of people around the world
Each co-op will be paired with a dedicated mentor who will deliver meaningful work that will support our product and research goals.
• Work on original research and product innovation, not pre-scoped busywork
• Publish and patent your work: Ancestry supports co-ops in pursuing publication and patent opportunities that come out of their projects
• See your work shipped: code, models, and designs you contribute can go live in products used by millions of customers globally, not just live in a sandbox
Current Co-Op Opportunities
At Ancestry, we’re passionate about empowering journeys of personal discovery through cutting-edge technology, thoughtful innovation, and a shared sense of purpose. Our Co-Op Program is designed to give graduate students hands-on experience solving real-world problems — all while balancing academic commitments.
By the Numbers
Ancestry is the global leader in family history and consumer genomics. Every day, around the world, we help curious people embark on journeys of personal discovery.
Over 27 million people in the
world's largest consumer
DNA network
65 billion records online
Over 1 billion in revenue
Big Data
Ancestry currently manages about 30,000 terabytes of data, including records detailing births, marriages, deaths, military service, immigration and much more.
On average, over 1 billion
searches are handled by
Ancestry servers per month
Over 1 billion user generated
photos, scanned documents
and written stories
More than 3 million paying
subscribers and over 140
million family trees on Ancestry
Application Review
Our team reviews applications for technical fit and alignment with our focus areas. If selected, you’ll move quickly to the next step.
Recruiter Screen
A 30-minute call with a recruiter to understand your background, interests, and availability — and to answer your questions about the co-op experience.
Hiring Manager Interview
Next, you’ll have a 30-minute conversation with the hiring manager. This is a chance to dive deeper into your experience, interests, and how you might contribute to the team’s current projects.
Technical Interview
A 45–60 minute virtual interview with a technical team member. Depending on the role, this may include a short technical problem, case scenario, or system discussion aligned with your area of focus.
Offer + Onboarding
Co-ops will onboard throughout the year, with access to a tailored orientation and mentor support to help you ramp up smoothly.
