2026 Internship - Software Development - Multi-Mission Planning Development

Do you want to apply the knowledge and skills you have obtained so far in the academic world to tackle challenging engineering problems facing our U.S. military when carrying out their critical defense missions in the real world?

Do you want to discover just how valuable your software skills are when applied to real world problems?

If you are pursuing a degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, or equivalent and want to gain valuable experience in software design/development/test then we'd love to have you join our team!

We are seeking Summer Interns to help us contribute to the development, prototyping and transition of software-based military mission planning tools to U.S. warfighters in the Armed Services. These tools maximize the warfighters' ability to configure/optimize military systems in the field encompassing multiple simultaneous missions for multiple services across multiple command echelon planning levels.

As a member of our team...

• Your primary responsibility will be to design, code and test software applicable to key existing modeling and simulation tools.
• You will contribute to the development of multi-mission (Ballistic Missile Defense, Air Warfare, Hypersonic Defense and Surface Warfare, etc.) planning software which enables military warfighters in the field to configure and optimize their systems for maximal performance against our country's adversaries.
• You will help develop software that leverages AI and efficient algorithms to support and enhance warfighter decision-making.
• You will work in a highly motivated and collaborative team environment.
• You will learn about existing/in-development mission planning tools.
• You will learn about enemy capabilities and limitations as fundamentally provided by the pertinent intelligence community.
• You will learn about the capabilities and limitations of our U.S. military systems.
• You will learn and utilize leading edge software development technologies including containerization tools.
• You will learn how to cyber-harden software you write.

You meet our minimum qualifications for the job if you...

• Are pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, or a related field with a minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale
• Have a passion for developing excellent functional software
• Have experience in designing/coding/testing with one or more of general-purpose programming languages including C/C++, Python, Typescript/Javascript and/or Java.
• Have experience working on academic team projects.
• Have demonstrated outstanding organizational abilities in the pursuit of your college degree.
• Have demonstrated good interpersonal skills when interfacing with other students and professors.
• Have demonstrated good written and oral communication skills.
• Are willing to team with an assembly of scientists and engineers to tackle new engineering challenges.
• Are able to obtain Interim Secret level security clearance by your start date and can ultimately obtain Secret level clearance. If selected, you will be subject to a government security clearance investigation and must meet the requirements for access to classified information. Eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship.

You'll go above and beyond our minimum requirements if you...

• Are pursuing a Master's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, or a related field with a minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale.
• Have academic experience leading team projects.
• Have prior experience as a summer intern in which your academic coursework was applied to successfully fulfill that internship.
• Possess a Final Secret security clearance.

Why Work at APL?

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) brings world-class expertise to our nation's most critical defense, security, space and science challenges. While we are dedicated to solving complex challenges and pioneering new technologies, what makes us truly outstanding is our culture. We offer a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere where you can bring your authentic self to work, continue to grow, and build strong connections with inspiring teammates.

At APL, we celebrate our differences of perspectives and encourage creativity and bold, new ideas. Our employees enjoy generous benefits, including a robust education assistance program, unparalleled retirement contributions, and a healthy work/life balance. APL's campus is located in the Baltimore-Washington metro area. Learn more about our career opportunities at http://www.jhuapl.edu/careers.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, occupation, marital or familial status, political opinion, personal appearance, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. APL is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals of all abilities, including those with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in any part of the hiring process, please contact Accommodations@jhuapl.edu.

The referenced pay range is based on JHU APL's good faith belief at the time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as geographic location, work experience, market conditions, education/training and skill level with consideration for internal parity. For salaried employees scheduled to work less than 40 hours per week, annual salary will be prorated based on the number of hours worked. APL may offer bonuses or other forms of compensation per internal policy and/or contractual designation. Additional compensation may be provided in the form of a sign-on bonus, relocation benefits, locality allowance or discretionary payments for exceptional performance. APL provides eligible staff with a comprehensive benefits package including retirement plans, paid time off, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, flexible spending accounts, education assistance, and training and development. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.