2026 Internship - Software Development - Multi-Mission Planning Development

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory•Laurel, MD

7d•Onsite

About The Position

This internship focuses on building software that supports critical national defense missions. Interns will work alongside experienced engineers, scientists, and developers to design, build, test, and improve mission planning software used to support U.S. military operations. The program offers mentorship, hands-on experience with modern software engineering practices, and the opportunity to contribute to projects shaping the future of defense technology.

Requirements

Pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, or a closely related technical field.
Cumulative GPA of 3.4 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
Experience developing software using one or more programming languages such as C++, Python, Java, JavaScript, or TypeScript.
Enjoy solving technical problems and learning new technologies.
Experience working on team-based academic, research, personal, or extracurricular software projects.
Communicate effectively with teammates, instructors, and technical stakeholders through written and verbal communication.
Organized, dependable, and able to manage multiple priorities.
Enjoy working collaboratively while also taking initiative on assigned work.
Able to obtain an Interim Secret security clearance by your start date and ultimately obtain a Secret security clearance.
U.S. citizenship is required.

Nice To Haves

Pursuing a Master's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
Experience leading academic, research, open-source, or extracurricular software projects.
Previous internship, research, or co-op experience applying software engineering skills to real-world problems.
Experience with Git, Linux, Docker, Kubernetes, cloud technologies, automated testing, DevSecOps, or CI/CD pipelines.
Coursework or project experience involving artificial intelligence, machine learning, optimization, modeling and simulation, distributed systems, software assurance or data analytics.
Experience building software in collaborative development environments using Agile practices.
An active Final Secret security clearance.

Responsibilities

Design, develop, test, and improve software for advanced modeling, simulation, and mission planning applications.
Contribute to software that supports multiple mission areas, including Ballistic Missile Defense, Air Warfare, and Hypersonic Defense.
Help develop AI-enabled capabilities and efficient algorithms that enhance mission planning and decision support.
Collaborate with software engineers, systems engineers, mathematicians, and domain experts in a highly collaborative environment.
Participate in software design reviews, technical discussions, code reviews, and agile development activities.
Learn modern software engineering practices, including automated testing, containerization, DevSecOps, and secure software development.
Gain exposure to the operational challenges faced by the U.S. military and how advanced software supports mission success.
Build technical and professional skills through mentorship, meaningful project work, and collaboration with experienced technical staff.