Software Engineer Intern (First Play) - Summer 2026 (Mountain View, CA)
About The Position
This internship role will be based in Mountain View, California. At LinkedIn, our approach to flexible work is centered on trust andâ¯optimizedâ¯for culture, connection, clarity, and the evolving needs of our business. The work location of this role is hybrid, meaning it will be performed both from home and from a LinkedIn office on select days, asâ¯determinedâ¯by the business needs of the team. First Play is LinkedIn's software engineering internship designed to develop the next generation of AI-native engineers. The program is designed for students earlier in their computer science journey (expected graduation date of December 2027 or later) who want hands-on experience, mentorship, and growth opportunities working in the tech industry. Unlike our traditional Software Engineering internship, First Play is tailored for those building foundational skills required to thrive in an AI-native engineering environment. Throughout the program, interns are paired with a dedicated mentor and manager who provide guidance, feedback, and support to help them learn and grow as engineers. Candidates must be currently enrolled in an undergraduate degree program, with an expected graduation date of December 2027 or later. The First Play internship is a 12-week program designed to provide hands-on learning and mentorship. The 2026 session will run from May 26, 2026 - August 14, 2026.
Requirements
- Currently pursuing a B.A/B.S degree in Computer Science or related technical field
- Foundational programming experience in at least one of the following: Python, Java, C/C++, C#, Rust, or a similar object-oriented programming language
Nice To Haves
- Exposure to software development through class projects, hackathons, or personal coding projects
- Experience experimenting with AI tools and frameworks to enhance software development and productivity
- Understanding of foundational data structures and basic algorithms
- Demonstrated AI curiosity and growth mindset, with a desire to deepen fluency with AI tools and emerging technologies
- Understanding of software engineering fundamentals such as code reviews, collaboration, and iterative development in a team environment
Responsibilities
- Hands-on Engineering: Contribute to meaningful, scoped projects that strengthen your coding, debugging, and problem-solving skills. You'll apply classroom knowledge to real-world challenges - writing clean, efficient code, testing and iterating on features, and learning professional engineering practices such as version control, code reviews, and continuous integration
- Build Community: Participate in First Play cohort events, learning experiences, and LinkedIn's broader intern programming designed to build community, increase skills, and showcase LinkedIn's culture
- Experience Growth: Explore how AI and emerging technologies are shaping software development, and learn how engineering teams collaborate to create economic opportunity for the global workforce
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What This Job Offers
Career Level
Intern
Industry
Administrative and Support Services
Number of Employees
5,001-10,000 employees
