Program Developer Internships
Program developer internships give university students, recent graduates, and early-career switchers hands-on project experience, mentorship from working program developers, and, at many employers, a path toward a full-time offer. Openings are concentrated across {{top_industries_phrase}}, with BNY, CAMBA, and New York Life among the employers posting roles now.
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Role Location Designation
Location Designation: Hybrid - 3 days per week
Shape your future with a dynamic internship experience at New York Life. Your internship journey is designed to challenge you through hands-on work experience that will equip you with valuable skills you can use anywhere. You will build your network through collaboration and connection with talented interns and experienced employees through team-building activities, mentorship programs, and fun social events. By the end of your internship, you'll be equipped with new skills and a network that will propel you forward in your career journey.
Role Overview
New York Life Direct is seeking a motivated and enthusiastic IBM i Developer Intern to join our Systems Application Development team for the 2027 Summer Internship Program.
As an IBM i Developer Intern, you will gain hands-on experience developing, enhancing, and supporting enterprise business applications on the IBM i platform. You will work alongside experienced developers to learn modern IBM i development practices, including Free-Format RPG, Control Language (CL), DB2 for i, SQL, and Integrated Language Environment (ILE) concepts.
You will also gain exposure to modern software development tools and emerging technologies, including Visual Studio Code (VS Code), AI-assisted development, and automation. This internship provides an opportunity to explore how Generative AI can support code analysis, debugging, documentation, testing, and application modernization while following responsible AI practices.
Throughout the internship, you will apply your academic knowledge to real-world business challenges, collaborate with technology professionals, and gain valuable experience supporting business-critical applications.
What You'll Do
- IBM i Application Development: Work alongside experienced developers to design, develop, test, and enhance applications that support New York Life Direct business operations.
- Programming and Development: Learn and apply Free-Format RPG, CL, and SQL programming concepts through hands-on development assignments.
- Modern Development Tools: Use Visual Studio Code (VS Code) as the primary development environment for IBM i application development.
- Database Development: Gain experience working with DB2 for i databases, including writing SQL queries, accessing data, and understanding database structures.
- Modular Programming: Gain exposure to ILE concepts, including modules, service programs, and reusable application components.
- AI-Assisted Development: Explore how company-approved Generative AI tools can assist with code analysis, debugging, documentation, test case creation, and understanding existing RPG applications.
- Automation and Innovation: Identify opportunities to improve development productivity, streamline repetitive tasks, and enhance application maintainability using modern tools and automation techniques.
- Application Integration: Learn how IBM i applications integrate with other enterprise platforms through APIs, web services, and database interfaces.
- Testing and Troubleshooting: Assist with unit testing, debugging, and resolving application issues while learning enterprise development and quality assurance practices.
- Collaboration: Work with developers, business analysts, and other technology professionals to understand business requirements and contribute to technical solutions.
- Software Development Lifecycle: Participate in requirements analysis, coding, code reviews, testing, documentation, and change management activities.
- Internship Project: Contribute to a defined development or application enhancement project and present your accomplishments and technical learnings to the team.
What You'll Accomplish by the End of the Internship
By the end of the internship, you will have:
- Developed a foundational understanding of the IBM i platform, including its architecture, libraries, objects, and application development environment.
- Gained practical programming experience with Free-Format RPG, CL, and SQL.
- Learned to use Visual Studio Code to develop, modify, and troubleshoot IBM i applications.
- Built an understanding of DB2 for i database concepts and data access techniques.
- Gained exposure to ILE programming concepts, modular development, and enterprise application integration.
- Explored practical applications of Generative AI in software development, including code comprehension, debugging, documentation, and testing.
- Developed an understanding of responsible AI usage, including security, data privacy, and appropriate handling of proprietary code and business information.
- Participated in application development, testing, and enhancement activities under the guidance of experienced developers.
- Completed a defined internship project demonstrating the technical skills and knowledge acquired during the program.
- Presented project outcomes, technical learnings, and accomplishments to team members and leadership.
- Strengthened analytical thinking, problem-solving, communication, and collaboration skills.
What You'll Bring
You are a curious, motivated, and enthusiastic student with an interest in software engineering, enterprise technology, and emerging development tools.
You enjoy solving technical challenges, learning new programming languages, and exploring how technology can improve business processes. You are comfortable collaborating with others, asking questions, and applying creative problem-solving approaches.
You are interested in both foundational enterprise technologies and modern innovations, including AI-assisted development and automation.
Prior experience with IBM i, RPG, or CL programming is not required. This internship is designed to provide hands-on learning, technical guidance, and mentorship from experienced developers.
Required Skills & Qualifications
- Currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Technology, Information Systems, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field.
- Basic understanding of programming fundamentals, including variables, conditional logic, loops, functions, and data structures.
- Familiarity with at least one programming language, such as Java, Python, C, C++, or C#, through coursework, academic projects, or personal development.
- Basic knowledge of relational databases and SQL concepts.
- Understanding of software development fundamentals and problem-solving techniques.
- Strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and willingness to learn new technologies.
- Effective written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to collaborate with technical and non-technical team members.
- Demonstrated initiative, intellectual curiosity, and willingness to take ownership of assigned tasks.
- Interest in enterprise application development, modern development tools, and emerging technologies.
Preferred Skills
- Academic coursework or projects involving SQL, relational databases, or application development.
- Familiarity with Visual Studio Code or similar development environments.
- Exposure to Git or other source code management tools.
- Basic understanding of APIs, RESTful web services, or application integration.
- Familiarity with software testing, debugging, and development methodologies.
- Exposure to IBM i, Free-Format RPG, CL, or DB2 for i is a plus but not required.
- Familiarity with Generative AI concepts or AI-assisted development tools.
- Interest in applying AI and automation to improve software development efficiency and application maintainability.
- Interest in enterprise computing, financial services technology, and business application development.
Internship Experience
As a New York Life Direct IBM i Developer Intern, you will:
- Receive mentorship and technical guidance from experienced IBM i developers.
- Gain hands-on experience with enterprise applications that support critical business operations.
- Work with modern development tools and explore emerging technologies, including Generative AI.
- Participate in meaningful development assignments and collaborative team activities.
- Build professional relationships through networking, mentorship, and internship development opportunities.
- Gain insight into technology careers within the financial services industry.
- Complete an internship project and share your accomplishments with the team
Work Authorization
To be eligible for this program, you must be authorized to work in the U.S. We do not offer employment-based immigration sponsorship for this program. This program is not available to individuals working under OPT or CPT.
Curious what it’s like to intern at NYL? Check out #NYLEarlyCareers on LinkedIn!
#NYLDirectcampus
Job Level: GRADE 21
Pay Transparency
Salary Range: $25/hr
Overtime eligible: Nonexempt
Discretionary bonus eligible: Yes
Sales bonus eligible: No
Actual base salary will be determined based on several factors but not limited to individual’s experience, skills, qualifications, and job location. Additionally, employees are eligible for an annual discretionary bonus. In addition to base salary, employees may also be eligible to participate in an incentive program.
Our Benefits
We provide a full package of benefits for employees – and have unique offerings for a modern workforce, including leave programs, adoption assistance, and student loan repayment programs. Based on feedback from our employees, we continue to refine and add benefits to our offering, so that you can flourish both inside and outside of work. Click here to discover more about our comprehensive benefit options or visit our NYL Benefits Site.
Our Commitment to Inclusion
At New York Life, fostering an inclusive workplace is fundamental to who we are and how we serve our communities. We have a longstanding commitment to creating an environment where individuals can contribute their best and succeed together. This foundation is rooted in our core values of humanity and integrity, ensuring that every employee feels valued and supported. By embracing a broad range of perspectives and experiences, we achieve greater success and fulfill our promise of providing financial security and peace of mind to families across all communities. Click here to learn more about New York Life’s leadership in this space.
Recognized as one of Fortune’s World’s Most Admired Companies, New York Life is committed to improving local communities through a culture of employee giving and volunteerism, supported by the Foundation. We're proud that due to our mutuality, we operate in the best interests of our policy owners. To learn more about career opportunities at New York Life, please visit the Careers page of www.NewYorkLife.com.
Job Requisition ID: 95358
Job Description
Requisition ID
Department
Job Function
Location
Role Location Designation
Location Designation: Hybrid - 3 days per week
Shape your future with a dynamic internship experience at New York Life. Your internship journey is designed to challenge you through hands-on work experience that will equip you with valuable skills you can use anywhere. You will build your network through collaboration and connection with talented interns and experienced employees through team-building activities, mentorship programs, and fun social events. By the end of your internship, you'll be equipped with new skills and a network that will propel you forward in your career journey.
Role Overview
New York Life Direct is seeking a motivated and enthusiastic IBM i Developer Intern to join our Systems Application Development team for the 2027 Summer Internship Program.
As an IBM i Developer Intern, you will gain hands-on experience developing, enhancing, and supporting enterprise business applications on the IBM i platform. You will work alongside experienced developers to learn modern IBM i development practices, including Free-Format RPG, Control Language (CL), DB2 for i, SQL, and Integrated Language Environment (ILE) concepts.
You will also gain exposure to modern software development tools and emerging technologies, including Visual Studio Code (VS Code), AI-assisted development, and automation. This internship provides an opportunity to explore how Generative AI can support code analysis, debugging, documentation, testing, and application modernization while following responsible AI practices.
Throughout the internship, you will apply your academic knowledge to real-world business challenges, collaborate with technology professionals, and gain valuable experience supporting business-critical applications.
What You'll Do
- IBM i Application Development: Work alongside experienced developers to design, develop, test, and enhance applications that support New York Life Direct business operations.
- Programming and Development: Learn and apply Free-Format RPG, CL, and SQL programming concepts through hands-on development assignments.
- Modern Development Tools: Use Visual Studio Code (VS Code) as the primary development environment for IBM i application development.
- Database Development: Gain experience working with DB2 for i databases, including writing SQL queries, accessing data, and understanding database structures.
- Modular Programming: Gain exposure to ILE concepts, including modules, service programs, and reusable application components.
- AI-Assisted Development: Explore how company-approved Generative AI tools can assist with code analysis, debugging, documentation, test case creation, and understanding existing RPG applications.
- Automation and Innovation: Identify opportunities to improve development productivity, streamline repetitive tasks, and enhance application maintainability using modern tools and automation techniques.
- Application Integration: Learn how IBM i applications integrate with other enterprise platforms through APIs, web services, and database interfaces.
- Testing and Troubleshooting: Assist with unit testing, debugging, and resolving application issues while learning enterprise development and quality assurance practices.
- Collaboration: Work with developers, business analysts, and other technology professionals to understand business requirements and contribute to technical solutions.
- Software Development Lifecycle: Participate in requirements analysis, coding, code reviews, testing, documentation, and change management activities.
- Internship Project: Contribute to a defined development or application enhancement project and present your accomplishments and technical learnings to the team.
What You'll Accomplish by the End of the Internship
By the end of the internship, you will have:
- Developed a foundational understanding of the IBM i platform, including its architecture, libraries, objects, and application development environment.
- Gained practical programming experience with Free-Format RPG, CL, and SQL.
- Learned to use Visual Studio Code to develop, modify, and troubleshoot IBM i applications.
- Built an understanding of DB2 for i database concepts and data access techniques.
- Gained exposure to ILE programming concepts, modular development, and enterprise application integration.
- Explored practical applications of Generative AI in software development, including code comprehension, debugging, documentation, and testing.
- Developed an understanding of responsible AI usage, including security, data privacy, and appropriate handling of proprietary code and business information.
- Participated in application development, testing, and enhancement activities under the guidance of experienced developers.
- Completed a defined internship project demonstrating the technical skills and knowledge acquired during the program.
- Presented project outcomes, technical learnings, and accomplishments to team members and leadership.
- Strengthened analytical thinking, problem-solving, communication, and collaboration skills.
What You'll Bring
You are a curious, motivated, and enthusiastic student with an interest in software engineering, enterprise technology, and emerging development tools.
You enjoy solving technical challenges, learning new programming languages, and exploring how technology can improve business processes. You are comfortable collaborating with others, asking questions, and applying creative problem-solving approaches.
You are interested in both foundational enterprise technologies and modern innovations, including AI-assisted development and automation.
Prior experience with IBM i, RPG, or CL programming is not required. This internship is designed to provide hands-on learning, technical guidance, and mentorship from experienced developers.
Required Skills & Qualifications
- Currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Technology, Information Systems, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field.
- Basic understanding of programming fundamentals, including variables, conditional logic, loops, functions, and data structures.
- Familiarity with at least one programming language, such as Java, Python, C, C++, or C#, through coursework, academic projects, or personal development.
- Basic knowledge of relational databases and SQL concepts.
- Understanding of software development fundamentals and problem-solving techniques.
- Strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and willingness to learn new technologies.
- Effective written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to collaborate with technical and non-technical team members.
- Demonstrated initiative, intellectual curiosity, and willingness to take ownership of assigned tasks.
- Interest in enterprise application development, modern development tools, and emerging technologies.
Preferred Skills
- Academic coursework or projects involving SQL, relational databases, or application development.
- Familiarity with Visual Studio Code or similar development environments.
- Exposure to Git or other source code management tools.
- Basic understanding of APIs, RESTful web services, or application integration.
- Familiarity with software testing, debugging, and development methodologies.
- Exposure to IBM i, Free-Format RPG, CL, or DB2 for i is a plus but not required.
- Familiarity with Generative AI concepts or AI-assisted development tools.
- Interest in applying AI and automation to improve software development efficiency and application maintainability.
- Interest in enterprise computing, financial services technology, and business application development.
Internship Experience
As a New York Life Direct IBM i Developer Intern, you will:
- Receive mentorship and technical guidance from experienced IBM i developers.
- Gain hands-on experience with enterprise applications that support critical business operations.
- Work with modern development tools and explore emerging technologies, including Generative AI.
- Participate in meaningful development assignments and collaborative team activities.
- Build professional relationships through networking, mentorship, and internship development opportunities.
- Gain insight into technology careers within the financial services industry.
- Complete an internship project and share your accomplishments with the team
Work Authorization
To be eligible for this program, you must be authorized to work in the U.S. We do not offer employment-based immigration sponsorship for this program. This program is not available to individuals working under OPT or CPT.
Curious what it’s like to intern at NYL? Check out #NYLEarlyCareers on LinkedIn!
#NYLDirectcampus
Job Level: GRADE 21
Pay Transparency
Salary Range: $25/hr
Overtime eligible: Nonexempt
Discretionary bonus eligible: Yes
Sales bonus eligible: No
Actual base salary will be determined based on several factors but not limited to individual’s experience, skills, qualifications, and job location. Additionally, employees are eligible for an annual discretionary bonus. In addition to base salary, employees may also be eligible to participate in an incentive program.
Our Benefits
We provide a full package of benefits for employees – and have unique offerings for a modern workforce, including leave programs, adoption assistance, and student loan repayment programs. Based on feedback from our employees, we continue to refine and add benefits to our offering, so that you can flourish both inside and outside of work. Click here to discover more about our comprehensive benefit options or visit our NYL Benefits Site.
Our Commitment to Inclusion
At New York Life, fostering an inclusive workplace is fundamental to who we are and how we serve our communities. We have a longstanding commitment to creating an environment where individuals can contribute their best and succeed together. This foundation is rooted in our core values of humanity and integrity, ensuring that every employee feels valued and supported. By embracing a broad range of perspectives and experiences, we achieve greater success and fulfill our promise of providing financial security and peace of mind to families across all communities. Click here to learn more about New York Life’s leadership in this space.
Recognized as one of Fortune’s World’s Most Admired Companies, New York Life is committed to improving local communities through a culture of employee giving and volunteerism, supported by the Foundation. We're proud that due to our mutuality, we operate in the best interests of our policy owners. To learn more about career opportunities at New York Life, please visit the Careers page of www.NewYorkLife.com.
Job Requisition ID: 95358
Program Developer Internship Market
Who's Hiring
Tips for Your Program Developer Internship Search
Apply earlier than you think necessary
Large employers open summer intern applications the preceding fall and close them well before the new year. Smaller companies and co-op programs post closer to start dates. Check listings in September and October for summer cohorts, then again in late winter for spring and rolling positions.
Build a portfolio before you need one
Intern hiring teams for program developer roles expect limited work history, so give them something concrete to assess instead. Document two or three complete projects with the tools you used and a link to the output, a code repository, a published analysis, a design file, or a case study, so reviewers have proof of your thinking, not just a list of coursework.
Work your campus network alongside direct applications
Campus career fairs surface structured programs tied to your university, and professors or career center staff often know which employers recruit from your school before roles post publicly. Apply directly to companies running smaller cohorts at the same time, combining both channels widens the pool you reach and catches openings that never come through official campus pipelines.
Practice your screen out loud before you apply
Program developer intern interviews typically include a technical screen, coding questions on data structures and algorithms for engineering tracks, product-sense or case conversations for product roles, analytics problems for data tracks. Practice solving problems out loud and explaining your reasoning, because interviewers weigh how you think through a problem as much as whether you land the right answer.
Target structured internship programs at larger employers
Many large companies run formal rotational or cohort-based intern programs built to train people new to program development. These programs recruit early in the cycle, fill their cohorts fast, and often provide more structured mentorship than ad-hoc intern roles. Identify the ones that fit your track and get applications in during the first recruiting wave.
Set your work-type filter before you start searching
On-site roles are 0% of the program developer internships listed here. Decide what you can commit to, on-site, hybrid, or remote, before you start sorting through listings. Filtering by location and work type upfront keeps you focused on roles you can actually accept and prevents you from investing time in applications that won't work for your situation.
Program Developer Internships: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a program developer internship?
Lead with coursework, personal projects, and a portfolio rather than work history, hiring teams expect limited experience at the intern level and want something concrete to assess. For program developer candidates, that means documented projects with the tools you used and links to the work itself. Pair direct applications with campus career fairs, where recruiters often move faster for students they meet in person.
Can a program developer internship turn into a full-time job?
Many employers extend return offers to strong interns, but conversion is never guaranteed. What drives it most is performance on real work during the internship, available headcount on the team, and how early you signal interest in returning. Position yourself by delivering well and asking about return-offer timelines before the internship ends, without counting on it as a certain outcome.
When should I apply for program developer internships?
Earlier than most expect. Large employers recruit summer interns the preceding fall, often closing applications before the calendar year turns. Smaller companies and co-op programs post closer to actual start dates, so openings appear year-round. Checking listings regularly rather than waiting for a single seasonal push gives you the widest window to apply.
Are program developer internships paid?
Most professional program developer internships in the United States are paid. Compensation varies by company size, industry, and location, so it's not uniform across the board. Where an employer discloses pay, the listing will show it. Unpaid internships exist but are far less common at established companies running structured intern cohorts.
What should a program developer internship resume include?
Lead with projects, not work history. Highlight two or three complete, documented projects that show the tools you used and where a reviewer can see the actual output, linked code repositories, published analyses, design or CAD portfolios, or case studies, depending on what the role requires. Add relevant coursework beneath that and keep everything to one page.
Are there remote program developer internships?
Yes. Remote and hybrid roles make up 100% of the program developer internship listings here, with the rest on-site. Apply early if remote is what you need, those cohorts fill fast. Use the work-type filter to see only the listings that match what you can actually commit to.
Can international students get program developer internships?
Yes. F-1 students can intern through CPT while enrolled or through OPT work authorization after finishing a degree, and the employer does not have to file anything for either, so many companies are open to international interns. Confirm your eligibility and timing with your university's international student office before accepting an offer.
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