Software Engineer Intern Jobs in California

Software Engineer Intern jobs in California are concentrated in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, and San Diego, where companies like Google, Apple, and Qualcomm run some of the most competitive internship programs in the country. The most in-demand specialties are machine learning, full-stack web development, and mobile engineering, reflecting the product and research priorities of California's technology sector. Openings exist at every stage from first-year undergraduates to graduate students completing advanced degrees. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.

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Overview

Open roles138+
Top employerTikTok
Top citySan Jose, CA
Cities hiring26
Work type77% On-site
Top industryTechnology

Showing 5 of 138+ Software Engineer Intern jobs

Software Development Engineer Intern, Machine Learning/Automated Reasoning- Summer 2027
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Software Development Engineer Intern, Machine Learning/Automated Reasoning- Summer 2027
Amazon.com
Sunnyvale, California
Accounting
Business Operations
Tax
$110k - $126k/yr
10,000+

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Software Engineer - Intern (Jan 2027)
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Software Engineer - Intern (Jan 2027)
Western Magnetics
South San Francisco, California
Business Analysis
Product Management
Project Management

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Software Engineer Intern - Summer 2027
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Added 4d ago
Software Engineer Intern - Summer 2027
Lockheed Martin
Sunnyvale, California
Administrative & Office Support
Corporate Training
Learning & Development
$25.18 - $35.19/hr
10,000+

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Software Engineer Intern
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Software Engineer Intern
KLA
Milpitas, California
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
Data Science
ML (Machine Learning)
5,001-10,000

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2027 Sophomore Internship Program - Software Engineer Intern, Foster City
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Added 6d ago
2027 Sophomore Internship Program - Software Engineer Intern, Foster City
Visa
Foster City, California
Biotech & Life Sciences
Laboratory Research
Research & Academia
$46 - $50/hr
10,000+

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See All 138+ Software Engineer Intern Jobs in California

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Software Engineer Intern Jobs by City in California

Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Sunnyvale
7 jobs
San Diego
4 jobs
Mountain View
4 jobs
South San Francisco
4 jobs
San Mateo
3 jobs
Santa Rosa
3 jobs
Santa Clara
3 jobs

Software Engineer Intern Job Market in California

A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

  • TikTok40
  • ByteDance16
  • Keysight Technologies7
  • Meta6
  • TikTok USDS JV6

Top Industries Hiring

  • Technology & Software14
  • Science & Research6
  • Electronics & Hardware2
  • Artificial Intelligence2
  • Transportation & Logistics2

What California Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in software engineer intern jobs across California.

  • Currently enrolled in a bachelor's or master's degree program in computer science or related field
  • Proficiency in at least one programming language such as Python, Java, or C++
  • Familiarity with data structures, algorithms, and object-oriented design principles
  • Experience with version control systems, particularly Git, through coursework or personal projects
  • Ability to work on-site or hybrid in California for the internship duration
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills for cross-functional collaboration with California-based teams

Software Engineer Intern Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a software engineer intern in California?

Becoming a software engineer intern in California starts with enrollment in a computer science, software engineering, or closely related degree program at a California university or college. California has no state-issued license for software engineering internships, so employers focus on academic standing, technical coursework, and project experience. Strong candidates build practical skills through university labs, open-source contributions, or personal coding projects before applying to California-based companies.

Which companies hire software engineer interns in California?

Companies currently hiring software engineer interns in California include TikTok, ByteDance, and Keysight Technologies, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. California's density of technology headquarters means interns can find placements across enterprise software, consumer hardware, semiconductor design, and early-stage startups, often within the same metro area.

Which California cities have the most software engineer intern jobs?

The California cities with the most software engineer intern openings are San Jose, San Francisco, and Sunnyvale. The Bay Area leads because it is home to the headquarters and major engineering campuses of a large share of the country's largest technology companies, while Los Angeles and San Diego draw volume from their own concentrations of aerospace, biotech, and consumer technology employers actively running structured internship programs.

Are there remote software engineer intern jobs in California?

Yes, and more than most fields. About 23% of software engineer intern openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the desk-based and collaborative-tool nature of software development. The portions of an internship most likely to stay fully remote are individual coding assignments and code review, while team standups and onboarding sessions often require at least some in-person or synchronous participation.

How can I get hired as a software engineer intern in California with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is applying directly to structured internship programs at large California technology employers, which are designed for students with limited professional experience. Companies including Salesforce, Intel, and the University of California system run new-student and early-career programs that value coursework and academic projects over prior employment. Building a GitHub portfolio of coursework projects and contributing to open-source repositories signals readiness to California hiring teams evaluating candidates without a professional history.

Where can I find and apply to software engineer intern jobs in California?

You can find and apply to software engineer intern jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from California employers. Search the listings by city or specialty to find roles that fit your background, then apply directly to the ones that match.

See All 138+ Software Engineer Intern Jobs in California

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