Backend Software Developer Intern Jobs in California

Introduction

At IBM Software, we transform client challenges into solutions. Building the world's leading AI-powered, cloud-native products that shape the future of business and society. Our legacy of innovation creates endless opportunities for IBMers to learn, grow, and make an impact on a global scale. Working in Software means joining a team fueled by curiosity and collaboration. You'll work with diverse technologies, partners, and industries to design, develop, and deliver solutions that power digital transformation. With a culture that values innovation, growth, and continuous learning, IBM Software places you at the heart of IBM's product and technology landscape. Here, you'll have the tools and opportunities to advance your career while creating software that changes the world.

Your role and responsibilities

We are looking for Software Developer Interns to join our engineering teams. As an intern, you will work alongside experienced IBM developers to design, build, and test software that powers our cloud, AI, and hybrid‑platform solutions. This role is designed for students who are passionate about coding-regardless of which programming language they started with. You will gain hands-on experience in real-world projects, learn modern development practices, and collaborate in an Agile environment where your ideas can make an immediate impact.

What You'll Do

• Support the design, development, testing, and debugging of software in front-end, back-end, or full‑stack environments.
• Work with a variety of programming languages depending on the project (examples: Python, Java, JavaScript, TypeScript, C++, Go, Rust, Swift, Kotlin, or others).
• Help build user interfaces using frameworks like React or contribute to back-end services and APIs.
• Use Git and other version‑control and collaboration tools.
• Work with cloud and container technologies such as Docker, Kubernetes, and REST APIs.
• Participate in Agile ceremonies, code reviews, and technical discussions.
• Explore emerging technologies, including AI/ML, automation, and cloud-native development.

Location Flexibility

By applying to this requisition, you acknowledge and agree to be considered for any of the listed locations associated with this position and are willing to work at the location where you are ultimately assigned.

Required education

High School Diploma/GED

Preferred education

Bachelor's Degree

Required technical and professional expertise

(Guidelines - transferable skills are encouraged)

• Coursework or project experience in software development using any programming language.
• Familiarity with fundamental concepts such as data structures, basic algorithms, or debugging.
• Exposure to front-end or back-end technologies (React, Node.js, Python, Java, SQL, etc.).
• Experience using Git or similar version control tools.
• Interest in cloud computing, containers, or modern deployment practices.
• Strong analytical thinking, problem‑solving, and communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate and learn quickly in a team environment.

Preferred technical and professional experience

• Experience with cloud services (IBM Cloud, AWS, Azure, or GCP).
• Familiarity with REST APIs and databases (relational or NoSQL).
• Exposure to CI/CD pipelines or automation tools.
• Personal or open-source projects that demonstrate creativity and initiative.
• Understanding of Agile development methods.

ABOUT BUSINESS UNIT

IBM Software infuses core business operations with intelligence-from machine learning to generative AI-to help make organizations more responsive, productive, and resilient. IBM Software helps clients put AI into action now to create real value with trust, speed, and confidence across digital labor, IT automation, application modernization, security, and sustainability. Critical to this is the ability to make use of all data, because AI is only as good as the data that fuels it. In most organizations data is spread across multiple clouds, on premises, in private datacenters, and at the edge. IBM's AI and data platform scales and accelerates the impact of AI with trusted data, and provides leading capabilities to train, tune and deploy AI across business. IBM's hybrid cloud platform is one of the most comprehensive and consistent approach to development, security, and operations across hybrid environments-a flexible foundation for leveraging data, wherever it resides, to extend AI deep into a business.

YOUR LIFE @ IBM

In a world where technology never stands still, we understand that, dedication to our clients success, innovation that matters, and trust and personal responsibility in all our relationships, lives in what we do as IBMers as we strive to be the catalyst that makes the world work better.

Being an IBMer means you'll be able to learn and develop yourself and your career, you'll be encouraged to be courageous and experiment everyday, all whilst having continuous trust and support in an environment where everyone can thrive whatever their personal or professional background.

Our IBMers are growth minded, always staying curious, open to feedback and learning new information and skills to constantly transform themselves and our company. They are trusted to provide on-going feedback to help other IBMers grow, as well as collaborate with colleagues keeping in mind a team focused approach to include different perspectives to drive exceptional outcomes for our customers. The courage our IBMers have to make critical decisions everyday is essential to IBM becoming the catalyst for progress, always embracing challenges with resources they have to hand, a can-do attitude and always striving for an outcome focused approach within everything that they do.

Are you ready to be an IBMer?

ABOUT IBM

IBM's greatest invention is the IBMer. We believe that through the application of intelligence, reason and science, we can improve business, society and the human condition, bringing the power of an open hybrid cloud and AI strategy to life for our clients and partners around the world.

Restlessly reinventing since 1911, we are not only one of the largest corporate organizations in the world, we're also one of the biggest technology and consulting employers, with many of the Fortune 500 companies relying on the IBM Cloud to run their business.

At IBM, we pride ourselves on being an early adopter of artificial intelligence, quantum computing and blockchain. Now it's time for you to join us on our journey to being a responsible technology innovator and a force for good in the world.

IBM is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, pregnancy, disability, neurodivergence, age, or other characteristics protected by the applicable law. IBM is also committed to compliance with all fair employment practices regarding citizenship and immigration status.

OTHER RELEVANT JOB DETAILS

Supplemental 1 employees may be eligible for up to 8 paid holidays, minimum of 56 hours paid sick time and the IBM Employee Stock Purchase Plan. IBM offers paid family medical leave and disability benefits to eligible employees where required by applicable law.

This position was posted on the date cited in the key job details section and is anticipated to remain posted for 15 days from this date or less if not needed to fill the role.

We consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable law.

The compensation range and benefits for this position are based on a full-time schedule for a full calendar year. The salary will vary depending on your job-related skills, experience and location. Pay increment and frequency of pay will be in accordance with employment classification and applicable laws. For part time roles, your compensation and benefits will be adjusted to reflect your hours. Benefits may be pro-rated for those who start working during the calendar year.

Job Title

Software Developer Intern 2027

Date posted

11-Aug-2026

Job ID

128497

City / Township / Village

LOWELL, DURHAM, Bellevue, San Jose, Austin

State / Province

Texas, North Carolina, Washington, Massachusetts, California

Country

United States

Work arrangement

Hybrid

Area of work

Software Engineering

Employment type

Co-Op (Fixed Term)

Contract type

Internship

Projected Minimum Salary per year

75,600.00

Projected Maximum Salary per year

166,320.00

Position type

Internship

Travel required

Some travel may be required based on business demand

Company

(0147) International Business Machines Corporation

Shift

General (daytime)

Is this role a commissionable/sales incentive based position?

No