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Internship Programming Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Stryker

$35/hr

Persistent interns who will stop at nothing to live out Stryker's mission to make healthcare better. Opportunities Available As a Statistical Programming intern at Stryker, you will: * Be responsible ...

Mulhern+Kulp

Engineering Internship

San Diego, CA

$17.75 - $23/hr

Kulp Structural Engineering, Inc. is currently seeking full-time Interns to join our San Diego office for Summer 2027. Join a rapidly growing structural engineering consulting firm with 140+ team ...

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Medtronic

Engineering Intern - Summer 2027

Irvine, CA · On-site

$18 - $23.25/hr

A Day in the Life Our summer internships are full-time (40 hours/week), paid positions lasting 10-11 weeks. We offer competitive compensation, educational and social programming throughout the summer ...

Medtronic

Engineering Intern - Summer 2027

Santa Rosa, CA · On-site

$18.25 - $23.75/hr

A Day in the Life Our summer internships are full-time (40 hours/week), paid positions lasting 10-11 weeks. We offer competitive compensation, educational and social programming throughout the summer ...

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All JobsProgramming JobsInternship Programming JobsInternship Programming Jobs in California

Internship Programming information

See California salary details

$13

$25

$38

How much do internship programming jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 7, 2026, the average hourly pay for internship programming in California is $25.08, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $20.38 and $28.46 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an internship in programming?

An internship in programming is a temporary position that allows students or recent graduates to gain hands-on experience in software development or coding. Interns typically work under the supervision of experienced programmers, contributing to real projects while learning about industry tools, coding practices, and team collaboration. These internships help individuals build practical skills, expand their professional network, and improve their chances of securing a full-time job in technology. Many internships also offer mentorship and training opportunities to help interns grow.

What types of projects or tasks can I expect to work on during a programming internship?

As a programming intern, you'll often be involved in supporting real software development projects, which may include tasks like debugging code, writing unit tests, developing new features, or assisting with documentation. Depending on the team and company, you might collaborate with experienced developers on agile teams, participate in code reviews, and learn to use industry-standard tools for version control and project management. These hands-on experiences are designed to help you build practical coding skills while contributing to meaningful projects. Interns are also encouraged to ask questions and seek mentorship, making the internship a valuable learning and networking opportunity.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an internship programming?

To thrive as a Programming Intern, you need a solid understanding of programming fundamentals, problem-solving abilities, and relevant coursework in computer science or software engineering. Familiarity with languages like Python, Java, or C++, and experience using version control systems such as Git, are commonly required; knowledge of popular development environments and collaboration tools is also helpful. Strong communication, eagerness to learn, and teamwork skills help interns integrate effectively and contribute to projects. These skills and qualities are vital for adapting to real-world software development environments and delivering meaningful contributions during the internship.

What is the difference between Internship Programming vs Software Developer?

AspectInternship ProgrammingSoftware Developer
Required CredentialsTypically pursuing or recently completed a degree in computer science or related fieldBachelor's degree or higher in computer science or related field, often with professional experience
Work EnvironmentTemporary, entry-level, often part-time or summer roles in tech companies or organizationsFull-time, permanent roles in various industries, including tech firms, startups, and corporations
Employer & Industry UsageUsed by companies to train and evaluate potential future employees; common in tech and software firms

In summary, Internship Programming is an entry-level, temporary position designed for students or recent graduates to gain experience, while a Software Developer is a full-time professional role requiring more experience and responsibility. Internships serve as a stepping stone toward a career as a Software Developer.

What does an internship programming do?

An internship in programming involves assisting with software development tasks such as coding, testing, and debugging under the supervision of experienced developers. Interns often gain hands-on experience with programming languages, development tools, and collaborative environments, preparing for a future career in software engineering.

What are the most commonly searched types of Programming jobs in California?

The most popular types of Programming jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Internship Programming jobs?

Cities in California with the most Internship Programming job openings:

Internship Programming jobs near you
Infographic showing various Internship Programming job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 76% Full Time, 17% Part Time, 5% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 87% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $52,174 per year, or $25.1 per hour.

Spring 2027 Internship - Engineering

Orbital Operations

Long Beach, CA • On-site

$17.50 - $22.75/hr

Full-time, Internship

Posted 7 days ago

Job description

About Orbital Operations
At Orbital Operations, we're building the future of dynamic space maneuvering. Our mission is to enable rapid-response orbital capabilities, executing maneuvers without hesitation and without regret.
Our flagship technology, the Cryogenic Propulsion Management System (CPMS), is redefining what's possible in space mobility. Designed for military and commercial spacecraft, CPMS delivers sustained, high-thrust maneuverability in geosynchronous and cislunar orbits. It integrates low-loss cryogenic storage, reverse Brayton cycle (RBC) thermal control, and turbomachinery-driven propulsion to make spacecraft more agile, resilient, and responsive.
Beyond defense, CPMS is poised to transform commercial orbital logistics. By powering next-generation orbital transfer vehicles (OTVs), it can slash LEO-to-GEO transit times from six months to just eight hours-unlocking new possibilities for satellite servicing, deployment, and beyond.
Join us in building the infrastructure for a more maneuverable and mission-ready space domain.
About the Role
At Orbital Operations, we believe bold missions demand exceptional builders. We're assembling a world-class team to push the boundaries of dynamic space maneuvering, and we're looking for engineering interns who have already demonstrated that they can take real hardware from an idea to a tested result.
This is not an internship where you'll spend the your time observing from the sidelines or working on isolated analysis. You'll own a meaningful hardware project with a clear technical objective and be responsible for driving it through execution. Depending on the project, that may include defining requirements, performing analysis, designing components, creating drawings, working with vendors or manufacturing equipment, assembling hardware, developing test plans, running tests, analyzing results, troubleshooting failures, and implementing the next iteration.
You'll be paired with a dedicated mentor, but you'll be expected to take initiative, make sound engineering decisions, communicate blockers, and keep your project moving. You'll work directly alongside engineers across design, analysis, manufacturing, test, and operations while contributing to hardware that supports our cryogenic propulsion and orbital mobility systems.
We are specifically looking for interns who have previously owned hardware through most or all of its lifecycle. That experience may come from a student engineering team, research laboratory, previous internship, personal project, machine shop, startup, or other hands-on environment. The scale of the project matters less than the depth of your ownership.
Strong candidates can clearly explain:
  • What they personally owned and delivered
  • How they translated a need into engineering requirements
  • Which design decisions and tradeoffs they made
  • How the hardware was manufactured and assembled
  • How they tested it and determined whether it worked
  • What failed, what they learned, and what they changed
  • What they would do differently on the next iteration

Internship opportunities are available across our engineering teams, including:
  • Mechanical Design
  • Fluid Systems Design and Analysis
  • Test and Integration
  • Manufacturing and Assembly
  • Avionics

If you want to be judged by the hardware you deliver and are ready to take a project from concept through test we'd love to hear from you.
Qualifications
  • Currently pursuing a bachelor's or master's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, computer engineering, computer science, or a related STEM field
  • Demonstrated ownership of at least one hands on engineering project from concept or requirements through fabrication, assembly, testing, and iteration
  • Strong command of engineering fundamentals and the ability to apply them to practical, open ended problems
  • Experience designing, building, integrating, or testing physical hardware through a student team, internship, research program, employment, or personal project
  • Ability to make engineering tradeoffs and move forward when requirements or information are incomplete
  • Willingness to work directly with hardware, including assembly, instrumentation, troubleshooting, and test operations
  • Ability to independently plan and execute a complex technical project while identifying and communicating risks and blockers
  • Resourceful, self-directed, and comfortable learning unfamiliar tools or technical subjects quickly
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to document designs, test results, failures, and lessons learned
  • Able to work full-time and onsite in Long Beach, California, for a minimum of 10-12 consecutive weeks
Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience with CAD, engineering drawings, tolerance analysis, machining, additive manufacturing, composite fabrication, electronics, instrumentation, or fluid-system assembly
  • Experience creating and executing test plans, collecting data, and comparing results against analytical predictions or requirements
  • Participation in a hands-on engineering organization such as Formula SAE, Baja SAE, liquid or solid rocketry, CubeSat, robotics, Design/Build/Fly, or a similar project team
  • A portfolio, technical report, project page, or other work sample that clearly demonstrates your individual contribution to completed hardware
  • Experience diagnosing a hardware failure and carrying the resulting lessons into a successful design iteration

Apply