15 Tech Internships for Undergraduates in California
- Stephen Turban
- 6 hours ago
- 11 min read
If you’re studying a technical field, internships can help you build experience beyond your coursework and better understand how the industry works. These opportunities allow you to apply your knowledge in areas like software development, data science, artificial intelligence, and systems design while working with professional teams. They can also help you explore different roles within tech and clarify your interests.
In California, tech internships are offered through major technology companies, startups, research labs, and innovation-focused organizations. These roles span areas like software engineering, machine learning, product development, and cloud computing, with formats ranging from structured summer internships to project-based and hybrid experiences.
Why should I do a tech internship in college?
Tech internships give you exposure to how products and systems are built, tested, and scaled in professional environments. You might write code, contribute to product features, analyze data, or work with teams on design and development tasks across different stages of a project. Over time, these experiences can help you strengthen your technical skills, build a portfolio, and understand how to navigate careers in the technology industry.
To help you get started, we have a list of 15 tech internships for undergraduates in California.
If you’re looking for remote internships, check out our blog here.
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Varies by program; financial aid available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Multiple cohorts year-round (Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter)
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort; Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), Winter (November)
Eligibility: Undergraduate and gap year students; able to commit 10–20 hours per week for 8–12 weeks
Ladder University Internship Program is a selective virtual internship where you work with startups and nonprofits worldwide on real technology projects. You are matched with a company and collaborate with a startup manager on work the organization needs, such as building digital tools, improving data systems, supporting product development, or contributing to tech-based operations. As the internship is remote, you can participate from anywhere in California while working with global teams. You’ll apply technical and problem-solving skills in a professional setting, learn how startups use technology to grow, and manage real deliverables. The program ends with a presentation of your work, strengthening communication, project ownership, and experience for future technology and startup roles.
Location: Mountain View, CA
Cost/Stipend: Paid; approximately $40 per hour
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: 12 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: February 27; may close earlier if positions fill
Eligibility: Undergraduate students in computer science or related fields; strong academic record
Google Engineering and Technical Internships place you on active Google teams where you contribute to real technology projects from the start. You’ll work on practical problems across software engineering, user experience, product management, mechanical engineering, and hardware engineering while collaborating with engineers and designers. In software roles, you help build and improve systems and applications, while user experience internships focus on designing products used by millions. As an associate product manager intern, you connect technical development with business teams, including engineering, marketing, and finance. Mechanical and hardware tracks focus on design, analysis, and system development. Across the program, you can apply technical skills in professional settings, learn how large-scale tech products are built, and gain hands-on experience for future technology and engineering careers in California.
Location: Menlo Park, CA
Cost/Stipend: Paid; up to $65 per hour
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: 12 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: Applications open in December
Eligibility: Undergraduate students in technical fields; relevant coursework required
Meta Internship Program gives you practical experience working on real technology projects across Meta platforms. As an undergraduate intern, you’ll support software engineering tasks, including building features for social media tools and contributing to generative AI and machine learning projects. You can apply coding and system architecture skills while working with engineering teams on product and AI research initiatives. You are paired with a mentor who guides your technical work, collaboration, and project planning from day one. Alongside project work, you can learn about current AI practices and emerging technologies, connect with other interns through professional and social activities, and receive support, including housing assistance, during the internship. The program also provides pathways to return for future internships or full-time roles, helping you build long-term experience in the technology industry.
Location: Cupertino, CA
Cost/Stipend: Paid stipend
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Summer internship
Application Deadline: Varies; check postings
Eligibility: Full-time undergraduate students pursuing bachelor’s degrees in technical fields
Apple Internship Program places you in active roles across Apple teams where you contribute to real engineering and technology projects while studying. You can join as a full team member and work on hardware and software for Apple products in a collaborative campus environment. Your work includes hands-on tasks such as system design, testing, and improving product features, which build technical problem-solving skills. You’ll collaborate with engineers and designers, receive mentorship from industry experts, and take part in lab visits and team reviews. Whether you intern in summer or during the academic year, you can apply what you learn in class to Apple development processes and gain practical experience with how large-scale technology products are built in California.
Location: Bay Area, CA
Cost/Stipend: Paid stipend
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: 12 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: Varies by year
Eligibility: First- or second-year undergraduates; must have completed introductory computer science and calculus
The Explore Microsoft Program gives you an early entry into software and technology work during your first years of college. In this twelve-week summer internship in the US, you can experience the core stages of product development, including design, build, and quality. You’ll work in a pod with other interns to develop software, test features, and understand how Microsoft products move from idea to release. The program supports your technical growth through mentoring, networking, and community activities as you explore roles in software development, data science, IT, and cybersecurity. By the end, you can gain practical experience with real development workflows and learn how large technology teams operate in professional environments across California and beyond.
Location: Sunnyvale, CA (and other California sites)
Cost/Stipend: Paid; starting at $52.72 per hour
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: 12 weeks starting May or June
Application Deadline: Not specified; apply early
Eligibility: Enrolled in a bachelor’s program in computer science or related field; expected graduation between October 2026 and September 2029
Amazon Software Development Engineer Internship places you in a full-time technology internship where you build and ship real software used by millions of customers. You’ll work in an Amazon engineering team and take responsibility for features from planning and coding through testing, deployment, and operations. Your projects focus on scalable cloud systems, microservices, and distributed computing, while you practice code reviews, documentation, and CI CD workflows in an agile environment. You may apply skills in areas such as machine learning, data engineering, databases, network systems, mobile development, or game technology, depending on team needs. Along the way, you can collaborate with cross-functional engineers, use AI-powered tools to improve development, and monitor and troubleshoot production systems. Each intern is paired with a manager and mentor who guide you as you contribute to real products and gain hands-on experience in how large-scale technology is built and operated in professional settings.
Location: Santa Clara, CA
Cost/Stipend: Paid stipend
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Year-round; minimum 12 weeks
Application Deadline: Varies
Eligibility: Undergraduate students pursuing a bachelor’s degree in technical fields
NVIDIA University Recruiting Internships allow you to work inside NVIDIA on active technology initiatives rather than simulated projects. You’ll join engineering teams developing software and hardware in areas such as AI, graphics, and advanced computing, using current tools and systems that are part of NVIDIA’s core work. The internship lasts at least twelve weeks and runs throughout the year, allowing you to contribute consistently to real development cycles. Through daily collaboration with engineers, researchers, and other interns, you can gain experience in technical problem-solving, teamwork, and professional communication, while building an understanding of how complex technology products are created and delivered in industry settings.
Location: San Jose, CA
Cost/Stipend: $38–$51 per hour
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Summer internship; between May and September
Application Deadline: Varies
Eligibility: Undergraduate students in computer science or related fields; expected to graduate within the next academic year
Adobe Software Engineer Internship invites you to join real product teams where you help plan, design, build, and test software used in Adobe platforms such as Creative Cloud, Document Cloud, and Experience Cloud. You’ll work on web, mobile, data, frontend, backend, or full-stack development, and may also support cloud infrastructure and big data systems behind Adobe’s services. The internship uses a hybrid format, so you split time between your assigned office and remote work while collaborating closely with your manager and team. Your work includes writing reliable code, reviewing and testing features, fixing bugs, documenting APIs, and joining standups and technical discussions. By working inside Adobe teams, you can gain practical engineering experience, sharpen collaboration skills, and learn how software products are shaped, launched, and sustained in California’s tech industry.
Location: Palo Alto, CA
Cost/Stipend: Paid stipend
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Minimum 12 weeks
Application Deadline: Varies
Eligibility: Enrolled undergraduate students; strong academic record
Tesla Internship Program lets you step into Tesla’s technology environment and contribute to real engineering work rather than practice tasks. You’ll take ownership of projects that support software systems, product testing, automation, or engineering operations behind electric vehicles and energy technologies. Instead of observing, you can work alongside engineers, applying coding and technical problem-solving to challenges that move products from concept to real use. Your learning is supported through direct mentorship, networking sessions, and weekly seminars that connect you with experts across teams. By working across disciplines and production lines, you can gain experience with professional engineering standards, collaboration, and how advanced technology is built and scaled inside a major California-based tech company.
Location: Hawthorne, CA
Cost/Stipend: Paid stipend
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: 12 weeks; year-round (Spring: Jan–Apr | Summer: May–Aug | Fall: Sept–Dec)
Application Deadline: Varies; recruiting occurs over six months
Eligibility: Enrolled undergraduate students at accredited universities; preferred GPA of 3.5 or higher
SpaceX Internship Program places you inside SpaceX teams where you contribute to real engineering and software work that supports spaceflight and aerospace technology. As an undergraduate intern, you’ll take part in the design, development, testing, and manufacturing of space systems rather than observing from the sidelines. Your work may involve software for flight operations, engineering tools, hardware testing, or technical systems used across SpaceX projects. Interns are treated as part of the team and take on responsibilities similar to those of full-time engineers, applying what they learn in class to complex, real-world challenges. Through hands-on project work, collaboration with engineers, and exposure to aerospace technology operations, you can gain practical experience with how advanced engineering and software systems are built and operated in a professional space technology environment.
Location: Pasadena, CA
Cost/Stipend: Monetary award (stipend); housing and travel allowance available for eligible students
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: 10 weeks starting May or June
Application Deadline: March 13
Eligibility: Undergraduate students in STEM; minimum GPA 3.0; must commit full-time (40 hours per week) for at least 10 weeks
JPL Summer Internship Program gives you the chance to spend your summer inside NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, where you support active space and technology research during a ten-week summer term. Instead of observing, you are assigned a project connected to JPL missions and work alongside a scientist or engineer who guides your technical progress. As an undergraduate in STEM, you’ll apply skills in areas such as computing, engineering, data systems, and mission technologies to solve real problems used in space exploration. Your experience also includes exposure to JPL’s research culture through technical lectures, facility tours, and career sessions run by the education team. By combining project ownership with mentorship and lab immersion, the program helps you understand how space technology is developed and used in real aerospace operations in California.
Location: Livermore, CA
Cost/Stipend: Paid stipend
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Summer positions
Application Deadline: September – February
Eligibility: Undergraduate students; must complete a background check
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Student Internship Program places you in a research setting where you apply computing and technology skills to real national lab projects. As an intern, you’ll work on technical problems, including cybersecurity algorithm development, software design, and data-driven systems that support large-scale operations. Your role includes hands-on programming, testing, and system development, while contributing to initiatives such as grid modernization and other cross-functional technology efforts. You can collaborate with scientists and engineers across teams, gaining exposure to how advanced tech is used in government and research environments. With mentorship from LLNL experts who provide feedback and guidance, you can build practical experience in coding, design, and problem-solving within California’s applied technology and research landscape.
Location: San Francisco, CA
Cost/Stipend: Paid stipend
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: 12 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: Varies
Eligibility: University students; requirements vary by role
Salesforce Future Pathways Program gives you a structured entry into technology and business roles through training combined with real internship experience at Salesforce. You can join one of several pathways that blend classroom learning with hands-on work. In Year Up United, you’ll complete six months of full-time training in project management, business operations, data analytics, and IT, followed by a full-time internship where you apply those skills on real teams. At Ada Developers Academy, you can study Python, Flask, JavaScript, React, HTML, CSS, and computer science before moving into an internship placement with Salesforce. Apprenticeships place you in longer-term roles where you gain on-the-job experience while working toward accredited qualifications. Across all tracks, you can build technical and professional skills while seeing how technology supports Salesforce’s business systems, helping prepare you for data and software-focused careers in California.
Location: Sunnyvale, CA
Cost/Stipend: Paid stipend
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: 12 weeks
Application Deadline: September – November
Eligibility: Undergraduate students in technical fields
Uber Emerging Talent Internship Program puts you inside active product and engineering groups where your work supports the technology behind how people and goods move. As an undergraduate intern, you can take part in real assignments across software engineering, design, and data science, helping develop features, systems, and analyses used at a global scale. You’ll contribute from early stages while learning how platforms are structured, tested, and refined with real users in mind. Throughout the program, you can work alongside experienced teams and receive ongoing mentorship and feedback that builds technical confidence. The internship leaves you with practical experience in production technology, collaborative workflows, and a stronger understanding of how tech products are created and operated within California’s innovation environment.
Location: San Francisco, CA
Cost/Stipend: Paid stipend
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Summer Intern Program: 12 weeks (May–August) | Part-time semester internship: varies by term
Application Deadline: Summer: December–February | Semester internships: 4–6 months before start, varies
Eligibility: Full-time undergraduate students with one semester remaining
Airbnb Internship Program lets you step into meaningful roles within Airbnb’s technology and operations teams, where your work connects directly to real company projects rather than practice tasks. After an onboarding period that helps you understand Airbnb’s platforms, tools, and team workflows, you’ll jump into software projects that power real features, sharpening your engineering skills through hands-on coding, testing, and product development with Airbnb engineers. Each intern is paired with a mentor who offers guidance, feedback, and professional connections, while internal talks, workshops, and community activities help you build communication and collaboration skills. With options for a full-time summer internship or a part-time semester placement in the U.S, the program gives undergraduates a practical view of how digital products and organizational systems operate inside a major California-based tech company.
One other option—the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, selective online high school programs for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4,000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here, check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a graduate of Harvard College, where he earned an A.B. in Statistics. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.
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