Software Developer Intern

MITRE; Bedford (MA); On-site; USD 47,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

MITRE is seeking a software engineering intern to contribute to real-world defense and public-interest projects. You will work with cross-functional teams to design and prototype software using agentic/AI-assisted workflows, with emphasis on secure coding and Agile practices.

The role requires full-time student enrollment in a software-related degree and a minimum on-site presence of three days per week, with opportunities to learn from seasoned engineers and contribute to national missions.

Qualifications

• Must be a full-time student enrolled in an accredited degree-seeking program in Software Engineering, Computer Science, or related degree and continue to be enrolled in the next semester.
• Hands-on skills in at least one programming language.
• Exposure to software development tools and frameworks, including source control management tools (e.g., Git).
• Familiarity with software development methodologies.
• Prior internship at MITRE within the last 12 months.
• On-site requirement of 3 days a week minimum.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to design, develop, and implement software solutions for real-world challenges in areas such as cybersecurity, healthcare, or national defense.
• Design, develop, test, and deploy mission software and data platforms using agentic/AI-assisted workflows with clear human accountability and review
• Rapidly prototype mission capabilities with agentic methods
• Apply MITRE's best practices for software engineering, including agile methodologies and secure coding principles to solve complex technical problems and provide creative solutions.

Skills

Python

Ruby

Java

C++

C#

Education

Full-time student in Software Engineering/CS (or related)

Tools

Git

Job description

At MITRE, your passion fuels work that impacts our nation and improves lives. This is where your skills strengthen national security, cybersecurity, health, transportation, and citizen services. We're a nonprofit engineering, applied research, and advanced technology organization working in the public interest. With objectivity and integrity at our core, we lead federally funded research and development centers for U.S. government agencies - collaborating with industry and academia to deliver integrated, high-impact solutions that advance our nation's health, security, and prosperity. Our people tackle the toughest technical challenges, supported by competitive benefits, meaningful career development, and a culture of innovation, collaboration, and technical excellence. Choose MITRE for a career with purpose - and help shape the future.

Department Summary

The Agentic Software Engineering department (L593) provides engineering support to apply AI-enabled software engineering tools and techniques to significant challenges across the entire spectrum of our sponsor space. From the application of agentic techniques to develop faster and more capable prototypes to the understanding of pitfalls of AI-engineered software to understanding the future of AI-enabled software engineering, our team ensures our sponsors have the expertise and systems necessary to accomplish their missions.

Roles & Responsibilities

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to design, develop, and implement software solutions for real-world challenges in areas such as cybersecurity, healthcare, or national defense.
• Design, develop, test, and deploy mission software and data platforms using agentic/AI-assisted workflows with clear human accountability and review
• Rapidly prototype mission capabilities with agentic methods
• Apply MITRE's best practices for software engineering, including agile methodologies and secure coding principles to solve complex technical problems and provide creative solutions.

Basic Qualifications

• Sustained excellence in academic performance
• Must be a student enrolled full-time in an accredited degree-seeking program in Software Engineering, Computer Science, or a related degree and continue to be enrolled full-time the semester following the internship.
• "Hands-on" skills in at least one or more programming language
• Exposure to software development tools and frameworks, including source control management tools (e.g., Git)
• Familiarity with software development methodologies
• Prior experience as an intern at MITRE in the last 12 months.
• This position has an on-site requirement of 3 days a week minimum.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated interest in serving the public
• Experience having applied computer science learning to an internship or research/lab position.
• Knowledge of software design patterns
• Proficient knowledge in one or more languages (e.g., Python, Ruby, Java, C++ or C#).
• Experience in different web frameworks, libraries and/or machine learning libraries
• Knowledge of database technologies, including relational or NoSQL
• Demonstrated interest in serving the public
• Excellent analytical, written, and oral communication skills.
• Experience in software design and implementation
• Experience in agile software delivery (e.g., Scrum, XP)

This requisition requires the candidate to have a minimum of the following clearance(s)

None

This requisition requires the hired candidate to have or obtain, within one year from the date of hire, the following clearance(s)

Not Applicable

Salary compensation range and midpoint

$46,500 - $58,000 - $69,500 Annual

Work Location Type

Onsite

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, local or international law.

Benefits information may be found here.

Copyright 1997-2026, The MITRE Corporation. All rights reserved. MITRE is a registered trademark of The MITRE Corporation. Material on this site may be copied and distributed with permission only.