Software Engineering Intern

Appian; McLean (VA); On-site; USD 56,826 - 80,934; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage

Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with

Life and disability insurance

Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP)

Retirement/pension plan

Wellness dollars

Tuition reimbursement

Family‑forming benefits

Job summary

Appian invites a Software Engineering Intern to join our McLean, VA headquarters and contribute to production-like engineering work. You will work within a small, high-performing team and learn how modern enterprise software is designed, built, tested, and shipped at scale, with a focus on AI tooling that accelerates development while upholding quality.

This internship, based in McLean, requires candidates to be in the office full-time for the duration and to have a strong academic record in CS

Qualifications

• Pursuing a Bachelor's or Master's in CS or CE with a strong academic record.
• Returning to school after Summer 2027 internship to continue degree requirements.
• Full-time availability: 40 hours/week for the 10-week summer program.
• Proven fluency in AI and LLMs, with hands-on application of AI tools to accelerate daily workflows.

Responsibilities

• Develop Clean Software: contribute to full-stack components and engineering tasks.
• Engineer with AI: leverage AI tooling to accelerate development while maintaining quality.
• Debug and Learn Systems Thinking: assist in issue investigation and root-cause analysis under guidance.
• Collaborate and Communicate: participate in design discussions, stand-ups, and code reviews.

Skills

AI/LLMs fluency

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in Computer Science or Computer Engineering

Job description

Here at Appian, our values of Intensity and Excellence define who we are. We set high standards and live up to them, ensuring that everything we do is done with care and quality. We approach every challenge with ambition and commitment, holding ourselves and each other accountable to achieve the best results. When you join Appian, you’ll be part of a passionate team dedicated to accomplishing hard things, together. Appian Engineering spans the full depth of our platform—from foundational systems that power enterprise-scale performance, to AI capabilities redefining automation, to the developer tooling that makes it all accessible. We operate in a highly collaborative, fast-paced environment focused on technical rigor, continuous learning, and high code quality.

As an intern, you will contribute to real engineering work that helps shape how Appian delivers its AI‑powered Process Automation platform to enterprises around the world. As a Software Engineering Intern, you will build on your academic foundation and gain hands‑on experience contributing to production‑adjacent engineering work. You will be embedded within a small, high‑performing team where you’ll learn how modern enterprise software is designed, built, tested, and shipped at scale. You will also work alongside engineers who leverage cutting‑edge AI tooling to accelerate development while maintaining strong standards for quality and correctness.

This internship is based at our headquarters in McLean, Virginia. Appian was built on a culture of in‑person collaboration, which we believe is a key driver of our mission to be the best. Interns in this program are expected to be in the office 5 days a week to fully experience our culture, learn directly from peers and mentors, and contribute to projects in a collaborative environment. Being in the office provides more opportunities to connect, learn, and celebrate with the exceptional people across Appian.

What You’ll Do

• Develop Clean Software: Apply your knowledge of data structures, algorithms, and object‑oriented programming to contribute to full‑stack components and engineering tasks.
• Engineer with AI: Use AI coding tools as a learning and productivity multiplier‑generating, reviewing, and critically evaluating AI‑assisted code to improve speed and quality.
• Debug and Learn Systems Thinking: Support issue investigation, learn how to identify root causes, and contribute to fixing software defects under the guidance of experienced engineers.
• Collaborate and Communicate: Participate in design discussions, stand‑ups, and code reviews, and learn how to translate requirements into well‑defined technical solutions.

Basic Qualifications

Education: Currently pursuing a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science or Computer Engineering with a strong academic record. Must be returning to school following the completion of the Summer 2027 internship to continue degree requirements.

Program Availability: Ability to commit to a full‑time (40 hours/week) schedule for the duration of the 10‑week summer program.

Proven fluency in AI and LLMs, encompassing both the strategic development of AI‑powered platform capabilities and the hands‑on application of AI tools to accelerate daily workflows.

Preferred Qualifications

Prior experience in a technical internship or a portfolio of significant personal/academic projects.

At this time, Appian will not sponsor a new applicant for employment authorization for this position.

This internship pays $50.00 per hour ($8,666 per month). Pay and benefits are subject to change at any time, consistent with the terms of any applicable compensation, bonus, or benefit plans.

Tools and Resources

Training and Development: During onboarding, we focus on equipping new hires with the skills and knowledge for success through department‑specific training. Continuous learning is a central focus at Appian, with dedicated mentorship and the First‑Friend program being widely utilized resources for new hires.

Growth Opportunities: Appian provides a diverse array of growth and development opportunities, including our leadership program tailored for new and aspiring managers, a comprehensive library of specialized department training through Appian University, skills based training, and tuition reimbursement for those aiming to advance their education. This commitment ensures that employees have access to a holistic range of development opportunities.

Community

We’ll immerse you into our community rooted in respect starting on day one. Appian fosters inclusivity through our 8 employee‑led affinity groups. These groups help employees build stronger internal and external networks by planning social, educational, and outreach activities to connect with Appianites and larger initiatives throughout the company.

Benefits

• health coverage
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with free mental health support
• life and disability insurance
• an Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP)
• a retirement/pension plan
• wellness dollars
• tuition reimbursement
• family‑forming benefits and more

Benefits may include health coverage, Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with free mental health support, life and disability insurance, an Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP), a retirement/pension plan, wellness dollars, tuition reimbursement, family‑forming benefits and more. Benefits vary by country—please ask your Talent Acquisition contact for details specific to the location you are applying to.

About Appian

Appian provides AI automation for mission‑critical work. We automate complex processes in large enterprises and governments. Our platform is known for its unique reliability and scale. We’ve been automating processes for more than 25 years and understand enterprise operations like no one else. For more information, visit appian.com. [Nasdaq: APPN]

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Equal‑Opportunity and Inclusion

Appian is an equal opportunity employer that strives to attract and retain the best talent. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Appian provides reasonable accommodations to applicants in accordance with all applicable laws. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact us by email at [e-mail]. Please note that only inquiries concerning a request for reasonable accommodation will be responded to from this email address.

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