Software Engineering Intern

PLP Group; New York (NY); On-site; USD 27,552 - 41,328; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Opportunities for growth

Team-building events

Company retreats

Job summary

A leading defense technology startup in New York City is seeking candidates pursuing a degree in Computer Science or Software Engineering. The role involves building backend systems and interactive user interfaces for RF spectrum data. Candidates should have problem-solving skills, initiative, and a history of personal projects. Competitive salary and team-building events are offered. The position requires onsite work in NYC five days a week.

Qualifications

• Currently pursuing a degree in a technical field or equivalent experience.
• Proficient at problem-solving and independently tackling challenges.
• Demonstrated passion through personal projects or open-source contributions.

Responsibilities

• Build and refine systems that process government data into a modern API.
• Create interactive user interfaces for visualizing RF spectrum data.
• Gain insight into the operations of an early-stage defense tech company.

Skills

Technical Foundation

Problem-solving

Initiative

Project contributions

Education

Pursuing a degree in Computer Science or Software Engineering

Tools

PostgreSQL

Job description

Job Overview

Airbase builds the software platform for radio frequency spectrum licensing, coordination, and intelligence. Backed by a16z, we are a fast-moving, dual-use startup transforming wireless communication from a static, analog bottleneck into a dynamic, software-defined advantage. Today, the world’s most advanced hardware—from satellite mega-constellations to Army UAS swarms and Electronic Warfare systems—is grounded by 20th-century paperwork. Spectrum coordination relies on fragmented databases, missing systems of record, and decades of static PDFs. Airbase is fixing this. We’ve built novel AI pipelines to digitize this analog bureaucracy and translate it into a software-defined, machine-readable data layer. We are transforming the spectrum from a static bottleneck into a dynamic advantage, delivering machine-speed tactical deconfliction for the military and automated licensing for commercial innovators.

What You’ll Do

• Untangle the Chaos: Help build and refine the backend systems that ingest, clean, and structure messy legacy government data (PDFs, old databases) into our modern API.
• Visualize the Airwaves: Contribute to building dynamic, interactive user interfaces that map congested RF spectrum data so commanders and operators can make split-second decisions.
• Learn the Startup Playbook: Get a front-row seat to how an early-stage, a16z-backed defense tech company operates, from engineering sprints to dual-use product strategy.

What We’re Looking For

• Technical Foundation: Currently pursuing a degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related technical field (or you have equivalent hands-on/bootcamp experience).
• High Agency: You don’t wait to be told exactly what to do. You are scrappy, figure things out, read the documentation, and ask smart questions when you get stuck.
• The "Builder" Gene: You have a portfolio of personal projects, hackathon builds, or open-source contributions that prove you love to build things outside of class.

Bonus Points

• Experience with relational databases (PostgreSQL).
• An interest in aerospace, national security, or hard tech.
• Competitive salary with opportunities for growth.
• Regular team-building events and company retreats.

Airbase is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.

This role requires working onsite from our NYC office 5 days per week. Washington DC is also an acceptable work location for certain roles.