ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥

Four people work at computers

Career Opportunities

Internships

Our college interns receive competitive pay, paid holidays, and networking opportunities. 

Not ready to apply? We post new opportunities regularly. Sign up to receive job alerts.

Search by Area of Interest

Innovate for a Better World

From day one, we give you the opportunity to use the skills you’ve gained at school to push the boundaries of science and technology. We provide you with a strong support system of dedicated coworkers and opportunities to work on projects that truly mean something. When you join APL as an intern, our goal is to give you the tools and resources that allow you to shape the career of your dreams.

APL Pathways College Internship Program

Join us for a summer internship experience like no other. At APL, your internship will bring you together with students from all over the country to work on real-world problems and learn from some of the top minds in your field. If you’re passionate about solving complex challenges and want to have a direct impact, we hope you’ll join us. The majority of our internships are in technical fields. We have a few business internship opportunities.

Typical internship assignments may include:

  • Developing software applications
  • Designing and prototyping hardware and electronic instruments
  • Signal processing and data analysis
  • Algorithm analysis and development
  • Embedded systems testing and integration
  • Modeling and simulation

Our college interns receive competitive pay, paid holidays, and networking opportunities. Our college internship program requires a minimum GPA of 3.0 and enrollment as a full-time student in the semester following your internship. Our internship opportunities are posted in the fall on a rolling basis and are open until they are filled.

Ready to join us?

College Internship Cohorts

You may also join one of these cohorts if you meet the requirements and are offered a college internship position.

Three ATLAS interns listen to a presentation

ATLAS Cohort For HBCU, HSI, and TCU Students

Our APL Technology Leaders and Scholars (ATLAS) summer intern cohort partners with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) to connect STEM students with our technical challenges. You will have the opportunity to work on projects alongside experts in your field and attend professional development workshops that focus on giving presentations, interview skills, resume writing, and more.


Two young APL staff members collaborate on a project

RISE@APL Cohort For ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥ University Students

The RISE@APL cohort is for ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥ University students majoring in engineering, computer science, applied mathematics, or physics who want to better prepare for a technical career. As a part of RISE@APL, you’ll work alongside experts in your field, focus on professional development, and make critical contributions to our mission.

The National GEM Consortium

GEM Graduate School Cohort For GEM Fellows

The National Consortium for Graduate Degrees for Minorities in Engineering and Science, Inc. (GEM) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting underrepresented students who want to enter graduate school after obtaining their bachelor’s degree. The consortium provides many opportunities to underrepresented students, including paid summer internships, stipends, and tuition waivers.

About GEM

Internships for High School Students

APL ASPIRE interns

ASPIRE High School Intern Program

If you’re a high school junior or senior who wants to see real-world applications of what you’re learning in school while getting hands-on experience, check out our ASPIRE High School Intern Program.


APL staff members

Recruiting Events

Connect with us at an upcoming recruiting event to learn more about career and internship opportunities at APL.

Upcoming Recruiting Events
Previous slide Next slide

See What Our Interns Are Saying

APL Internships
Play Video
What’s it like being an intern at ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥ APL?
Ben Otter

ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥ APL Intern Develops Wearable Haptic Prototype → Sep 13, 2023

Ben Otter, an intern in APL’s Air and Missile Defense Sector and the ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥ Institute for Assured Autonomy, has been using his free time to develop a wearable haptic prototype.
Duran Keefe

Human-Computer Interactions at Center of One ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥ APL Internship Experience → Aug 29, 2023

Duran Keefe, a 2023 summer intern at APL, knows that people are a key part of any information system.
MaKhaila Bentil

Space Program Opportunities Inspire ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥ APL Intern to Shoot for the Stars → Aug 3, 2023

MaKhaila Bentil, an intern at APL, has charted a course for leadership early on in her career.
Madison Harshaw

Family Legacy Helps Spark ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥ APL Intern’s Broad Curiosity → Jul 27, 2023

Madison Harshaw is an intern at APL, working in the Lab’s Information Technology Services Department.
Allie Kang

ASPIRE Intern’s Project Selected for Space Testing → Mar 8, 2023

Allie Kang, who was an ASPIRE intern at ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥ APL, created an experiment that was selected by the Cubes in Space program for testing in space.
The ATLAS committee

ATLAS Internship Program Launches Careers, Breaks Records → Jan 26, 2023

With more than 80 interns on board, the APL Technology Leaders and Scholars (ATLAS) program at the ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥ Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland, wrapped up its 23rd summer last year with its largest cohort ever.
Anika Mistry

Mistry Takes Internship to New Heights with Virtual Reality Work → Jan 9, 2023

Moving across the country at 19 years old is no small feat, but Anika Mistry, who interned at ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥ APL last summer, was up for the challenge.
Will Suero Amparo

Intern on ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥ APL’s Dragonfly Mission Shoots for the Moon → Dec 7, 2022

Will Suero Amparo, an intern in APL’s Space Exploration Sector, aspires to become an astronaut. Now, working on the Dragonfly space exploration mission through the Dragonfly Student & Early Career Investigator Program, he is one step closer to that dream.
ASPIRE intern Roshni Arun

Inspiring Through ASPIRE: Intern Empowers Young Women in STEM → Jun 23, 2022

Roshni Arun is just a week out of high school, but the ASPIRE intern is already on a mission to empower young women in STEM and increase student access to ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥ APL’s resources.
APL welcomed college interns from more than 125 different universities in 2019.

Lab Internships Provide Foundation for Budding Careers → Oct 8, 2019

ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥ APL welcomes interns throughout the year — ASPIRE high school students as well as college students at all levels of bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs, primarily in STEM fields — but the summer is where the influx reaches its peak.
Previous slide Next slide

My third week here, I was told that a sponsor was going to use some of the technology I had personally been working on. It was amazing to see that happen as an intern.

Kendell APL Intern, ATLAS Cohort
Kendell, an APL ATLAS intern

We’re Proud to Be a 2024 Handshake Early Talent Award Winner!

Michael Patterson and Kemmie Titus

ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥ APL Recognized as a Three-Time Handshake Early Talent Award Winner Apr 11, 2024

Read More
Previous slide Next slide
Focus Areas

Search Opportunities by Area of Interest

Explore internships by your area of interest.







Three APL staff members converse in a building lobby

Join Our Talent Community!

Joining APL’s Talent Community is a great way to learn more about the Laboratory, our culture, and future opportunities.


Apply Today!