Software engineering is the most competitive and most closely watched internship track for summer 2027, but there is no single verified industry-wide calendar for when postings open or fill — individual companies run their own timelines, and one employer's status doesn't tell you about another's. What's actually checkable is what a given posting says today.
Below are two Summer 2027 software engineering internship postings we read directly on the employer's own application page on September 20, 2026, alongside the Amazon software development intern postings sourced earlier this month. Treat these as dated examples of real requirements and pay, not as an industry average.
What's verified, company by company
| Company | What's verified (checked September 20, 2026) | Primary source |
|---|---|---|
| DoorDash | Software Engineer, Intern (Summer 2027) – US: open to students graduating Fall 2027–Summer 2028, 12 weeks in person at one of five US offices, national base pay $107,400–$158,000/year. No application deadline stated; DoorDash does not support J-1 visas. | DoorDash's job posting. |
| Figma | Software Engineer Intern (Summer 2027): San Francisco or New York, start date of 5/3, 5/17, 6/1 or 6/14, flat $55/hour plus housing stipend and travel reimbursement. No degree, graduation-window or sponsorship statement in the posting. | Figma's job posting. |
Both postings were still accepting applications when checked. Neither one mentions the other company's timeline, pay or requirements — that's the point. Check the specific employer's own page rather than assuming a company-type pattern.
2027 programs with employer sources
Selected employer programs to help plan your search. Availability varies by team and location.
Amazon Software Development Engineer Intern, Annapurna Labs
- Program
- This is a genuine software development role, unlike the automation listing above; Annapurna Labs is Amazon’s custom-silicon division, so work may be systems/firmware-adjacent. Posted pay by location: Cupertino $127,100–$185,000/year, New York $121,600–$180,600/year, Austin and Seattle $110,500–$160,000/year. Season, duration and sponsorship are not stated in the posting. Job ID 10517567.
- Eligibility
- Bachelor’s or master’s in computer science, computer engineering or a related field; final graduation date December 2027 or later.
Amazon SDE Intern/Co-Op, Robotics
- Program
- Summer internship or spring/fall co-op, full-time (up to 40 hrs/week). Posted pay $109,395/year at most listed locations, $103,955/year in Nashville. Job ID 10529525.
- Eligibility
- Bachelor’s or above in computer science, computer engineering, data science, information systems or a related STEM field; must have at least one academic quarter, semester or trimester remaining after the internship ends. Exact graduation-year cutoff and sponsorship are not stated in the posting.
DoorDash Software Engineer, Intern (Summer 2027) – US
- Program
- Summer 2027, 12 weeks, in person only at one of the five listed offices, May or June 2027 start. Posted national base pay $107,400–$158,000/year. No application deadline stated in the posting.
- Eligibility
- Pursuing a B.S. or M.S. in computer science or equivalent; no more than 2 years of full-time work experience; graduating between Fall 2027 and Summer 2028. Must be authorized to work in the U.S.; F-1 students eligible via Curricular Practical Training (CPT). DoorDash states it “does not support students on J-1 visas at this time”; no H-1B or other sponsorship statement is made in the posting.
Figma Software Engineer Intern (Summer 2027)
- Program
- Summer 2027, start date of 5/3, 5/17, 6/1 or 6/14. Posted pay is a flat $55/hour, plus a housing stipend and travel reimbursement. No application deadline stated in the posting.
- Eligibility
- Experience writing clean code in at least one general-purpose language and a grasp of core computer-science concepts; no degree, class-year or graduation-window requirement is stated. The posting does not address work authorization or visa sponsorship.
Employer pages reviewed September 6-8, September 12, September 15, September 16, September 17, September 19, September 20, and September 21, 2026. Confirm current openings, dates and work authorization with the employer. These examples did not publish a single program-wide deadline.
What SWE interns actually get paid
Pay varies a lot by company. The two postings above show that range directly: DoorDash's national base pay for its Summer 2027 internship is $107,400–$158,000/year, while Figma pays a flat $55/hour plus a housing stipend and travel reimbursement. Neither figure is an industry average, and pay at other companies can be higher, lower, hourly, salaried or equity-based. Read each employer's own compensation disclosure before comparing two offers.
Smaller companies and startups are even less standardized. Some match or beat the pay shown above for strong candidates, others pay closer to a general internship wage, and a few offer equity or a flat stipend instead. Read the offer details closely before comparing two roles on pay alone.
How the interview process actually runs
Most SWE internship pipelines start with one or two online coding assessments, usually timed problems on data structures and algorithms through a platform like HackerRank or Codility. Candidates who pass move to live technical interviews, often with an interviewer watching you think through a problem on a shared screen, and some companies add a behavioral round to check communication and teamwork. A few companies substitute a take-home project for the live coding round instead.
None of this is a mystery to prepare for. Practice timed problems under real time pressure, not just untimed at your own pace, and get comfortable narrating your thought process out loud, since interviewers are grading how you think as much as whether you land the right answer.
Where the competition actually thins out
Applying only to the ten most recognizable tech companies is one of the most common mistakes SWE candidates make. Those postings draw applicants from every CS program in the country, plus a growing pool of self-taught and bootcamp candidates. Mid-size software companies, industrial companies with software teams and startups you haven't heard of hire SWE interns too, usually with far fewer applicants per opening and a faster, less formal process. Casting a wider net doesn't mean lowering your standards. It means giving yourself more real shots at an offer.
For the season's full picture across every field, not just software, see our summer 2027 internships guide, and browse every live SWE internship to see what's actually open today.
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Frequently asked questions
When do summer 2027 SWE internship applications open?
There is no single verified industry-wide calendar. DoorDash's and Figma's own Summer 2027 Software Engineer Intern postings were both still accepting applications when checked September 20, 2026, and neither publishes a firm-wide application deadline. Check the specific employer's own careers page rather than assuming a company-type pattern.
What does a SWE internship pay?
It varies by company, not by a single industry rate. DoorDash's Summer 2027 posting states a national base pay of $107,400–$158,000/year; Figma's states a flat $55/hour plus a housing stipend and travel reimbursement. Both checked September 20, 2026. Pay at other companies can be higher, lower, hourly, salaried or equity-based.
How competitive are SWE internships compared to other tracks?
More competitive than most. Software engineering draws applicants from CS, other STEM majors and a growing pool of self-taught candidates, all chasing a limited number of seats at the most recognizable companies. The common mistake is applying only to FAANG-type names. Mid-size companies and startups hire SWE interns with far less competition per posting.
What does the SWE intern interview process look like?
Usually one or two online coding assessments first, testing data structures and algorithms under a timer. Candidates who pass move to live technical interviews, sometimes with a behavioral round mixed in. Some companies substitute a take-home project instead. Preparation is straightforward: practice timed problems and get comfortable explaining your reasoning out loud.