This free Software Engineering Intern job description template is ready to use — copy it, replace the {{placeholders}}, and post your role in minutes. It includes a company intro, a role summary, responsibilities, requirements, nice-to-haves, and compensation, with writing tips and FAQs below to help you tailor it to your team.
When to use this template
Use this when you're hiring a software engineering intern — a student or early-career engineer joining for a defined period to do real work with mentorship. The best internship JDs make clear that interns will ship meaningful projects, not fetch coffee.
Intern candidates and their schools care about the structure: duration, mentorship, the kind of work, and whether there's a path to a full-time offer. Be explicit, and keep requirements realistic for someone still learning.
If you're hiring an experienced engineer, use the Software Engineer template — interns are evaluated on potential and fundamentals, not years of experience.
Writing tips
- State the duration, dates, and whether the internship is paid (it should be).
- Emphasize real project work and mentorship — top interns avoid coffee-run internships.
- Keep requirements realistic; interns are still learning by definition.
- Mention whether there's a path to a return or full-time offer.
- Avoid long 'required' lists that screen out promising early-career candidates.
The job description
Copy the template below and replace the {{placeholders}} and [bracketed notes] with your specifics.
About {{company}}
{{company}} is [what you do]. We're hiring a Software Engineering Intern to join us for [duration] and do real engineering work alongside our team.
The role
As a Software Engineering Intern, you'll work on real projects that ship, with a dedicated mentor and the support to learn fast. You'll write code, review and get reviewed, and contribute to features customers use. This role reports to {{hiring_manager}} and is based {{work_type}} in {{location}}.
What you'll do
- Work on a real project that ships during your internship.
- Write and review code with the guidance of a dedicated mentor.
- Participate in team rituals — standups, planning, and reviews.
- Learn how software is built and shipped in a real team.
- Present what you built at the end of your internship.
What we're looking for
- Currently pursuing a degree in computer science or a related field, or equivalent self-study.
- Solid programming fundamentals in any language.
- Curiosity, a willingness to learn, and an ownership mindset.
- Clear communication and a collaborative attitude.
- Some project, coursework, or side-project experience you can talk about.
Nice to have
- Familiarity with [your stack] or a willingness to learn it.
- Open-source contributions or personal projects.
- Prior internship or team experience.
What we offer
- A paid internship: {{salary_range}}.
- A dedicated mentor and real, shippable work.
- Flexible {{work_type}} working in {{location}}.
- A potential path to a return or full-time offer.
How to personalize
Replace these placeholders before posting:
- {{company}}
- {{location}}
- {{work_type}}
- {{salary_range}}
- {{hiring_manager}}
The bracketed notes — like [your benefits] or [your primary language(s)] — are prompts to swap in your own details. The more specific you are about the actual work and stack, the stronger your applicant pool will be.
Frequently asked questions
- What does a Software Engineering Intern do?
- A Software Engineering Intern works on real engineering projects for a defined period, with mentorship and support. They write and review code, join team rituals, and contribute to features that ship — learning how software is built in a real team rather than doing busywork.
- What should you look for in a software engineering intern?
- Focus on potential rather than experience: solid programming fundamentals, curiosity, a willingness to learn, and clear communication. Coursework, side projects, or open-source contributions are strong signals. Keep requirements realistic, since interns are still developing their skills.
- Should software engineering internships be paid?
- Yes. Paid internships are standard in the software industry, widen and diversify your applicant pool, and in many places are legally required when the intern does real work. State the pay clearly in the job description.