Databricks Internship 2027–2028: Programs, Deadlines & How to Apply

Last updated: July 2026

Founded by seven Apache Spark creators at UC Berkeley, Databricks reached a $134B valuation in 2025 and now processes data for over 10,000 enterprises. For the 2027–2028 cycle (you apply during 2027, you intern in summer 2028), applications are expected to open around July to September 2027 on a rolling basis.

But here's the catch: Databricks receives 80,000+ applications for roughly 200 to 250 intern spots, putting the acceptance rate near 3%.

And because the company fills progressively, early-wave applicants who submit by mid-September historically see the highest acceptance rates.

So what does that mean for your timeline? It means the proof you bring to your resume needs to exist before the portal opens.

Quick Facts

The numbers that matter: a rolling window expected to open July 2027, a 12-week program paying $54–60/hr ($9,300–$10,400/mo), and a Forbes Cloud 100 #2 ranking. Databricks sponsors CPT for US interns and offers international placements in Amsterdam and Berlin.

Externships are short, remote professional experience programs where you finish a real project with a real company. The Wayfair AI Agent Engineering Externship and the Beats by Dre Data Analytics Externship build exactly the Python, ML, and data processing evidence that a rolling application to Databricks needs. Explore all Externships.

What Is a Databricks Internship?

A Databricks internship is a paid, 12-week placement that drops you into the engineering organization behind Apache Spark, Delta Lake, and the lakehouse architecture that's reshaping how enterprises handle data at scale. You won't shadow anyone. Interns ship production code on teams spanning the Lakehouse Platform, Photon Engine, Mosaic AI, MLflow, Unity Catalog, and Databricks SQL.

And the company operates a hub-centric hybrid model (3 days in-office) from its San Francisco headquarters and hubs in Mountain View, Bellevue, and NYC, plus international offices in Amsterdam and Berlin. With revenue exceeding $3B run rate and 60%+ year-over-year growth, Databricks offers the technical depth of a research lab alongside the velocity of a company that's still doubling.

And the culture reflects its academic roots: seven co-founders who'd never run a company built a workplace where intellectual curiosity and ownership matter more than hierarchy.

When Do Databricks Internship Applications Open for 2027–2028?

Databricks runs on a rolling calendar that rewards early movers. Based on prior cycles, applications for summer 2026 internships opened between August and November 2025, with early-wave screening running through October. For the summer 2028 cycle, listings are expected between July and September 2027, with the early wave (highest acceptance rates) running through October 2027 and most positions filled by December 2027. That's a 10 to 12-month gap from application open to internship start, so the technical projects on your resume need to be built before July 2027.

Why You Must Apply the Week Applications Open

Databricks fills progressively, and the data backs it up. Glassdoor reports suggest 80%+ of intern offers are extended by Thanksgiving of the application year. Why? Because applications are reviewed as they arrive rather than batch-processed, and the bar effectively rises as slots fill. The early wave (July through October) carries the highest acceptance rates, while the late wave (November through January) competes for whatever's left.

And with an estimated 3% acceptance rate overall, the math gets worse the longer you wait. Isn't it better to be reviewed when 200 spots are open rather than when 40 remain?

Which Databricks Internship Programs Should You Target?

Databricks posts 5 verified internship tracks spanning software engineering, data science, machine learning, data engineering, and product management. Which one you target should match the skills you can already show, because each track interviews against its own technical requirements and team-specific problems.

See all open roles on the official university recruiting page. SWE is the largest cohort and spans the most teams. The GenAI/ML track is newer and highly competitive. Data Science requires a Master's or PhD in a quantitative field.

What Are the Eligibility Requirements?

Databricks publishes consistent requirements across its university recruiting postings:

• Degree: currently enrolled in a Bachelor's or Master's program at an accredited university. Must graduate AFTER the internship ends (i.e., you return to school).

• Majors: Computer Science, Data Science, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, Statistics, or related quantitative fields. Data Science track requires Master's or PhD.

• Work authorization: US roles require valid CPT authorization. Databricks sponsors H-1B for full-time conversion (lottery-dependent). International offices (Amsterdam, Berlin) available as alternatives.

• Availability: full 12-week commitment, June through August, at the assigned hub location (3 days in-office). 16-week co-op options also available.

Does Databricks Have a Hard GPA Cutoff?

No official minimum GPA is listed anywhere in their job descriptions. Community recommendation is to maintain above 3.5, but strong projects, open-source contributions, and DSA skills weigh more than GPA alone. What really matters? Databricks is looking for candidates who can show distributed systems thinking and data-at-scale experience through actual artifacts. A Kaggle competition win or a meaningful Spark contribution speaks louder than a number on a transcript.

What Skills Does Databricks Look For, and How Do You Build Them?

Seven real Databricks intern job descriptions and hiring guides tell a consistent story. Python appears in all seven. Data structures and algorithms show up in six. SQL and distributed systems each hit five.

But here's what's revealing: Scala and Apache Spark each appear in four sources, signaling that Databricks isn't just another Python shop. They're hiring engineers who can think about data at the infrastructure level. What does that pattern reveal? Databricks wants candidates who can write algorithms and also reason about how those algorithms behave across a thousand-node cluster.

How Is Demand for SWE Interns Moving Right Now?

Build These Skills Before You Apply

Every top skill in the chart maps to a remote Externship where you finish a real company project before the window opens.

How tight is the overlap? The Wayfair deliverable is a production AI agent built with Python and ML frameworks in the SWE intern posting's exact vocabulary. The Beats project produces data analytics using SQL and Python that maps directly to the Data Science skill set.

And the NASCAR project involves large-scale data pipeline design, which is the distributed computing line item that four of seven JDs share.

What Is the Databricks Application and Interview Process Like?

Databricks runs a multi-stage funnel, and the rolling timeline means each stage can start within days of the previous one:

1. Apply through databricks.com/company/careers/university-recruiting and filter by "University Recruiting" department. Tailor your resume to emphasize data/AI experience: Spark projects, Kaggle competitions, distributed systems work. No cover letter required.

2. CodeSignal OA arrives within 1 to 3 weeks if your resume passes screening. Four coding problems in 70 minutes, medium-to-hard difficulty. Topics: arrays, hash maps, two-pointer, DP, graphs. You'll need all 4 questions correct (all test cases passing) with a score of 800+. Camera proctored, 7-day deadline.

3. Technical phone screen(s) follow on CoderPad: 1 to 2 rounds of 45 to 60 minutes each. Focus on algorithm implementation and data processing problems. Medium-level LeetCode: arrays, strings, hash maps, trees, occasionally graphs.

4. Virtual onsite / Superday spans 3 to 4 hours: two coding rounds (medium-to-hard problems focused on data processing scenarios like merging intervals, LRU cache, lazy array operations), plus one behavioral/values round (why Databricks, proudest project, leadership examples).

5. Hiring manager round is the final behavioral discussion about fit, past experience, and team placement. Offers typically arrive within 1 to 2 weeks after this stage.

Important: the CodeSignal OA has a pass rate below 5% of applicants, making it the single biggest filter in the funnel. Glassdoor data shows average time from initial screen to offer is 17 days for SWE interns (vs. 35 days company-wide), so the process moves quickly once you clear the OA. Overall interview difficulty is rated 3.4/5 on Glassdoor.

What Students on Reddit Say

Three community threads show what the process looks like from the inside.

How Do You Stand Out When Rolling Review Starts in July?

Three moves, all executable before the window opens. First, apply in week one of the early wave; rolling admissions plus progressive filling makes timing itself a filter, so set alerts on the Databricks careers page and LinkedIn now. Second, build evidence in the JD's exact language: Python, distributed systems, and data-at-scale are the top skill clusters, and a finished project involving any of them answers behavioral questions with artifacts rather than anecdotes. Third, prepare for the CodeSignal OA before you even submit your application, because it arrives within days and has a sub-5% pass rate. Can you afford to waste that attempt on an unprepared try? There's no breathing room in a rolling funnel with a 3% acceptance rate, so your prep needs to be front-loaded rather than reactive.

What Other Companies Should You Consider?

Databricks competes in the high-growth data/AI infrastructure tier. If you're targeting SWE or data engineering internships at companies reshaping how enterprises handle data, these are the closest comparisons in culture, compensation, and technical depth.

Our tech internships summer 2027 guide maps the full range of big tech and high-growth private company timelines in one place.

FAQ

How hard is it to get an internship at Databricks?

Very competitive. Databricks receives 80,000+ applications annually for roughly 200 to 250 intern spots, putting the acceptance rate near 3%. The CodeSignal OA alone filters out over 95% of applicants. Strong DSA skills, distributed systems experience, and early-wave timing are the biggest levers.

Does Databricks provide housing for interns?

Yes. Databricks provides a $2,500 per month housing stipend for San Francisco interns, a $700 one-time relocation bonus, a $250 per month gym and wellness stipend, and work equipment reimbursement for headphones and peripherals. Healthcare coverage is also included during the internship term.

What programming languages should I know for a Databricks internship?

Python is the most versatile choice and works across all tracks. Scala is preferred for Spark, Delta Lake, and compute core teams. Java and C++ are accepted alternatives. SQL fluency is expected regardless of track. For the GenAI/ML track, PyTorch proficiency is required.

Can international students apply to Databricks internships?

Yes. US roles require valid CPT authorization during the internship period. Databricks also offers internships at international offices in Amsterdam, Berlin, and other locations. For full-time conversion after graduation, the company sponsors H-1B visas on a lottery-dependent basis, with approximately 150 approvals in 2025. Vancouver and Amsterdam serve as relocation fallbacks for those who don't secure a visa.

What is the Databricks CodeSignal OA like?

Four coding problems in 70 minutes on the CodeSignal GCA platform. Difficulty is medium-to-hard, covering arrays, hash maps, two-pointer techniques, dynamic programming, and graph traversals. You need all four questions correct with all test cases passing and a score above 800. It's camera-proctored with a 7-day completion deadline once you receive the link.

How long does the Databricks interview process take?

Average 17 days from initial screen to offer for SWE interns, compared to 35 days company-wide. The total timeline from application to offer is typically 3 to 6 weeks depending on when you apply in the cycle. Early-wave applicants tend to move faster.

Does Databricks offer return offers to interns?

Yes. Approximately 65 to 80% of high-performing interns receive full-time return offers based on community data. Returning interns typically receive $200K to $220K+ total compensation in their first year at new-grad level. Performance during the 12-week term, manager feedback, and team headcount are the primary evaluation factors.

What teams can I work on as a Databricks intern?

SWE interns can join teams across the Lakehouse Platform, Apache Spark, Delta Lake, Photon Engine, MLflow, Mosaic AI, Unity Catalog, Databricks SQL, and cloud infrastructure. PM interns work on ML, Unity Catalog, SQL, ETL, Streaming, or EDA teams. Team matching happens after offer acceptance.

The window is rolling and the early wave fills the majority of spots. Spend the runway building proof: a remote Externship turns "interested in data engineering" into a finished project that a rolling application can point at.