L3Harris Internship 2027–2028: Programs, Deadlines & How to Apply

Last updated: July 2026

L3Harris Technologies is the sixth-largest US defense contractor, with $22 billion in revenue and roughly 50,000 employees building the communications, space, and electronic-warfare systems the Pentagon depends on. The company was named a Top 100 Internship Program by Yello and WayUp, and its intern pipeline feeds directly into cleared, full-time engineering roles that are hard to fill from the outside. For the 2027–2028 cycle (you apply fall 2026, you intern summer 2027), most engineering internship postings open between August and October and fill on a rolling basis. Nearly 70% of aerospace-engineering graduates with internship experience secure job offers before graduation, and an L3Harris internship carries the added currency of defense-sector exposure and potential security-clearance sponsorship.

Quick Facts

L3Harris is a top-six US defense contractor that runs a Top 100-rated internship program across engineering, software, and operations. US citizenship is required, rolling review rewards early applicants, and clearance sponsorship opens long-term career access.

Externships are short, remote projects where you finish real work for a real company. The Wayfair AI Agent Engineering Externship and the Hydroficient IoT Cyber Externship build the software-engineering and cybersecurity evidence that an L3Harris application and its technical interviews reward. Explore all Externships.

What Is a L3Harris Internship?

An L3Harris internship is a paid, full-time, 10- to 12-week placement that puts students on real defense-technology engineering teams working on projects that ship to military, intelligence, and civil-space customers. Formed in 2019 through the merger of L3 Technologies and Harris Corporation, and expanded in 2023 with the acquisition of Aerojet Rocketdyne, L3Harris operates across tactical communications, electronic warfare, space payloads, ISR platforms, and propulsion. The internship program pairs each intern with a mentor, runs networking events, site tours, volunteer opportunities, and team-building outings, and was named a Top 100 Internship Program by Yello and WayUp. L3Harris scores 3.6 out of 5 on Glassdoor with 64% of employees recommending it to a friend. Interns who perform well are frequently invited to return for co-op rotations or convert to full-time cleared positions, a pipeline that is especially valuable given the defense industry's persistent talent shortages.

When Do L3Harris Internship Applications Open for 2027–2028?

L3Harris's internship calendar follows a predictable defense-industry rhythm. Summer internship postings typically open between August and October the prior year, with interviews running through the fall and winter. Because many positions require security-clearance processing, early application is even more critical than at commercial tech companies. The clearance investigation can add weeks to the timeline, so candidates who apply early give themselves the most runway. Expect the summer 2027 cycle to follow the same pattern, shifted forward by one year.

Why You Must Apply the Week Applications Open

Rolling review at a defense contractor carries extra weight. L3Harris reviews applications as they arrive, and positions that require security-clearance sponsorship take longer to process than a typical tech-company offer. That means early applicants get both the most open seats and the most clearance-processing runway. With over 50 US locations posting intern roles independently, the window is not one date but a rolling wave: set a job alert on careers.l3harris.com and submit within the first two weeks of any posting that fits your skills.

Which L3Harris Internship Programs Should You Target?

L3Harris runs internships and co-ops across its four business segments: Space and Airborne Systems, Communication Systems, Integrated Mission Systems, and Aerojet Rocketdyne. Which track should you target? The honest answer is the one whose skills you can already evidence, because defense interviews emphasize technical depth, problem-solving, and fit for a clearance-required environment.

See every open role on the L3Harris early-talent portal. And note the embedded-systems tilt: L3Harris's core products are hardware-software integrated defense platforms, so embedded C/C++ and FPGA skills carry outsized weight compared to web-development experience.

What Are the Eligibility Requirements?

L3Harris's requirements are stricter than most commercial tech companies because of government contract obligations. A few lines repeat across nearly every intern posting:

• US citizenship: required for virtually all positions. L3Harris does not sponsor visas for interns. Dual citizenship may also disqualify candidates from certain programs.

• Enrollment: actively enrolled in an accredited Bachelor's or Master's program in engineering, computer science, mathematics, physics, or a related STEM field.

• GPA: minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA required. Some competitive programs prefer 3.5 or above.

• Security clearance: many positions require the ability to obtain and maintain a US government security clearance (Secret or Top Secret). Applicants may be subject to a government security investigation.

• Drug-free workplace: L3Harris performs pre-employment substance-abuse testing and background checks.

Does L3Harris Require an Active Security Clearance to Intern?

No. Most intern postings require only the ability to obtain a clearance, not an existing one. L3Harris will sponsor the clearance process for selected candidates. However, the investigation adds time to the onboarding process, which is one more reason to apply early. Candidates with an existing clearance from prior military service or another contractor have a significant advantage.

What Skills Does L3Harris Look For, and How Do You Build Them?

Read across six L3Harris intern job descriptions, two software engineering, one electrical engineering, one mechanical engineering, one systems engineering, and one manufacturing engineering, and the pattern is clear. Programming (C/C++, Python, Java) appears in four of six, communication skills in five, engineering fundamentals in all six, and security-clearance eligibility is listed in five. The defense sector's emphasis on teamwork, documentation, and process discipline maps directly to behavioral interview questions about collaboration under structured environments.

How Is Demand for Aerospace & Defense Engineering Interns Moving Right Now?

Build These Skills Before You Apply

And the skills in that chart map to remote Externships where you finish a real project before a role opens.

How close is the overlap? The Wayfair project is agent-engineering work that yields the build-and-explain evidence L3Harris's technical interviews probe for, and the Hydroficient project produces cybersecurity and IoT systems experience that maps directly to defense-sector requirements.

What Is the L3Harris Application and Interview Process Like?

L3Harris's intern hiring funnel is straightforward compared to big-tech companies, with an emphasis on behavioral fit and technical fundamentals rather than competitive coding assessments. Glassdoor rates the interview difficulty at 2.5 out of 5, and 82% of candidates rated their experience as positive:

1. Apply on careers.l3harris.com. Search for intern or co-op roles, pick a specific track and location, and submit your resume and transcripts. Apply within the first two weeks of a posting for the best response rates under rolling review.

2. Recruiter phone screen (15 to 30 minutes). Background verification, motivation assessment, and basic qualification confirmation including US-citizenship and GPA checks.

3. Technical or behavioral interview (1 to 2 rounds, 30 to 60 minutes each). For engineering roles, expect questions on domain fundamentals (circuits, embedded systems, data structures) rather than LeetCode-style competitive coding. Behavioral questions focus on teamwork, problem-solving, and working in structured environments.

4. Final decision and offer. Average time from application to hire is approximately 24 days (Glassdoor data). Offers are contingent on a background check and, for many roles, the ability to obtain a security clearance.

The two skills to drill are clear: domain-specific engineering fundamentals for the technical round, and four to six STAR stories that demonstrate teamwork, attention to detail, and working within structured or regulated environments. Unlike big-tech SWE loops, L3Harris interviews do not typically involve live coding or whiteboard algorithm problems. Preparation for behavioral questions carries at least as much weight as technical review.

What Students on Reddit Say

Three community threads show the process and experience from the inside, all paraphrased.

How Do You Stand Out in a Defense-Contractor Intern Pool?

Three moves, all before a role opens. First, apply early and apply specific: rolling review plus clearance-processing timelines mean early applicants get both more open seats and more runway. Target a specific track and location rather than blanket-applying to every posting. Second, lead with domain-relevant projects: L3Harris interviews probe engineering fundamentals and applied problem-solving, not LeetCode. A finished embedded-systems project, a PCB you designed, or a systems-integration report carries more weight than a competitive-programming ranking. Third, prepare for the clearance conversation: know that US citizenship is non-negotiable, understand that most intern roles sponsor the clearance rather than require one, and be ready to discuss your ability to work in a structured, security-conscious environment. And remember: the defense sector's talent shortage means strong interns who clear the pipeline have an unusually clear path to full-time cleared roles that are difficult to fill externally.

What Other Companies Should You Consider?

L3Harris is not the only aerospace and defense contractor hiring interns on a fall-rolling calendar. If you are building a defense-sector internship list, these are the obvious neighbors:

Our tech internships summer 2027 guide maps the whole landscape, timeline by timeline.

FAQ

When do L3Harris internship applications open for summer 2027?

Expect most engineering intern postings to open between August and October 2026. L3Harris uses rolling review, so positions fill as applications arrive. Set a job alert on careers.l3harris.com and apply early. Dates are projected from prior-cycle patterns and are not official yet.

Is L3Harris internship hiring rolling?

Yes. L3Harris reviews applications on a rolling basis. Community advice is to apply within the first two weeks of a posting for the best response rates. Late applications face fewer open seats.

How much does an L3Harris internship pay?

Approximately $25 to $35 per hour depending on role, level, and location. Software engineering interns report around $28 to $32/hr. Some locations offer a $3,000 to $3,500 relocation stipend. No separate housing stipend has been widely reported (Glassdoor, Reddit community data).

Does L3Harris sponsor visas for interns?

No. US citizenship is required for virtually all L3Harris internship positions due to government security-clearance requirements. Dual citizenship may also disqualify candidates for certain programs.

What is the L3Harris internship interview process like?

You apply online, complete a recruiter phone screen (15 to 30 minutes), then one to two technical or behavioral interviews (30 to 60 minutes each). Glassdoor rates interview difficulty at 2.5 out of 5, and 82% of candidates rated the experience as positive. Average time from application to hire is about 24 days.

Do I need an active security clearance to intern at L3Harris?

No. Most intern postings require only the ability to obtain a clearance. L3Harris will sponsor the clearance process for selected candidates. However, candidates with existing clearances from military service or other contractors have an advantage.

What GPA do I need for an L3Harris internship?

The minimum GPA is 3.0 cumulative. Some competitive programs prefer 3.5 or above. Strong projects and relevant engineering experience can offset a GPA on the lower end of the range.

Do L3Harris interns get return offers?

L3Harris frequently invites strong interns to return for additional co-op rotations or convert to full-time cleared engineering positions. The defense sector's talent shortage and the cost of clearance processing create a strong incentive for L3Harris to retain interns who perform well.

The defense sector is hiring, clearances are hard to get from the outside, and L3Harris runs a Top 100-rated internship program that puts you on the inside track. Spend the runway building proof: a remote Externship turns 'interested in defense engineering' into a finished project you can point at.