Summer 2027 recruiting
Northrop Grumman internships: when they open and how to apply
Aircraft, space systems, and mission systems are Northrop Grumman's business, and its internships are posted role by role and site by site. Many student roles require U.S. citizenship because the work needs a security clearance, and a few need one before your first day.
Northrop GrummanEarly-career programs
- Internship Program
- Entry-Level Positions
- Future Technical Leaders (FTL)
Internships and programs at Northrop Grumman
The early-career programs it runs for students and recent graduates, by the names it uses for them.
- Internship Program
- Summer internships for undergraduate and graduate STEM and business students, posted by role and site: software, embedded, systems, electrical, and mechanical engineering, supply chain, business management, and more. Interns work on real projects in the business that hired them.
- Entry-Level Positions
- Full-time roles for new graduates, posted as regular openings with titles like "2027 Associate Software Engineer" across engineering and business functions.
- Future Technical Leaders (FTL)
- A highly selective rotational program for top STEM graduates, combining rotations with professional development, networking, and mentorship.
When Northrop Grumman posts internships
The first 2027 intern postings went up in August 2026, and a much larger batch landed in mid to late September. More keep appearing through the fall as sites open roles.
Northrop postings estimate each job's application window at about 20 days from posting, though it can be shortened or extended. Check often and apply quickly; there is no campus deadline to wait for.
These are patterns from recent cycles, not published dates, and they shift. The reliable signal is the posting itself: Trakker is an internship tracker that reads Northrop Grumman’s careers site directly and can email you within minutes of a new role appearing.
Who can apply
Interns must be enrolled full time in an undergraduate or graduate program, stay enrolled full time the following fall, and be available for at least 10 weeks of full-time summer work. Engineering postings require a STEM major. Postings list a preferred cumulative GPA, usually 3.0 and on some roles 3.25.
Many internships require the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance, which requires U.S. citizenship. Some list an interim Secret or Top Secret clearance as required to start, so your paperwork has to be ready before day one.
The interview process
The hiring team runs the interviews, mixing behavioral questions with discussion of your coursework and projects. Technical depth varies by role, but expect far less algorithm drilling than a big tech loop.
Northrop publishes interviewing tips and a guide to security clearances on its careers site. Read the clearance guide before you interview; recruiters often ask whether you can meet the clearance timeline.
Tips for applying to Northrop Grumman
- Check postings often in the fall. With a roughly 20-day window, roles close fast.
- Be ready to talk clearance eligibility early. If the role needs an interim clearance to start, paperwork follows soon after an offer.
- Apply to several sites. Northrop may consider your profile for other roles, but a direct application is the surest way to be seen.
Northrop Grumman internship questions
- When does Northrop Grumman post internships?
- The first summer 2027 postings appeared in August 2026, with a large batch in September and more through the fall. Each posting's application window is estimated at about 20 days, so apply soon after a role appears.
- What is the Northrop Grumman Future Technical Leaders program?
- Future Technical Leaders is a highly selective rotational program for top STEM graduates that combines rotations with professional development, networking, and mentorship.
- Do Northrop Grumman internships require a security clearance?
- Many do. Postings often require the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance, which requires U.S. citizenship, and some require an interim clearance before you start.
Where else to look
Employers students often weigh against Northrop Grumman, and the role tracks its internships fall under.
Sources
What this page was checked against. Programs and timelines change from cycle to cycle, so Northrop Grumman’s own careers site has the final word.
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