Back to jobs

Backend Software Engineer Intern, Summer 2026

Palo Alto, California

About Wing: 

Wing offers drone delivery as a safe, fast, and sustainable solution for last mile logistics. Consumer appetites for on-demand services are increasing, but current delivery methods are inefficient, costly, and contribute to road accidents and air pollution. Wing’s fleet of highly automated delivery drones can transport small packages directly from businesses to homes on-demand, in minutes. We design, build, and operate our aircraft, and offer drone delivery services on two continents. Our technology is designed to be easy to integrate into existing delivery and logistics networks, offering a scalable drone delivery solution for a broad range of businesses. Wing is a part of Google's parent company, Alphabet, and our mission is to create the preferred means of delivery for the planet. If you're ready to do the greatest work of your life, come join us.

About the Wingtern Program:

Join Wing's 12-week paid summer internship! This is a hybrid, in-person program based in Palo Alto, CA, with start dates in May or June. Eligible candidates must be a current student enrolled in a degree program and intend to return to the program after the completion of the summer internship. 

About the Role:

Wing is looking for a motivated Backend Software Engineer Intern to join our Operational Tooling Team based in Palo Alto, CA. This internship offers the opportunity to contribute to the backend infrastructure that underpins Wing's complex drone delivery operations. You will be embedded within a team of experienced engineers, working on impactful projects that enhance the tools and systems used to manage our global fleet, automate key workflows, and ensure a scalable and efficient delivery network. This role is ideal for a student passionate about backend development, C++, and applying software engineering to solve real-world logistical and operational challenges.

About the Operational Tooling Team:

The Wing Operational Tooling Team is a software engineering team focused on building and maintaining the critical systems that power Wing's global drone delivery operations. Our mission is to provide reliable, traceable, safe, and performant software solutions that enable efficient fleet management, streamline aircraft maintenance, ensure regulatory compliance, and support the overall logistics network. We tackle the unique challenges of a rapidly growing, safety-critical, and highly regulated industry.

In this role, you will:

  • Design, develop, test, and deploy features for backend services and APIs, primarily using C++.
  • Collaborate with mentors and team members on code reviews, design discussions, and sprint planning.
  • Contribute to systems that manage fleet inventory, streamline aircraft maintenance logistics, and support autonomous flight operations.
  • Work with technologies such as gRPC, Spanner, and Google's distributed systems infrastructure.
  • Assist in troubleshooting and resolving issues within the team's backend systems.
  • Document your work, including design choices and implementation details.

What You’ll Need: 

  • Currently pursuing a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field, graduating between December 2026 and August 2027.
  • Solid foundation in software engineering principles, data structures, and algorithms.
  • Experience/comfort with C++.
  • Understanding of API design principles (e.g., gRPC, REST).
  • Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
  • Ability to learn new technologies and systems quickly.
  • Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with an eagerness to work in a team environment.
  • Willingness to ask questions and seek guidance.

This is your chance to:

  • Gain hands-on backend software engineering experience in the innovative and rapidly expanding drone delivery industry.
  • Contribute to meaningful projects that have a direct impact on Wing's global operations and ability to scale.
  • Learn from a talented and supportive team of engineers at an Alphabet company.
  • Develop your skills in C++, API design, and working with large-scale distributed systems.
  • Be at the forefront of shaping the future of autonomous logistics.

The US base salary range for this internship position is the salary range below + benefits. Wing’s salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your location during the hiring process.

Salary Range

$118,000 - $122,000 USD

Wing is an equal opportunity employer and it is Wing's policy to comply with all applicable national, state and local laws pertaining to nondiscrimination and equal opportunity. Employment at Wing is based solely on a person's merit and qualifications directly related to professional competence. Wing does not discriminate against any employee or applicant because of race, creed, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy or related condition (including breastfeeding), or any other basis protected by law.

If you have a need that requires accommodation during the interview process due to a disability or special need, please let us know by completing our Candidate Accommodations Request Form.

Create a Job Alert

Interested in building your career at Wing? Get future opportunities sent straight to your email.

Apply for this job

*

indicates a required field

Resume/CV*

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Cover Letter

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Education

Select...
Select...
Select...

Please provide your preferred name if different than your Legal name provided above.

Select...
Select...
Select...

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

As set forth in Wing’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

Select...
Select...
Race & Ethnicity Definitions

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.

Select...

Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability

Form CC-305
Page 1 of 1
OMB Control Number 1250-0005
Expires 04/30/2026

Why are you being asked to complete this form?

We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.

Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp.

How do you know if you have a disability?

A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability. Disabilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
  • Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS
  • Blind or low vision
  • Cancer (past or present)
  • Cardiovascular or heart disease
  • Celiac disease
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
  • Diabetes
  • Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
  • Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
  • Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
  • Intellectual or developmental disability
  • Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
  • Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
  • Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
  • Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
  • Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
  • Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
  • Short stature (dwarfism)
  • Traumatic brain injury
Select...

PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.