Federal Developer Intern, Software Engineering (January 2027 - 4 Months - Ottawa)

IBM
IBM

Software Engineering

Ottawa, ON, Canada

Posted on Aug 28, 2026
Introduction

A career in IBM Consulting is rooted by long term relationships and close collaboration with clients across the globe.

You'll work with visionaries across multiple industries to improve the hybrid cloud and AI journey for the most innovative and valuable companies in the world. Your ability to accelerate impact and make meaningful change for your clients is enabled by our strategic partner ecosystem and our robust technology platforms across the IBM portfolio, including Software and Red Hat.

Curiosity and a constant quest for knowledge serve as the foundation to success in IBM Consulting. In your role, you'll be encouraged to challenge the norm, investigate ideas outside of your role, and come up with creative solutions resulting in groundbreaking impact for a wide network of clients. Our culture of evolution and empathy centers on long-term career growth and development opportunities in an environment that embraces your unique skills and experience.

About Business Unit:

IBM Consulting is IBM’s consulting and global professional services business, with market leading capabilities in business and technology transformation. With deep expertise in many industries, we offer strategy, experience, technology, and operations services to many of the most innovative and valuable companies in the world. Our people are focused on accelerating our clients’ businesses through the power of collaboration. We believe in the power of technology responsibly used to help people, partners and the planet.

Your role and responsibilities

IBM Canada is seeking an enthusiastic and driven intern to join our Federal, Defence team. This role is ideal for students interested in applying their technical and analytical skills to meaningful projects that support Canada’s federal and defence sectors.

As an intern, you will work alongside experienced IBM professionals across software delivery, systems modernization, business analysis, and digital transformation initiatives. Depending on your background and interests, you may contribute as a Software Engineering Intern, Business Analyst Intern, or in a hybrid role supporting both technical and functional workstreams.

This is an excellent opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a professional environment focused on secure, mission-critical, and client-centered solutions.

Software Engineering-Focused Responsibilities:

  • Assist in the design, development, testing, and maintenance of software applications and systems supporting federal and defence clients.
  • Contribute to coding, debugging, and troubleshooting activities under the guidance of senior developers and technical leads.
  • Support integration, automation, and system enhancement initiatives using modern development tools and practices.
  • Participate in code reviews, technical documentation, and software quality assurance activities.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams including architects, developers, testers, and project managers in agile delivery environments.


General Responsibilities:

  • Conduct research and analysis on client needs, emerging technologies, and industry trends relevant to defence and government services.
  • Maintain a high standard of professionalism, confidentiality, and attention to detail in secure and regulated environments.
  • Work collaboratively in multidisciplinary teams to support project milestones and deliverables.
  • Adhere to IBM and client-specific security, compliance, and governance requirements.

What You Will Gain

  • Practical experience supporting impactful projects in Canada’s federal and defence sector.
  • Exposure to IBM’s consulting, technology, and delivery practices.
  • Mentorship from experienced professionals in software engineering, business analysis, and public sector transformation.
  • Opportunities to build technical, analytical, and professional skills in a collaborative environment.
  • Insight into secure, large-scale, and mission-focused project delivery.

This position resides in Ottawa and is a 4-month work term commencing in January 2027. All applicants must be eligible to work full-time in Canada and enrolled full-time in an eligible post-secondary program. It is mandatory that applicants return to full-time studies upon completion of the work term. Candidates pursuing Bachelor's or Master's degrees are eligible. MBA and PhD candidates are not eligible for this opportunity.

Required education
High School Diploma/GED
Preferred education
Bachelor's Degree
Required technical and professional expertise
  • Currently enrolled in a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree program in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related field.
  • Experience with one or more programming languages such as Java, Python, JavaScript, C#, or SQL.
  • Familiarity with software development lifecycle methodologies, version control tools, and testing practices.
  • Exposure to cloud, APIs, DevOps, automation, or systems integration is an asset.
  • Strong analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
  • Effective verbal and written communication skills.
  • Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
  • Interest in public sector, federal government, and defence-related work.
  • Eligibility to work in Canada.
Preferred technical and professional experience

For Software Engineering Profiles

  • Experience with one or more programming languages such as Java, Python, JavaScript, C#, or SQL.
  • Familiarity with software development lifecycle methodologies, version control tools, and testing practices.
  • Exposure to cloud, APIs, DevOps, automation, or systems integration is an asset.

Additional Assets

  • Interest in digital transformation, cybersecurity, enterprise systems, or mission-critical technology environments.
  • Understanding of government or defence environments is considered an asset.
  • Ability to obtain and maintain required reliability status or security clearance may be required depending on the assignment.

Key Attributes

  • Curious and eager to learn
  • Professional and dependable
  • Strong attention to detail
  • Adaptable and proactive
  • Comfortable working in structured, security-conscious environments
  • Strong sense of integrity and accountability

ABOUT BUSINESS UNIT

IBM Consulting is IBM’s consulting and global professional services business, with market leading capabilities in business and technology transformation. With deep expertise in many industries, we offer strategy, experience, technology, and operations services to many of the most innovative and valuable companies in the world. Our people are focused on accelerating our clients’ businesses through the power of collaboration. We believe in the power of technology responsibly used to help people, partners and the planet.

YOUR LIFE @ IBM

In a world where technology never stands still, we understand that, dedication to our clients success, innovation that matters, and trust and personal responsibility in all our relationships, lives in what we do as IBMers as we strive to be the catalyst that makes the world work better.

Being an IBMer means you’ll be able to learn and develop yourself and your career, you’ll be encouraged to be courageous and experiment everyday, all whilst having continuous trust and support in an environment where everyone can thrive whatever their personal or professional background.

Our IBMers are growth minded, always staying curious, open to feedback and learning new information and skills to constantly transform themselves and our company. They are trusted to provide on-going feedback to help other IBMers grow, as well as collaborate with colleagues keeping in mind a team focused approach to include different perspectives to drive exceptional outcomes for our customers. The courage our IBMers have to make critical decisions everyday is essential to IBM becoming the catalyst for progress, always embracing challenges with resources they have to hand, a can-do attitude and always striving for an outcome focused approach within everything that they do.

Are you ready to be an IBMer?

ABOUT IBM

IBM’s greatest invention is the IBMer. We believe that through the application of intelligence, reason and science, we can improve business, society and the human condition, bringing the power of an open hybrid cloud and AI strategy to life for our clients and partners around the world.

Restlessly reinventing since 1911, we are not only one of the largest corporate organizations in the world, we’re also one of the biggest technology and consulting employers, with many of the Fortune 500 companies relying on the IBM Cloud to run their business.

At IBM, we pride ourselves on being an early adopter of artificial intelligence, quantum computing and blockchain. Now it’s time for you to join us on our journey to being a responsible technology innovator and a force for good in the world.

IBM is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, pregnancy, disability, neurodivergence, age, or other characteristics protected by the applicable law. IBM is also committed to compliance with all fair employment practices regarding citizenship and immigration status.

OTHER RELEVANT JOB DETAILS

Must have the ability to work in Canada without sponsorship.

This role will involve working with technology that is covered by Export Regulations sanctions. If you are a Foreign National from any of the following US sanctioned countries (Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, and the Crimea, Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhia regions of Ukraine) on a work permit, you are not eligible for employment in this position.

The salary range for the position is based on a full-time schedule. Your ultimate salary within this range may vary depending on your job-related skills and experience for this position.

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