Tech Giants Expand Entry-Level Engineer Hiring

Companies like IBM, LinkedIn, and Dropbox are increasing internships and new grad programs amid an evolving job landscape for junior workers.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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While some companies have grown cautious about hiring recent graduates as they figure out how AI will reshape their teams, others are celebrating the new wave of talent. Leaders at major tech firms like IBM, LinkedIn, and Dropbox have said the entry-level talent pool is particularly strong and stands out with its AI fluency. These companies are expanding their internship and new-graduate programs to capitalize on younger workers' AI skills.

Why it matters

As AI automates many tasks that used to belong to entry-level workers, companies are reevaluating their hiring strategies. While some may be reluctant to bring on junior developers, others see an opportunity to invest in the next generation of tech talent who are 'AI-native' and bring a 'builder mindset'. This shift could have significant implications for the future of the tech workforce.

The details

Several major tech companies are increasing their entry-level engineer hiring, including IBM, which is tripling its entry-level hires in 2026, and LinkedIn, which is expanding its engineering internship program by 40%. Cognizant is quadrupling its pipeline of early-career talent, aiming to hire up to 2,000 by the end of the year. Cloudflare announced plans to hire 1,111 interns in 2026, a significant increase from its former 60-person program. Dropbox is expanding its internship and new-graduate programs by 25%, citing younger workers' AI fluency. Cybersecurity firm ThreatLocker also plans to nearly double its headcount, with a significant number of those hires being entry-level.

  • IBM is tripling its entry-level hiring in 2026.
  • Cloudflare announced plans in September to hire 1,111 interns in 2026.
  • ThreatLocker plans to nearly double its headcount to 1,200 employees over the next 18 months.

The players

IBM

A multinational technology and consulting company.

LinkedIn

A professional networking platform owned by Microsoft.

Cognizant

An IT services and consulting company.

Cloudflare

A cloud-based cybersecurity firm.

Dropbox

A file hosting and cloud storage service company.

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What they’re saying

“It's like they're biking in the Tour de France, and the rest of us still have training wheels.”

— Melanie Rosenwasser, Chief People Officer at Dropbox (Bloomberg)

“We maintain a highly demanding training standard for engineers at every level to reflect the real pressure of defending critical systems.”

— Danny Jenkins, CEO and Cofounder of ThreatLocker (Business Insider)

The takeaway

As AI continues to automate many entry-level tasks, leading tech companies are doubling down on hiring and training the next generation of engineers who can leverage AI to build innovative products and services. This shift highlights the growing importance of 'AI-native' talent and the need for companies to invest in the long-term development of their workforce.