High School Internship program participants, pictured on their first day at Red Hat In July 2026, the second High School Internship Program kicked off in Boston and Raleigh. This unique internship, taking place over the course of four weeks, gives high school juniors and seniors a first glimpse into the professional world—laying a foundation they can continue to develop as they pursue their future academic and career goals.
The goals for program participants are to leave with a better understanding of how global technology businesses operate, intensive exposure to the product development lifecycle, and a better understanding of their own strengths and potential career paths—gained through navigating unfamiliar challenges and collaborating with teammates. During the 1st week, cohorts were divided into teams to solve a simulated business problem.
Tasked with representing 2 fictional companies, one specializing in electric scooters and the other in gaming headsets, each team developed both a product and a sales pitch that targeted specific customer priorities and pain points. Interns were assigned a role within their cross-functional teams, which were made up of sales associates, technical engineers, and product managers. This structure allowed participants to engage with a line of products that felt familiar and exciting, while also providing firsthand experience working with teammates who bring varied skill sets.
Over the course of this project, the teams witnessed how business decisions can influence marketing messages and shape customer expectations. Eesha Soni, an intern in the Boston office, served as a technical engineer on the electric scooter design team, evaluating trade-offs in materials, performance, and safety to better meet customer needs. Eesha reflected on the impact of the experience, and the way it set her early-career journey apart.