Government Relations Intern (Students)

Appian is looking for a Government Relations Intern who is ready to operate at the intersection of public policy and business value. You will support our Value Engineering efforts, helping us quantify and communicate the economic and operational impact of Appian's technology to government stakeholders. This is a high-visibility role on a growing team, with exposure to senior leaders, federal customers, and the policy community shaping the future of government technology.

This internship is based at our headquarters in McLean, Virginia, with periodic travel to Washington, DC and Capitol Hill to support meetings, hearings, and stakeholder engagements. Appian was built on a culture of in-person collaboration, which we believe is a key driver of our mission to be the best. Interns in this program are expected to be in the office 5 days a week to fully experience our culture, learn directly from peers and mentors, and contribute to projects in a collaborative environment. Being in the office provides more opportunities to connect, learn, and celebrate with the exceptional people across Appian.

What You'll Do

• Policy Analysis: Research and track legislative developments, procurement trends, and agency-specific initiatives that impact the federal technology industry, with particular focus on priority agencies including DoD, DHS, VA, and HHS.
• Value Engineering Support: Assist in building business cases and ROI models that demonstrate the fiscal and mission value of Appian to government agencies, translating customer outcomes into compelling narratives for policymakers.
• Strategic Communication: Help draft briefing materials, white papers, talking points, and presentations for internal leadership and external government stakeholders, including members of Congress and senior agency officials.
• Market Intelligence: Monitor the competitive landscape and identify opportunities where policy shifts, appropriations cycles, and modernization mandates create a need for high-speed digital transformation.
• Capitol Hill and Agency Engagement: Support meeting preparation and follow-up for Congressional offices, committee staff, and agency stakeholders, with opportunities to attend select meetings in DC alongside the government relations team.

Basic Qualifications

• Currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Political Science, Public Policy, Economics, International Relations, Government, or a related field.
• Strong academic standing and a demonstrated interest in the intersection of government and technology.
• Exceptional writing and presentation skills are a must. You should be able to tell a story with data.
• Must be able to work on-site at our McLean, VA headquarters for the duration of the Summer 2026 program.
• Must be available for periodic day travel to Washington, DC and Capitol Hill as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior internship or coursework experience in a Congressional office, federal agency, trade association, think tank, campaign, or government affairs function.
• Familiarity with the federal budget and appropriations process, the NDAA cycle, or federal procurement.
• Interest in enterprise software, AI policy, or the modernization of legacy government systems.
• Experience with research tools such as Bloomberg Government, POLITICO Pro, or similar legislative tracking platforms.

About the Team

Appian's Government Relations function works at the intersection of policy, procurement, and product, advancing the company's mission to deliver AI-powered process automation for missions that matter. Interns will work directly with the team building Appian's federal policy and stakeholder engagement strategy from the ground up.