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It’s never too early to start preparing for your mechanical engineering internship. Major organizations may begin posting their summer internship openings on major job-recruiting websites as early as January. They may also offer internships in the fall and spring as well. While internships are generally reserved for juniors and seniors at the bachelor’s level, younger mechanical engineering students can get started early on building their resume and developing a professional network.
Typical requirements for mechanical engineering internships include: current enrollment in a bachelor’s or master’s mechanical engineering program; a competitive GPA (3.0 or greater); and full-time availability (over 40 hours per week) during the internship. Other potential requirements include: the ability to obtain US government security clearance (requires US citizenship); familiarity with CAD software; and coding proficiency. Any other relevant work or educational experience is a plus.
Top mechanical engineering internships can be extremely competitive, with the number of applicants far outweighing the number of available slots. It’s best to apply to several internship opportunities across different subdisciplines of mechanical engineering.
Fortunately, there are a wide variety of innovative and rewarding mechanical engineering internships available. To learn more, read on.
Northrop Grumman is a multinational aerospace and defense company. Engineers at Northrop Grumman have helped design the B-21 stealth bomber, the X-47B drone, and the James Webb Space Telescope. The next crop of engineers is working on pushing the envelope even further.
Northrop Grumman is seeking mechanical engineering students for summer internships at its Mission Systems Sector in Baltimore, Maryland. Successful candidates will join Northrop Grumman’s Hardware Engineering Group and help expand a portfolio of secure, affordable, integrated, multi-domain systems and technologies.
Boeing is a multinational aerospace company. Founded in 1916, it’s grown to become one of the largest flight vehicle manufacturers in the world and the largest US exporter by dollar value. Engineers at Boeing are building more environmentally friendly airplanes, and they’re also pushing the limits of what tech can do through their PhantomWorks division.
Boeing is seeking mechanical engineering students for summer internships through its Engineering Intern Program. Internships fall into one of several categories: mechanical systems design and analysis; structural design; structural analysis; manufacturing; liaison; tooling; payloads; and product support. Those who wish to work in payload and product support will apply in the Seattle area, but internships in other foci are available in several locations.
Tesla is an electric vehicle and clean energy company based in Austin, Texas. Founded in 2003, it’s grown to become one of the world’s most valuable companies, and the most valued automaker in the world. Engineers at Tesla are designing self-driving cars and novel batteries that could power a greener, and much more futuristic-looking, world.
Tesla is currently seeking mechanical engineering students for summer internships in mechanical design engineering. Interns will work closely with Tesla’s internal product design, facilities, operations, production, and quality engineering teams. Tesla has a number of other internships for mechanical engineers available in other locations as well.
Lockheed Martin is an American company that is interested in aerospace, defense, information security, and technology. It is the world’s largest defense contractor by revenue. Lockheed Martin has won the Collier Trophy six times since 2001, and its engineers have helped design the X-35, the Orion command module, and the United States Air Force Space Fence.
Lockheed Martin’s Space Division is seeking mechanical engineering students for summer internships. In this role, interns will design or analyze hardware, support manufacture, and work to customer requirements. Successful candidates will have experience or knowledge of the application of structural design and analysis and the design or analysis of hardware and Finite Element Analysis, Thermal Desktop, or similar.
Applicants must be actively enrolled in a bachelor’s or master’s degree program from an accredited university or college majoring in a STEM degree such as mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, aerospace engineering, or related fields.
Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is a federally-funded research and development center. Founded in the 1930s, it is owned by NASA and managed by the California Institute of Technology (CalTech). JPL’s primary function is the construction and operation of robotic spacecraft, and JPL engineers have helped design the Ingenuity Mars helicopter, the Curiosity rover, and the forthcoming Psyche asteroid orbiter.
The JPL Summer Internship Program offers ten-week, full-time, summer internship opportunities at JPL to undergraduate and graduate students pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering (including mechanical engineering), or mathematics.
Applicants must be currently enrolled undergraduate and graduate students pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics disciplines from accredited U.S. universities.
Space X is an aerospace manufacturer, space transportation, and communication company based in Hawthorne, California. Founded in 2002 with the goal of reducing the costs of space transportation, it’s grown in ambition to develop technologies that ultimately enable human life on Mars. SpaceX engineers have helped design the Falcon 9, the Falcon Heavy, and the Starlink satellite internet constellation.
SpaceX is seeking a number of engineering students for summer internships. Applicants will be considered across several different SpaceX teams: avionics; build reliability; customer operations and integration; flight reliability; launch engineering; materials engineering; production; propulsion; starship engineering; supply chain; test operations; and vehicle engineering. Interns will be assigned hands-on, challenging projects that directly impact the company’s mission.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is an independent agency of the US government responsible for the civilian space program, as well as aeronautics and space research. NASA engineers have been responsible for some of the greatest leaps forward in human innovation including putting people on the moon and launching a craft beyond the reaches of the solar system.
NASA is seeking engineering students for internships in the summer and fall. Interns will collaborate with leading experts and work under the guidance of a mentor on projects that impact NASA’s mission, such as returning to the moon via the Artemis project. Positions are available at several NASA center locations across the country.
DuPont is an American multinational chemical company formed in 1802. The company played a major role in the development of the U.S. state of Delaware and first arose as a major supplier of gunpowder. It developed many polymers such as neoprene, Vespel, Corian, nylon, Mylar, Teflon, Kevlar, Kapton, M5 fiber, Zemdrain, Tyvek, Nomex, Corfam, Lycra, and Sorona in the 20th century, and its scientists developed many chemicals.
DuPont’s purpose is to empower the world with essential innovations to thrive. They work on things that matter whether it’s producing materials that are essential in everyday technology devices from electric vehicles to smartphones, protecting workers around the world, or providing clean water to more than a billion people on the planet.
DuPont’s paid internship or co-op program offers students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience to develop essential skills for their careers. As an engineering intern or co-op, applicants will adopt DuPont’s core values, develop an understanding of DuPont’s business and functions, and gain industrial experience.
Applicants for this internship must be enrolled as full-time students pursuing a bachelor’s or master’s degree in mechanical, electrical, or chemical engineering from an ABET-accredited program.
Honeywell is an American publicly traded, multinational conglomerate corporation that primarily operates in four areas of business: building automation, aerospace, energy and sustainability solutions, and industrial automation. It helps organizations solve the world’s most complex challenges in automation, energy transition, and the future of aviation. Honeywell provides actionable solutions and innovation through their aerospace technologies, energy and sustainability solutions, industrial automation business segments, and building automation.
At Honeywell’s mechanical engineering summer internship, interns will have the opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge projects and gain hands-on experience in the field of mechanical engineering. They will work closely with teams of experienced professionals and engineers, learn from their expertise, and apply their knowledge to real-world challenges. This internship will provide interns with valuable insights into the industry and help them develop essential skills for their future careers in mechanical engineering.
Matt Zbrog is a writer and researcher from Southern California. Since 2018, he’s written extensively about a wide range of engineering disciplines, with a particular focus on the potential impacts of major technological breakthroughs. His work largely centers around conversations with engineering faculty at top universities, highlighting their research in areas such as nuclear power, artificial intelligence, soft robotics, and semiconductor design. He’s also worked with leaders and subject matter experts at the Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the California Department of Water Resources (DWR), the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE), and the Society of Women Engineers (SWE).
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