14 Engineering Internships for High School Students in Los Angeles, CA
- Stephen Turban
- Oct 12, 2025
- 10 min read
If you are a high school student in Los Angeles interested in exploring engineering, an internship can offer a practical exposure to the field.
Engineering internships can offer you opportunities to shadow and work alongside engineers and researchers to gain experience and build technical and soft skills. As an intern, you will get first-hand insights into real-world applications of engineering concepts you learn in school. You will get to connect with like-minded peers and professionals, getting a head start on building a professional network!
Los Angeles is home to various universities and organizations that offer internships to high school students. You can explore internships in various fields, such as STEM, medicine, business, or even the arts, ensuring you have options to explore, regardless of your interests.
We have compiled a list of 14 engineering internships for high school students in Los Angeles, CA.
14 Engineering Internships for High School Students in Los Angeles, CA
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Varies by format; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts (spring, summer, fall, winter) throughout the year
Application Deadline: Spring: January | Summer: May | Fall: September | Winter: November
Eligibility: High school, undergraduate, and gap year students able to commit 10–20 hours per week for 8–12 weeks
Ladder Internships is a startup-based program, offering you an opportunity to work with a high-growth startup in an industry that aligns with your interests. The startups partnering with Ladder typically raise over a million dollars on average. You can indicate your preference for an engineering internship to work with a startup that can offer you exposure to the field. Once matched with the organization, you will work closely with the startup manager and a Ladder Coach, engaging in tasks and real-world projects. You will present your work to the company at the end of the internship. The experience can offer you an insight into professional work environments and help you build skills like communication, accountability, presentation, and collaboration.
Location: Various locations across the U.S. + remote options
Stipend: Paid; amount varies by internship
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Not specified
Dates:
Spring: Mid-January – Early May
Summer: Late May/Early June – August
Fall: Late August/Early September – Mid-December
Application Deadline:
Spring: September 12
Summer: February 27
Fall: May 22
Eligibility: Full-time or part-time high school or college students with a minimum 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale), enrolled in at least six semester hours, at least 16 years old, and U.S. citizens
NASA’s OSTEM internships allow students to explore various fields such as science, engineering, technology, aeronautics, and space exploration while contributing to the space agency’s mission. As an intern, you will gain work experience while engaging in diverse projects alongside NASA scientists, engineers, and other professionals. The exact tasks vary from one internship to another, but typically involve helping NASA professionals develop/design, test, and improve various technologies. You may also help with research and data analysis and receive training and professional development during the internship. This experience can help you start building a network and develop technical and soft skills.
Location: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 14 – 18
Application Deadline: May 5
Eligibility: Rising 9th – 12th graders
This free summer program can help you dive into physics, coding, energy, electronics, and other subjects that are crucial for pursuing a career in engineering. You will attend demonstrations and lessons to enhance your knowledge. Similarly, hands-on activities, projects, and group work develop your practical skills. The sessions, led by industry professionals and USC students, help you explore core science and engineering concepts while building a network. You will also engage in group activities, building collaboration and teamwork skills in the process.
Location: Remote or in-person in various states
Cost/Stipend: No cost; certain projects come with stipends
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June – August; 8–10 weeks
Application Deadline: March/April
Eligibility: High school students in the U.S.; academic and other prerequisites vary for each project/internship
The SPARK Summer Mentorship Program (SPARK SMP) is a paid opportunity for high school students to gain work experience in STEM fields. As a participant, you can choose to work on engineering projects under the guidance of experts, professors, and mentors. SPARK SMP is known to offer a few remote internships. In the past, interns have worked on projects like improving access to engineering education and modeling how extreme weather impacts the availability of electric power. The experience can help you develop professional and technical skills.
Location: UCLA campus, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: $2,759 (based on previous years); financial aid is available)
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 23 - July 3
Application Deadline: June 13
Eligibility: 10th and 11th graders who are age 15 by the start of the program
UCLA Environmental Summer Institute offers high school students an intensive two-week course with a focus on environmental justice, community-based research, and public health. Students work with community partners and faculty to investigate issues such as pollution, eating patterns, and antimicrobial resistance. They gain technical skills through fieldwork, lab-based research, GIS analysis, lectures, and case studies. They also gain an appreciation for science and engineering's ability to effect positive changes to underserved communities and gain preparation for additional scholarship or professional avenues into environmental and engineering professions.
Location: Various university campuses, including UC Irvine, UC Los Angeles, and UC San Diego, CA
Cost: $5,256 + $44 application fee; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: 160–200 students per campus
Dates: July 6 – August 2
Application Deadline: February 7
Eligibility: California high school students
COSMOS is a rigorous program for high school students interested in exploring STEM fields. You will work with university faculty, researchers, and scientists and explore advanced STEM topics through a challenging, lab-based curriculum. While applying, you will choose a cluster, which consists of two science and/or math courses and a science communication course, at a university campus closest to you. While the program curriculum is subject to change, it typically offers multiple clusters covering engineering subfields like aerospace, mechanical, and structural engineering. You will also participate in field trips, lab sessions, and discussions to gain industry insights and develop technical and collaboration skills. Although not a typical internship, the program offers hands-on experiences and engineering exposure.
Location: LA Biotech Center, Torrance, CA
Cost: $495
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: 6 students
Dates: December 27 – 30
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school students aged 15–18 who have completed high school math, English, and biology (or equivalent courses) with a grade of C or higher
This program is meant for students interested in molecular biology and genetic engineering. Over four days, you will learn to inhibit the expression of an oncogene in testicular cancer stem cells using a gene silencing technique called RNA Interference (RNAi). The program provides training and college-level lectures on the theoretical aspects of the lab work. You will explore siRNA design software and gain experience in electroporating, culturing, and genetically engineering human cancer stem cells.
8. DaVinci Camp
Location: Caltech, Pasadena, CA
Cost/Stipend: $3,600 – $8,000; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Various sessions starting in July
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Rising 6th–12th grade students
DaVinci Camp offers various sessions that help you explore mathematics, engineering, science, and art through social and academic activities. Each day, you will engage in lectures offering group as well as 1-on-1 instruction and attend workshops. Other organized activities include virtual lab visits, design projects, and art instruction. You will develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills while working on complex challenges. While not an internship, the program offers opportunities to explore college campuses and explore STEAM through hands-on activities.
Location: Various locations across the U.S., including labs in Corona and Port Hueneme, CA (both about 40 minutes–1 hour from Los Angeles)
Cost/Stipend: $4,000 for new participants; $4,500 for returning participants
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: 300 students across 38 labs nationwide
Dates: 8 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: November 1
Eligibility: High school students who have completed grade 9 and are at least 16 years old by the start of the program
SEAP is a selective program where you can engage in lab-based naval research under the mentorship of scientists and engineers. Students in Los Angeles can consider applying to the labs in Corona or Port Hueneme, CA. Here, you will assist mentors with guided research projects, shadow professional researchers, attend technical meetings, participate in group mentoring sessions and team and leadership development, and tour labs. The projects you work on contribute to developing solutions for real-world warfighter challenges or other technical problems. The experience can help you develop skills in cybersecurity, data analytics, test and engineering evaluations, and more.
Location: Virtual option available for LA students
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: ~10% acceptance rate; ~215 students selected
Dates: May 19 – July 22; remote project work begins in June
Application Deadline: February 22
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores and juniors who are at least 16 years old by July 5, and U.S. citizens
The SEES (STEM Enhancement in Earth Science) internship is a joint NASA and UT Austin initiative designed for high school students interested in exploring space and Earth science. The program starts with distance learning on key Earth science concepts and the Python programming language. As a SEES intern, you will work on a virtual project, conducting research in areas like engineering, planetary science, or astronomy and analyzing NASA satellite data under the guidance of subject matter experts. Your tasks may include assisting with mission design, visualizing remote sensing data, and studying Earth’s gravity field or ice sheets. You will present your research at a virtual symposium at the end of the internship.
Location: Virtual projects available for LA students
Cost/Stipend: $25 application fee with need-based fee waivers available; no stipend
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 18 – August 8
Application deadline: February 2
Eligibility: Students who are at least 15 years old
ASSIP offers virtual research internships in various fields, including engineering. You can choose a mentor offering a remote internship format and working on engineering research. Over eight weeks, you will engage in engineering research and refine your scientific writing and communication skills through virtual sessions. During the program, you will learn about STEM career paths through discussion forums led by professors, researchers, or professionals. The program ends with a research symposium, where you will explore peers’ ASSIP research. You may also get to publish your work or present it at conferences.
Location: Virtual option available for LA students
Cost/Stipend: $2,350 or free for qualifying families
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 7 – August 3
Application Deadline: Mid-January for the online component; March 31 for the summer program
Eligibility: 9th–11th graders living and attending school in the U.S.
Beaver Works Summer Institute is a summer program that focuses on skill development in technology and engineering. You can opt for the virtual program, which offers workshop-based courses to help you gain practical experience. For instance, you can choose from Autonomous Cognitive Assistance (CogWorks), Basics of ASICs, Cyber Operations, Microelectronics and Hardware Development, Medlytics, and more. Through these courses, you will learn core and advanced engineering concepts and come up with solutions for real-world problems. To participate, you will have to complete an online prerequisite course, after which you will be eligible to apply for the summer course.
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 23 – August 1
Application Deadline: April 15
Eligibility: California high school students in grades 10 and 11 who have a minimum 3.5 cumulative GPA (unweighted), have not been a recipient of Summer Scholars Support, and have a household adjusted gross income (AGI) equal to or lower than the amount in the relevant category in the Family Income Eligibility Tables.
BASE is an online program that allows you to enroll in a summer course offered by UCLA and earn college credit. You can enroll in the Physics 1A: Physics for Scientists & Engineers, Mechanics program to explore engineering-specific math, physical sciences, and design. You will be paired with UCLA undergraduate student mentors who provide guidance on college applications and navigating college life. You will also engage in co-curricular workshops on college admissions, academic and social-emotional skills, and financial education. While not a typical internship, this free program can help you experience college-level academics, prepare for future academics and career paths, and start building a network of peers.
If you’re based in LA and looking for other opportunities closer to home, consider the program below
Location: London, New York, San Francisco, and Tokyo
Cost: Varies according to program. Financial aid available
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Not specified
Dates: 2-week sessions offered throughout the summer
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions for multiple summer cohorts
Eligibility: High school students aged 15–18 currently enrolled in school
The Career Insights Program is an industry-focused experience for high school students in cities around the world. As a participant, you can expect to engage in practical projects with major businesses across industries. The program connects you with industry experts through interactive workshops, site visits, and hands-on projects. You'll also visit operational sites including offices, factories, and headquarters. The program culminates in a final presentation to industry professionals. You can explore career paths in subjects such as medicine, engineering, law, business, journalism, fashion, and more. The program also includes weekly 1:1 career coaching sessions and sessions where you will receive personalized feedback. You can find more details about the application here!
One other option—Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you want to pursue independent research under the guidance of a mentor, consider applying to Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, which are selective high school programs founded in partnership with Harvard and Oxford researchers. In the past, 4,000+ students applied for just 500 spots in the research program. You can learn about the application and available programs on the application form here.
Also, you can check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented low-income students. Last year, it offered 150 students full need-based financial assistance.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a Ph.D. student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program in which students work one-on-one with a research mentor to develop a research paper.
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