15 Engineering Internships for Undergraduates
- Stephen Turban
- Sep 5
- 10 min read
Updated: Oct 13
If you are a college student interested in engineering, internships can help you explore a subject/field of your choice and prepare for career opportunities in engineering. As an intern, you will get to apply your classroom knowledge while engaging in complex, practical tasks. Engineering internships also offer opportunities to build key technical and soft skills like problem-solving, time management, and collaboration with industry experts.
As an intern, you will also have the chance to build valuable connections with mentors, peers, and professionals, all while strengthening your resume. These internships often provide engineering exposure through hands-on projects within labs or in corporate workplaces, where you can gain insight into the lives of engineers and chart your career path.
To help you with your search, we have compiled a list of 15 engineering internships for undergraduates. We have focused on factors like prestige, rigor of professional experience, and opportunities to network.
If you are looking for more prestigious internships, check out this set of blogs!
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies
Dates: Eight-week programs with multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort; several cohorts each year
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, and gap year students who can commit to 5–15 work hours/week for 8–16 weeks
The Ladder University Internships program offers a unique virtual experience, placing you with a startup to work on a real-world project alongside a CEO or founder. You can indicate your preference for engineering internships. The eight-week program offers dual mentorship from both a startup manager and a Ladder Coach, providing you with one-on-one training in key professional skills, such as communication and time management. At the program's conclusion, you will present your final project, showcasing your work. While the exact responsibility will differ based on the specific startup and project, the program can help you build a professional portfolio and develop an understanding of the startup world in a structured, supportive environment. Apply now!
Location: NASA centers across the U.S. and some virtual opportunities
Stipend: Paid; amount varies based on academic level and session length
Dates: Three sessions available annually: spring, summer, and fall; dates vary by opportunity
Application Deadline: Spring: September 12 | Summer: February 27 | Fall: May 22
Eligibility: Full-time students who are U.S. citizens, at least 16, have a minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale, and can work at least 480 hours before completing degree/certificate requirements
NASA offers various engineering internship opportunities for students from high school to the graduate level. As an intern, you will contribute to agency projects and gain hands-on experience under the guidance of a NASA mentor. These internships can help you develop technical skills and career readiness competencies while working alongside engineers and scientists. NASA’s Pathways Internship Program even offers a direct pipeline to full-time employment. A majority of interns receive a stipend for their contributions.
Location: Microsoft campuses in Redmond, WA, Atlanta, GA, and other U.S. sites
Stipend: Paid (salary + relocation support)
Dates: 12-week summer program
Application Deadline: Typically, fall deadline; dates vary
Eligibility: Undergraduates who are at least 16 years old
Microsoft offers various opportunities to college students interested in exploring software development or engineering. Here, you will work on real product teams, writing code, testing features, and learning the workflow of a large tech company. Your on-the-job learning will be augmented with mentoring, community building, and networking opportunities. You will collaborate in teams called “pods” and receive mentorship from experienced engineers. The Microsoft Explore program offers rotations across different roles to first- and second-year college students. You will also attend professional development seminars, networking events, and present final deliverables during the internship.
Location: Nevada; Fremont, CA; Palo Alto, CA; Austin, TX; Buffalo, NY; and other U.S. sites
Stipend: Paid internship; relocation stipend available
Dates: Vary by role; opportunities last 3–12 months
Application Deadline: Rolling; summer applications generally open in the fall and close between January and March
Eligibility: Undergraduate students in engineering, manufacturing, computer science, or related technical fields in good academic standing
Tesla interns get to engage in real engineering work from day one, contributing to projects in electric vehicles, batteries, and energy systems. You will collaborate with engineers on design, testing, and production challenges, often in a fast-paced, startup-like environment. You will work full-time on-site for 12–16 weeks, contributing to high-impact technical tasks. Tesla provides mentorship, but the program is known for its demanding workload and strong learning curve. The exact responsibilities vary by department and opportunity
Location: SpaceX sites (Hawthorne, CA; Starbase, TX; Redmond, WA; Cape Canaveral, FL; Vandenberg, CA; Sunnyvale, CA; McGregor, TX; Washington, DC; Bastrop, TX; Irvine, CA)
Stipend: Varies according to role (engineering interns: $28/hour for freshmen/sophomores, $30/hour for juniors/seniors)
Dates: May – August; minimum commitment of 12 weeks
Application Deadline: Fall (September – October for summer roles)
Eligibility: Undergraduate/graduate students in engineering with a GPA of 3.5 or above in CS, or physics, who are U.S. citizens/nationals/permanent residents
SpaceX internships span various engineering areas like aerospace, civil, and electrical, allowing students to work on launch vehicles, spacecraft, and propulsion systems. You will join a technical team, contributing directly to the design, testing, and production of rockets and spacecraft. You will be expected to take ownership of impactful projects with real-world consequences, often supporting launch operations. Mentorship is built into the experience, offering you career and academic insights.
Location: MIT Lincoln Laboratory, Lexington, MA
Stipend: Weekly pay; round-trip travel and discounted housing at Northeastern University for up to 11 weeks for students living 50+ miles away; daily free shuttle provided
Dates: 10–12 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: Varies according to available positions
Eligibility: Undergraduates who have completed their sophomore year and are U.S. citizens
MIT Lincoln Laboratory offers interns the chance to work on national security and defense research projects, focusing on radar, cybersecurity, communications, and autonomous systems. You will contribute to ongoing research under the guidance of experienced scientists and engineers, gaining skills in both applied science and engineering design. You will also present your findings at the program’s end, gaining experience in research communication. The opportunity can offer you exposure to cutting-edge R&D in a research lab setting.
Location: Caltech campus, Pasadena, CA
Stipend: Approximately $7,500
Dates: 10 weeks (summer only)
Application Deadline: Mid-February
Eligibility: Caltech undergraduates with GPA ≥ 2.0, completed three terms, and free from academic/disciplinary sanctions; non-Caltech undergraduates with GPA ≥ 2.5, completed second semester/third quarter, and free from academic/disciplinary sanctions
Caltech’s SURF program is a research fellowship that allows undergraduates to design and execute their own research project under the guidance of a faculty mentor. You can work on topics across engineering, physics, and applied sciences, gaining exposure to the real-world academic research process in your chosen discipline. The program emphasizes proposal writing and independent work, helping you build research skills. You will also submit two reports, an abstract, and a final technical paper, as well as deliver an oral presentation to share your research with peers and Caltech faculty.
Location: NIST campuses in Boulder, CO; Charleston, SC; and Gaithersburg, MD
Stipend: $710/week
Dates: Main 11-week program: May 19 – August 1 | Offset 11-week program: June 2 – August 15 | Nine-week program: June 2 – August 1
Application Deadline: February 6
Eligibility: Undergraduate students at U.S. colleges or universities who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
The SURF program offers students the opportunity to work alongside federal scientists in one of NIST’s laboratories. Your project work can focus on areas like engineering, electrical systems, data modeling, precision measurement, or other relevant fields, depending on your background. Over 9–11 weeks, you will gain experience in engineering research and working with equipment, software, and techniques used by federal researchers. As a participant, you may even have the opportunity to co-author reports. The program ends with research presentations.
Location: Multiple Lockheed Martin facilities in the U.S.
Stipend: Paid internship
Dates: June – August
Application Deadline: Varies; typically fall or winter
Eligibility: Undergraduate students pursuing degrees relevant to the available opportunity; U.S. citizenship required
Lockheed Martin offers various internships to undergraduate and graduate students, allowing them to contribute to projects in aerospace, defense systems, and advanced technology development. You will work with experienced engineers and scientists, gaining exposure to systems design, software, and hardware integration. For instance, as a Software Engineering Intern, you will gain exposure to the entire software development cycle and contribute to the development of technology in areas such as advanced threat warning systems and combat and defense missile development. The program offers mentorship, training, and real-world project responsibility, helping you gain experience in and insights into careers in defense or aerospace.
Location: Multiple U.S. locations
Stipend: Paid internship
Dates: Mid-May – September; dates vary
Application Deadline: Application period is open during the fall (August – October) and the spring (February – March)
Eligibility: Undergraduate/graduate students in STEM; U.S. citizens and international students (depending on role)
Boeing offers students internship opportunities in aerospace design, flight systems, propulsion, and advanced manufacturing. As an intern, you will work on active engineering projects while being mentored by Boeing professionals. The program emphasizes technical skill-building and teamwork, giving you a close look at the aerospace industry’s operations. For instance, as a Quality Engineering intern, you will assist Boeing staff with verifying supplier parts, products, and components that are manufactured for the BDS military, security, and space programs.
Location: Various U.S. Facilities
Stipend: Paid; compensation varies by location and role; some travel or induction-related expenses may be covered
Dates: Typically, 10 weeks with varying dates; duration can also vary by role
Application Deadline: October – November
Eligibility: Undergraduates in computer science, software engineering, or related majors with programming experience (algorithms, data structures, languages such as Java/Python/C++/JavaScript); teamwork and leadership experience are valued
JPMorgan Chase offers opportunities to work on software projects that support the bank’s core products and infrastructure, from backend services and data pipelines to client-facing applications. You will work with algorithms, data structures, and one or more programming languages (Java/Python/C++/JavaScript) while collaborating with engineers, testers, and product partners. The internship is paid, typically runs about ten weeks, and may cover some travel or induction expenses depending on location. Mentorship and code reviews are part of the experience. The experience can help you build professional and technical skills.
Location: Amazon offices across the U.S. (Seattle, WA; Arlington, VA; Austin, TX, etc.) and internationally; remote or hybrid options also available
Stipend: Paid
Dates: 12–16 weeks
Application Deadline: Deadlines depend on role and recruiting timeline
Eligibility: Undergraduate students in CS/EE/related programs with a minimum of one quarter/semester/trimester remaining in their studies after their internship concludes; required work authorization varies by country/role
Amazon offers students the opportunity to join a product or infrastructure team and work on production code, services, or developer tools. Your projects may involve backend systems, distributed services, machine learning pipelines, or device software. You’ll apply software engineering skills, algorithms, data structures, system design, and programming in one or more languages while collaborating with cross-functional teams. Expect clear project deliverables, code reviews, and mentorship from experienced engineers; some teams also offer chances to present results or visit operational sites. Roles are available onsite, remote, or hybrid, giving you flexibility while gaining production-focused engineering experience and building valuable professional connections.
Location: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA
Stipend: Paid Internship
Dates: 40 hours per week for at least 10 weeks in the summer; starts in May/June
Application Deadline: March 14
Eligibility: Undergraduates pursuing STEM degrees with a minimum cumulative 3.00 GPA, U.S. citizenship/lawful permanent residency, research interest, and faculty/mentor alignment
At JPL, you will support engineering or scientific work for planetary, Earth, or astrophysics missions, instruments, mission operations, or laboratory research under the guidance of a technical mentor. Projects are typically hands-on and research-oriented, and you can expect to apply coursework in systems engineering, data analysis, instrumentation, or software development. The internship emphasizes mentorship and alignment with faculty or project investigators, and many placements include regular project reviews and opportunities to present findings to a project team. You will also attend tours, lectures, and career advice sessions, which are arranged by the JPL Education Office.
Location: BMW Group offices in Woodcliff Lake, NJ, Spartanburg, SC, and other sites
Stipend: Compensation varies by country and role; hourly or monthly pay available
Dates: Three to six months; May–August
Application Deadline: Openings are posted year-round; students must apply no less than six months before the position’s starting date
Eligibility: Students enrolled in a Bachelor’s or Master’s program
BMW offers internships in engineering, production, design, or corporate teams, allowing you to work on practical projects that support vehicle development, manufacturing, or business operations. Typical assignments include technical work in vehicle development, production engineering, electrics/electronics, and IT systems, where you will apply classroom knowledge. The program emphasizes hands-on responsibility within a team, regular supervision from industry professionals, and structured feedback through reviews or mentoring sessions. Many placements include site visits, opportunities to present your work, and organised networking or development events that connect you with engineers and managers across the company.
Location: Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, NM, and Livermore, CA
Stipend: Compensation (rates determined by the intern’s cumulative earned units) + health benefits (role-based)
Dates: Summer term + year-round opportunities; 30-40 hours/week
Application Deadline: Varies by role
Eligibility: Undergraduates/graduate students who are U.S. citizens
Sandia offers internships in energy systems, cybersecurity, defense technology, and materials science. As an intern, you will contribute to applied research projects while working with scientists and engineers in a mission-driven lab setting. You will work within a research and development environment to help test engineering solutions and collect data for the lab’s research. The precise responsibilities vary by role. The program emphasizes problem-solving and technical innovation, while also offering mentorship and career development opportunities.
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 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 mentor to develop an independent research paper.
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