Associate Design Engineer Internships
Associate design engineer internships give university students, recent graduates, and early-career switchers hands-on project experience, mentorship from working engineers, and, at many employers, a path toward a full-time offer. Openings are concentrated in Consulting & Professional Services, Technology & Software, and Electronics & Hardware, with Tesla, Southland Industries, and PACCAR among the employers posting roles now.
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Showing 5 of 156+ Associate Design Engineer Internships
Position Summary
The Shape Corp student engineering program provides students with hands-on experience in a dynamic automotive product development environment. The Product Development Engineering Intern will support the design, development, analysis, testing, and launch of products while working alongside engineering and cross-functional teams. This opportunity is designed to help an entry-level engineering student apply classroom knowledge to real-world product development challenges and build practical technical skills.
Essential Job Functions
- Assist with product design and development activities from concept through validation and production launch.
- Create, review, and revise engineering drawings, models, specifications, and other technical documentation using CAD and product lifecycle management tools.
- Support engineering calculations, tolerance analysis, design reviews, and evaluation of product performance against customer and internal requirements.
- Assist with prototype builds, test planning, validation activities, data collection, and analysis of test results.
- Participate in design failure mode and effects analysis, structured problem-solving, root-cause investigation, and corrective-action activities.
- Support material, manufacturing process, and component selection while considering performance, quality, cost, timing, and manufacturability.
- Coordinate assigned project activities with Engineering, Program Management, Manufacturing, Quality, Test, Purchasing, and other teams.
- Track assigned deliverables, document project status, and communicate technical findings, risks, and recommendations.
- Participate in benchmarking, continuous improvement, and value engineering activities.
- Develop or update technical reports, presentations, engineering documentation, and work instructions.
- Follow applicable safety, quality, customer, and engineering standards while performing assigned work.
- Perform additional duties as assigned by the supervisor, not otherwise specified in this position description.
Education & Experience
- Currently pursuing a bachelor's degree from an accredited program in Mechanical Engineering, Product Design Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Engineering Technology, or a closely related field.
- 3.0 GPA or higher on a 4.0 scale.
- Coursework or project experience involving engineering design, mechanics, materials, manufacturing processes, CAD, testing, or data analysis.
- Proficient with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
- Able to work independently while also contributing effectively within a cross-functional team.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong analytical, technical, and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.
Preferred Qualifications
- Exposure to 3D CAD software such as CATIA, NX, Creo, or SolidWorks through coursework, student projects, or prior work experience.
- Familiarity with engineering drawings, geometric dimensioning and tolerancing, design for manufacturability, or product lifecycle management systems.
- Experience with prototyping, testing, data analysis, technical documentation, or structured engineering problem-solving.
- Participation in engineering design teams such as Formula SAE, Baja SAE, robotics, capstone design, or similar technical projects.
- Interest in automotive structures, lightweighting, product development, and advanced manufacturing.
Position Summary
The Shape Corp student engineering program provides students with hands-on experience in a dynamic automotive product development environment. The Product Development Engineering Intern will support the design, development, analysis, testing, and launch of products while working alongside engineering and cross-functional teams. This opportunity is designed to help an entry-level engineering student apply classroom knowledge to real-world product development challenges and build practical technical skills.
Essential Job Functions
- Assist with product design and development activities from concept through validation and production launch.
- Create, review, and revise engineering drawings, models, specifications, and other technical documentation using CAD and product lifecycle management tools.
- Support engineering calculations, tolerance analysis, design reviews, and evaluation of product performance against customer and internal requirements.
- Assist with prototype builds, test planning, validation activities, data collection, and analysis of test results.
- Participate in design failure mode and effects analysis, structured problem-solving, root-cause investigation, and corrective-action activities.
- Support material, manufacturing process, and component selection while considering performance, quality, cost, timing, and manufacturability.
- Coordinate assigned project activities with Engineering, Program Management, Manufacturing, Quality, Test, Purchasing, and other teams.
- Track assigned deliverables, document project status, and communicate technical findings, risks, and recommendations.
- Participate in benchmarking, continuous improvement, and value engineering activities.
- Develop or update technical reports, presentations, engineering documentation, and work instructions.
- Follow applicable safety, quality, customer, and engineering standards while performing assigned work.
- Perform additional duties as assigned by the supervisor, not otherwise specified in this position description.
Education & Experience
- Currently pursuing a bachelor's degree from an accredited program in Mechanical Engineering, Product Design Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Engineering Technology, or a closely related field.
- 3.0 GPA or higher on a 4.0 scale.
- Coursework or project experience involving engineering design, mechanics, materials, manufacturing processes, CAD, testing, or data analysis.
- Proficient with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
- Able to work independently while also contributing effectively within a cross-functional team.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong analytical, technical, and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.
Preferred Qualifications
- Exposure to 3D CAD software such as CATIA, NX, Creo, or SolidWorks through coursework, student projects, or prior work experience.
- Familiarity with engineering drawings, geometric dimensioning and tolerancing, design for manufacturability, or product lifecycle management systems.
- Experience with prototyping, testing, data analysis, technical documentation, or structured engineering problem-solving.
- Participation in engineering design teams such as Formula SAE, Baja SAE, robotics, capstone design, or similar technical projects.
- Interest in automotive structures, lightweighting, product development, and advanced manufacturing.
Associate Design Engineer Internship Market
Who's Hiring
- Tesla23
- Southland Industries12
- PACCAR8
- Ryan Fireprotection7
- ENERCON SERVICES6
Top Industries Hiring
- Consulting & Professional Services
- Technology & Software
- Electronics & Hardware
- Manufacturing
- Science & Research
Tips for Your Associate Design Engineer Internship Search
Apply earlier than you think necessary
Large engineering employers recruit summer interns the preceding fall, and structured cohorts often close before spring semester starts. Smaller companies and co-op programs post closer to start dates, so openings appear year-round. Starting your search in September or October puts you ahead of most candidates.
Build a portfolio before you apply
Hiring teams for associate design engineer interns have limited work history to review, so a linked portfolio of two or three documented projects is what moves your application forward. Show the tools you used, the design decisions you made, and finished CAD drawings or prototypes wherever you have them.
Work your campus network alongside direct applications
Campus fairs surface structured intern programs tied to your university, and professors or career center staff often know which employers recruit from your school before roles post publicly. Applying directly to companies running smaller cohorts at the same time widens the pool you reach beyond what any single channel covers.
Practice your technical screen out loud
Associate design engineer intern interviews typically include a technical screen covering mechanical concepts, materials, tolerances, or design problem-solving, depending on the team. Practice solving problems out loud and explaining your reasoning, since interviewers weigh how you think through constraints as much as the final answer you reach.
Target structured rotational and university programs early
Many large engineering employers run cohort or rotational intern programs specifically built to train people new to the field. These programs recruit early and fill fast. Identify the ones that match your discipline and apply in the first wave, well before general intern postings open.
Set your work-type filter before you start
On-site roles are 59% of the associate design engineer internships listed here. Decide what you can commit to before you start sorting through postings, then filter by location and work type on Migrate Mate so you're only reviewing roles you can actually take.
Associate Design Engineer Internships: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get an associate design engineer internship?
Lead with coursework, personal projects, and a design or CAD portfolio rather than work history, since hiring teams expect limited experience at the intern level. A portfolio gives recruiters something concrete to assess your technical thinking and output. Pair direct applications with campus career fairs, where recruiters often move faster for students they meet in person.
Can an associate design engineer internship turn into a full-time job?
Many employers extend return offers to strong interns, but conversion is never guaranteed. What actually drives it is performance on real project work, available headcount on the team, and return-offer timing, which varies by company. Position yourself by delivering complete, documented work and expressing interest early, without counting on a specific outcome.
When should I apply for associate design engineer internships?
Earlier than most expect. Large employers recruit summer interns the preceding fall, often closing cohorts before spring semester begins. Smaller companies and co-op programs post closer to their start dates, so openings appear year-round. Checking listings consistently across the full cycle gives you the widest set of options.
Are associate design engineer internships paid?
Most professional associate design engineer internships in the United States are paid. Compensation varies by company size, industry, and location, and listings show it where the employer chooses to disclose it. Unpaid arrangements exist mainly at very small firms or in certain nonprofit settings, so read each posting carefully.
What should an associate design engineer internship resume include?
Lead with projects, not work history. Include two or three complete, documented projects that name the tools and software used and link to a portfolio, CAD files, or design case studies so reviewers can assess your work directly. Add relevant coursework, any technical certifications, and keep the whole document to one page.
Are there remote associate design engineer internships?
Yes. Remote and hybrid roles make up 41% of the associate design engineer internship listings here, with the rest on-site. Remote cohorts fill fast, so apply early and filter by work type to see them before they close.
Can international students get associate design engineer internships?
Yes. F-1 students can intern through CPT while enrolled or through OPT work authorization after finishing a degree, and the employer does not have to file anything for either, so many companies are open to international interns. Confirm your eligibility and timing with your university's international student office before accepting an offer.
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