Data Engineer Internships

Data engineer internships give university students, recent graduates, and early-career switchers hands-on project experience building real data pipelines, mentorship from working engineers, and, at many employers, a path toward a full-time offer. Openings are concentrated in Technology & Software, Social Media, and Food & Beverage, with TikTok, Tesla, and Campbell's among the employers posting roles now.

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Overview

Open roles31
Top stateCalifornia
Top employerTikTok
Top citySan Jose, CA
Work type95% On-site
Top industryTechnology

Showing 5 of 31+ Data Engineer Internships

Intel Corporation
DTCO Data Engineer Intern
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Intel Corporation
New 1m ago
DTCO Data Engineer Intern
Intel Corporation
Austin, Texas
Business Analysis
Data Analytics
Quality Assurance & Testing (QA Testing)
$999 - $1000k/yr
Bachelor's degree in statistics
10,000+

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Tesla
Internship, Data Engineer, Applications Engineering (Fall 2026)
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Tesla
New 1m ago
Internship, Data Engineer, Applications Engineering (Fall 2026)
Tesla
Fremont, California
Project Management
Software Engineering
Technical Product & Program Management
$32.45 - $45.43/hr
On-Site
10,000+

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FFF Enterprises
Intern, Data Intelligence Engineer
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FFF Enterprises
New 1m ago
Intern, Data Intelligence Engineer
FFF Enterprises
Flower Mound, Texas
Business Analysis
Business Strategy
Corporate Development & M&A
201-500

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Tesla
Internship, Data Capture Application Engineer, Energy Engineering (Fall 2026)
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Tesla
New 1m ago
Internship, Data Capture Application Engineer, Energy Engineering (Fall 2026)
Tesla
Palo Alto, California
Civil Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
Structural Engineering
$20 - $50/hr
On-Site
10,000+

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Campbell's
Data Engineer - Operational Support (Co-op)
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Campbell's
New 1m ago
Data Engineer - Operational Support (Co-op)
Campbell's
Camden, New Jersey
Cloud Engineering
DevOps
IT Support
10,000+

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Data Engineer Internship Market

Who's Hiring

TikTok
TikTok9 open roles
Tesla
Tesla6 open roles
Campbell's
Campbell's3 open roles

Top Industries Hiring

  • Technology & Software
  • Social Media
  • Food & Beverage
  • Media & Entertainment
  • Manufacturing

Tips for Your Data Engineer Internship Search

Apply earlier than the academic calendar suggests

Large employers in tech, finance, and consulting recruit summer data engineer interns the preceding fall, sometimes before October. Smaller companies and co-op programs post closer to start dates. Check for openings continuously rather than waiting until spring, or you will miss the first and often largest recruiting wave.

Build a portfolio that replaces work history

Hiring teams reviewing data engineer interns expect limited professional experience and look for proof in other forms. Two or three complete GitHub projects, each showing a full pipeline, the tools used, and clean documentation, give recruiters something concrete to evaluate. Coursework in SQL, Python, distributed systems, or cloud platforms strengthens the same signal.

Work your campus network and apply directly at the same time

Campus career fairs surface structured internship programs tied to your university, and career center staff often know which employers recruit from your school before roles go public. Applying directly to companies running smaller cohorts alongside campus activity reaches employers who don't recruit on campus at all, widening the pool you can realistically land in.

Practice the data engineer technical screen before you apply

Most data engineer intern screens include a coding round focused on data structures, algorithms, and SQL, expect to write and optimize queries, design basic schemas, and explain your reasoning out loud. Practice talking through your approach as you solve problems, not just arriving at the answer, because interviewers weigh how you think as much as the final result.

Target structured rotational and university programs early

Many larger employers run dedicated data engineering cohort or university programs designed to train people new to the field. These programs recruit early, fill fast, and offer more structured mentorship than ad-hoc intern placements. Identify the ones that fit your school year and apply in the first recruiting wave rather than after the cohort closes.

Set your work-type filter before you start

On-site roles are 95% of the data engineer internships listed here. Decide what you can realistically commit to, on-site, hybrid, or remote, before you start applying. Filter by location and work type on Migrate Mate so you're reviewing only roles you can actually take, rather than sorting through listings that won't work for your situation.

Data Engineer Internships: Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get a data engineer internship?

Lead with coursework and personal projects rather than work history, hiring teams expect limited experience at the intern level. A GitHub portfolio with complete, documented pipelines using tools like Python, SQL, or Spark gives recruiters something concrete to assess. Alongside direct applications, attend campus career fairs, where data team recruiters often move faster for students they meet in person.

Can a data engineer internship turn into a full-time job?

Many employers extend return offers to strong interns, but conversion is never guaranteed. What drives it is consistent performance on real project work, available headcount on the team, and understanding the return-offer timeline before your internship ends. Position yourself by treating every deliverable as a work sample, without counting on the outcome.

When should I apply for data engineer internships?

Earlier than most candidates expect. Large employers, especially in tech and finance, recruit summer interns the preceding fall, sometimes as early as August or September. Smaller companies and co-op programs post much closer to start dates, so openings appear year-round. Checking regularly means you won't miss the early recruiting windows at structured programs.

Are data engineer internships paid?

Most professional data engineer internships in the U.S. are paid. Compensation varies by company size, industry, and location. Where an employer discloses pay, the listing will show it. Unpaid arrangements are uncommon outside academic credit arrangements, and those are typically disclosed upfront in the posting.

What should a data engineer internship resume include?

Lead with two or three complete, documented projects rather than work history. For each project, name the tools used, Python, SQL, Spark, dbt, Airflow, cloud platforms, and link to the code on GitHub so reviewers can assess the work directly. Add relevant coursework below projects, keep everything to one page, and leave off anything unrelated to data engineering.

Are there remote data engineer internships?

Yes. Remote and hybrid roles make up 5% of the data engineer internship listings here, with the rest on-site. Remote cohorts fill fast because they attract candidates from across the country, so apply early once you decide what you can commit to. Use the work-type filter to see only remote or hybrid roles.

Can international students get data 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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