Design Automation Engineer Internships
Design automation 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 across {{top_industries_phrase}}, with Keysight Technologies, Skyworks Solutions, and NVIDIA among the employers posting roles now.
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If you are looking for a challenging and exciting career in the world of technology, then look no further. Skyworks is an innovator of high-performance analog semiconductors whose solutions are powering the wireless networking revolution. Through our broad technology expertise and one of the most extensive product portfolios in the industry, we are Connecting Everyone and Everything, All the Time.
At Skyworks, you will find a fast-paced environment with a strong focus on global collaboration, minimal layers of management, and the freedom to make meaningful contributions in a setting that encourages creative thinking. We are excited about the opportunity to work with you and glad you want to be part of a team of talented individuals who together are changing the way the world communicates.
Requisition ID: 78990
Description
Join Skyworks in Andover, Massachusetts for a Summer/Fall 2027 Co-Op focused on engineering automation, RF validation and workflow optimization while providing exposure to RFIC design. In this role, you will work alongside experienced engineers to develop productivity tools, analyze engineering and test data, support RF design and validation efforts, and improve development processes across multiple projects.
This Co-Op offers hands-on industry experience, opportunities to build advanced technical skills, and exposure to real-world engineering challenges. We look forward to having you on our team and supporting your professional growth while contributing to our continued success.
Responsibilities
- Develop automated workflows that integrate Cadence Virtuoso and/or Keysight ADS to accelerate FEM and module design iterations while improving design quality, efficiency, and consistency.
- Perform RF test evaluation and data validation of products including power amplifiers, RF switches, and Wi-Fi front-end modules (FEMs), leveraging standard RF test equipment and automated data analysis workflows to ensure measurement accuracy and product performance.
- Support RFIC and multi-chip module design and development activities.
- Create automated data analysis, visualization tools, and reporting solutions to improve engineering productivity and decision-making.
- Collaborate with engineers, technicians, and cross-functional teams to solve technical challenges.
- Document tools, workflows, processes, and best practices to promote knowledge sharing and repeatability.
Required Experience and Skills
- Currently pursuing a BS, MS, or PhD in Electrical Engineering (or related) program.
- Experience with scripting and programming languages such as Python, Cadence SKILL, ADS scripting, or MATLAB.
- Hands-on experience using RF test equipment such as oscilloscopes, vector network analyzers (VNA), spectrum analyzers, RF signal generators, power meters, and noise figure analyzers.
- Knowledge of RF performance metrics and characterization techniques including insertion loss, return loss, harmonics, intermodulation distortion (IMD), IIP2/IIP3, VSWR, noise figure (NF), gain, compression (P1dB), EVM, and ACPR.
- Working knowledge of analog and/or RF design in Cadence Virtuoso, including schematic capture, simulation, layout, and verification.
- Experience with automation, data analysis, software development, or workflow improvement projects.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
- Ability to work effectively both independently and within a collaborative team environment.
- Demonstrated initiative, curiosity, and enthusiasm for technical problem solving.
Desired Experience and Skills
- Experience applying machine learning, AI-assisted coding tools, predictive analytics, or data-driven engineering methods to solve technical problems.
- Prior internship/Co-op, research, or industry experience in RF, microwave, semiconductor, or related engineering fields.
- Familiarity with Git, version control systems, and collaborative software development practices.
- Experience using Linux/Unix environments for engineering, scripting, and automation tasks.
Term
- July 2027 – December 2027 Winter/Spring Co-Op
- Must have ability to complete 6-month Co-Op term prior to graduation.
The typical pay range for an Engineering intern across the U.S. is currently USD $29.00 - $49.00 per hour and for a Non-Engineering intern across the U.S. is currently USD $23.00 - $42.00 per hour. Starting pay will depend on level of education, the ultimate job duties and requirements, and work location. Skyworks has different pay ranges for different work locations in the U.S.
Skyworks is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Skyworks strives to create an accessible workplace; if you need an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at accommodations@skyworks.com.
If you are looking for a challenging and exciting career in the world of technology, then look no further. Skyworks is an innovator of high-performance analog semiconductors whose solutions are powering the wireless networking revolution. Through our broad technology expertise and one of the most extensive product portfolios in the industry, we are Connecting Everyone and Everything, All the Time.
At Skyworks, you will find a fast-paced environment with a strong focus on global collaboration, minimal layers of management, and the freedom to make meaningful contributions in a setting that encourages creative thinking. We are excited about the opportunity to work with you and glad you want to be part of a team of talented individuals who together are changing the way the world communicates.
Requisition ID: 78990
Description
Join Skyworks in Andover, Massachusetts for a Summer/Fall 2027 Co-Op focused on engineering automation, RF validation and workflow optimization while providing exposure to RFIC design. In this role, you will work alongside experienced engineers to develop productivity tools, analyze engineering and test data, support RF design and validation efforts, and improve development processes across multiple projects.
This Co-Op offers hands-on industry experience, opportunities to build advanced technical skills, and exposure to real-world engineering challenges. We look forward to having you on our team and supporting your professional growth while contributing to our continued success.
Responsibilities
- Develop automated workflows that integrate Cadence Virtuoso and/or Keysight ADS to accelerate FEM and module design iterations while improving design quality, efficiency, and consistency.
- Perform RF test evaluation and data validation of products including power amplifiers, RF switches, and Wi-Fi front-end modules (FEMs), leveraging standard RF test equipment and automated data analysis workflows to ensure measurement accuracy and product performance.
- Support RFIC and multi-chip module design and development activities.
- Create automated data analysis, visualization tools, and reporting solutions to improve engineering productivity and decision-making.
- Collaborate with engineers, technicians, and cross-functional teams to solve technical challenges.
- Document tools, workflows, processes, and best practices to promote knowledge sharing and repeatability.
Required Experience and Skills
- Currently pursuing a BS, MS, or PhD in Electrical Engineering (or related) program.
- Experience with scripting and programming languages such as Python, Cadence SKILL, ADS scripting, or MATLAB.
- Hands-on experience using RF test equipment such as oscilloscopes, vector network analyzers (VNA), spectrum analyzers, RF signal generators, power meters, and noise figure analyzers.
- Knowledge of RF performance metrics and characterization techniques including insertion loss, return loss, harmonics, intermodulation distortion (IMD), IIP2/IIP3, VSWR, noise figure (NF), gain, compression (P1dB), EVM, and ACPR.
- Working knowledge of analog and/or RF design in Cadence Virtuoso, including schematic capture, simulation, layout, and verification.
- Experience with automation, data analysis, software development, or workflow improvement projects.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
- Ability to work effectively both independently and within a collaborative team environment.
- Demonstrated initiative, curiosity, and enthusiasm for technical problem solving.
Desired Experience and Skills
- Experience applying machine learning, AI-assisted coding tools, predictive analytics, or data-driven engineering methods to solve technical problems.
- Prior internship/Co-op, research, or industry experience in RF, microwave, semiconductor, or related engineering fields.
- Familiarity with Git, version control systems, and collaborative software development practices.
- Experience using Linux/Unix environments for engineering, scripting, and automation tasks.
Term
- July 2027 – December 2027 Winter/Spring Co-Op
- Must have ability to complete 6-month Co-Op term prior to graduation.
The typical pay range for an Engineering intern across the U.S. is currently USD $29.00 - $49.00 per hour and for a Non-Engineering intern across the U.S. is currently USD $23.00 - $42.00 per hour. Starting pay will depend on level of education, the ultimate job duties and requirements, and work location. Skyworks has different pay ranges for different work locations in the U.S.
Skyworks is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Skyworks strives to create an accessible workplace; if you need an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at accommodations@skyworks.com.
Design Automation Engineer Internship Market
Who's Hiring
Tips for Your Design Automation Engineer Internship Search
Apply in the fall for summer cohorts
Large semiconductor, EDA, and chip-design companies open summer internship applications as early as August or September the year before. Smaller companies and co-op programs post closer to their actual start dates, so checking listings regularly throughout the year means you catch both hiring windows.
Build a portfolio before you send anything
Design automation engineer hiring teams want proof of technical ability, not a long job history. Document two or three projects that show scripting for EDA tools, automation flow development, or hardware verification work, and publish the code or design files somewhere reviewers can access them before you apply.
Work your campus network and apply directly at the same time
Career fairs surface structured university-partnership programs that never post publicly, and professors or career center staff often know which employers recruit from your school before listings go live. Applying directly to companies running smaller cohorts in parallel widens the pool you reach beyond what campus channels alone cover.
Practice the technical screen out loud before you apply
Design automation engineer intern interviews typically include a coding or scripting screen focused on algorithms, data structures, and tool-specific problem solving. Practice explaining your reasoning as you work through problems, not just arriving at the answer, since interviewers weight how you think as much as whether the solution is correct.
Target structured new-grad and rotational engineering programs early
Several large semiconductor and systems companies run cohort-based technical internship programs specifically designed to develop engineers new to design automation. These programs recruit on a fixed calendar, often filling their first wave before the role appears on general job boards, so identify the ones that fit and get your application in during the first round.
Set your work-type filter before you start
On-site roles are 0% of the design automation engineer internships listed here. Decide what you can realistically commit to before you search, then filter by location and work type so you are only reviewing roles you can actually accept, rather than sorting through listings that do not fit your situation.
Design Automation Engineer Internships: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a design automation engineer internship?
Lead with coursework and personal projects rather than work history, since hiring teams expect limited experience at the intern level. For design automation engineer candidates, a linked portfolio of scripts, automation flows, or EDA tool configurations gives recruiters something concrete to assess. Combine direct applications with campus career fairs, where recruiters often move faster for students they meet in person.
Can a design automation engineer internship turn into a full-time job?
Many employers extend return offers to strong interns, but conversion is never guaranteed. For design automation engineer interns, what actually drives it is consistent performance on real automation tasks, available headcount on the team, and understanding when return-offer decisions happen. Treat the internship as an extended interview and deliver visible results, without counting on conversion as a given.
When should I apply for design automation engineer internships?
Earlier than most students expect. Large semiconductor and EDA companies recruit summer interns the preceding fall, often wrapping structured programs by November. Smaller companies and co-op programs post closer to start dates, so openings appear year-round. Checking listings regularly means you catch both waves rather than missing the early cohorts entirely.
Are design automation engineer internships paid?
Most professional design automation engineer internships in the U.S. are paid. Compensation varies by company size, industry, and location, and listings show it where the employer chooses to disclose it. Unpaid internships exist but are uncommon in engineering disciplines at established companies.
What should a design automation engineer internship resume include?
Lead with projects, not work history. Include two or three complete, documented projects that show the EDA tools, scripting languages, or automation frameworks you used, and link to the code repository or design portfolio so reviewers can verify the work directly. Add relevant coursework in VLSI, digital design, or computer architecture. Keep the whole document to one page.
Are there remote design automation engineer internships?
Yes. Remote and hybrid roles make up 100% of the design automation engineer internship listings here, with the rest on-site. Remote cohorts fill fast because they draw applicants from across the country, so apply early and filter by work type to see them before they close.
Can international students get design automation 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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