Design Engineer Internships
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 across Manufacturing and Electronics & Hardware, with Tesla, Southland Industries, and Skyworks Solutions among the employers posting roles now.
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Showing 5 of 33+ Design Engineer Internships
United States, Georgia, Atlanta
Information Technology
14-Aug-2026
Ref #: 33700
How you'll help us Keep Climbing (overview & key responsibilities)
We are seeking a R&D Hardware Design Engineer to design and develop systems and components that incorporates the latest technologies. This includes working with the business development and engineering teams to determine and develop feature requirements, rapidly test and iterate features with prospective customers, and present outputs to company leaders and industry partners.
The R&D Hardware Design Engineer conducts research, evaluates potential partners, and builds a sustainable product quickly that gets the details right. He or she is a future-focused expert in technology and ensures that we have the correct technical strategies for our products. The R&D Engineer helps to drive product from idea through to execution, including field and desk research, low-fidelity prototypes, Proofs of Concept and Minimal Viable Products.
The successful candidate will have an established background in researching and developing customer-facing experiences (physical and digital), a strong technical ability, a start-up mentality, excellent project management skills, and great communication skills.
What we have: A diverse team with …
- Varying experiences, backgrounds and skillsets
- A startup mentality (fail/learn fast and cheap)
- Human-centered philosophy
- A strong emphasis on research, design, and technology
What you need to succeed (minimum qualifications)
- Must be pursing an Undergraduate degree in an accredited university, college, or institution
- Be hands on with a deep understanding of technology including AI
- Experience developing full stack applications
- Experience using large language models (LLM) and Copilot style assistants
- Experience with 3D printing parts using different materials such as ABS, PLA, etc.
- Experience using soldering equipment
- Can interpret schematic diagrams/drawings
- Good electrical engineering fundamentals and can hook up components on a breadboard
- Is a tinkerer and likes to build new things
- Knowledge of hardware communication protocols such as UART, SPI, I2C, etc.
- Develop rapid prototypes via software and/or hardware technology and tools (e.g., Digital apps, IoT devices, etc.)
- Consistently prioritizes safety and security of self, others, and personal data.
- Embraces diverse people, thinking, and styles.
- Possesses a high school diploma, GED, or high school equivalency.
- Is at least 18 years of age and has authorization to work in the United States.
What will give you a competitive edge (preferred qualifications)
- Experience in one or more of the following skillsets IoT, Firmware, Biometrics, Robotics and other hardware/software technologies
- Self-driven, ambitious and entrepreneurial
- Embraces diverse people, thinking and styles
United States, Georgia, Atlanta
Information Technology
14-Aug-2026
Ref #: 33700
How you'll help us Keep Climbing (overview & key responsibilities)
We are seeking a R&D Hardware Design Engineer to design and develop systems and components that incorporates the latest technologies. This includes working with the business development and engineering teams to determine and develop feature requirements, rapidly test and iterate features with prospective customers, and present outputs to company leaders and industry partners.
The R&D Hardware Design Engineer conducts research, evaluates potential partners, and builds a sustainable product quickly that gets the details right. He or she is a future-focused expert in technology and ensures that we have the correct technical strategies for our products. The R&D Engineer helps to drive product from idea through to execution, including field and desk research, low-fidelity prototypes, Proofs of Concept and Minimal Viable Products.
The successful candidate will have an established background in researching and developing customer-facing experiences (physical and digital), a strong technical ability, a start-up mentality, excellent project management skills, and great communication skills.
What we have: A diverse team with …
- Varying experiences, backgrounds and skillsets
- A startup mentality (fail/learn fast and cheap)
- Human-centered philosophy
- A strong emphasis on research, design, and technology
What you need to succeed (minimum qualifications)
- Must be pursing an Undergraduate degree in an accredited university, college, or institution
- Be hands on with a deep understanding of technology including AI
- Experience developing full stack applications
- Experience using large language models (LLM) and Copilot style assistants
- Experience with 3D printing parts using different materials such as ABS, PLA, etc.
- Experience using soldering equipment
- Can interpret schematic diagrams/drawings
- Good electrical engineering fundamentals and can hook up components on a breadboard
- Is a tinkerer and likes to build new things
- Knowledge of hardware communication protocols such as UART, SPI, I2C, etc.
- Develop rapid prototypes via software and/or hardware technology and tools (e.g., Digital apps, IoT devices, etc.)
- Consistently prioritizes safety and security of self, others, and personal data.
- Embraces diverse people, thinking, and styles.
- Possesses a high school diploma, GED, or high school equivalency.
- Is at least 18 years of age and has authorization to work in the United States.
What will give you a competitive edge (preferred qualifications)
- Experience in one or more of the following skillsets IoT, Firmware, Biometrics, Robotics and other hardware/software technologies
- Self-driven, ambitious and entrepreneurial
- Embraces diverse people, thinking and styles
Design Engineer Internship Market
Who's Hiring
- Tesla11
- Southland Industries9
- Skyworks Solutions2
- Garmin1
- L3Harris1
Top Industries Hiring
- Manufacturing
- Electronics & Hardware
Tips for Your Design Engineer Internship Search
Apply in the fall for summer roles
Large employers open summer design engineer internship applications as early as August or September the year before. If you wait until spring, the most structured cohort programs are already closed. Smaller companies and co-op programs post closer to start dates, so checking listings consistently throughout the year keeps you covered for both.
Build a portfolio before you apply
Hiring teams for design engineer interns expect limited work history and assess candidates on project evidence instead. Prepare two or three documented projects that show your design or CAD work, the tools you used, and a link or file reviewers can open. A portfolio gives recruiters something concrete to evaluate before an interview is scheduled.
Work your campus network and apply directly at the same time
Campus career fairs surface structured programs tied to your university, and recruiters there often move faster for students they meet in person. Professors and career center staff frequently know which employers recruit from your school before roles post publicly. Applying directly to companies running smaller cohorts alongside campus activity reaches employers who do not attend your fair.
Practice your technical screen out loud
Design engineer intern interviews typically include a technical screen covering CAD tools, engineering principles, or design problem-solving, and interviewers weigh how you reason through a problem as much as the final answer. Practice explaining your approach out loud rather than working silently, articulating your thinking is a skill that improves with repetition before the actual screen.
Target structured rotational and university programs early
Larger engineering and manufacturing companies run cohort and rotational internship programs designed to develop people new to the field, and these programs recruit well ahead of smaller opportunities. Identify the ones that align with your target industry, note their application windows, and submit in the first wave, structured programs fill before general postings do.
Set your work-type filter before you start
On-site roles are 88% of the design engineer internships listed here. Decide what you can realistically commit to, relocation, commute, or fully remote, before sorting through listings. Filtering by location and work type upfront means you spend your time on roles you can actually accept rather than applying broadly and narrowing down later.
Design Engineer Internships: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a design engineer internship?
Lead with coursework, personal projects, and a portfolio rather than work history, hiring teams expect limited experience at the intern level. A linked portfolio or CAD project file 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 engineer internship turn into a full-time job?
Many employers extend return offers to strong interns, but conversion is never guaranteed. What drives it most is the quality of your work on real projects, available headcount on the team at the time offers go out, and timing, return-offer decisions often come before your internship ends. Treat it as a possibility worth working toward, not a certainty.
When should I apply for design engineer internships?
Earlier than most students expect. Large employers recruit summer interns the preceding fall, with applications opening as early as August or September. Smaller companies and co-op programs post much closer to start dates, so openings appear year-round. Checking listings regularly and applying as soon as a role fits your profile is the most reliable approach.
Are design engineer internships paid?
Most professional design engineer internships in the U.S. are paid. Compensation varies by company size, industry, and location, and many listings disclose the range where the employer chooses to share it. Unpaid arrangements exist mainly at very small organizations or in certain nonprofit contexts, so review each listing carefully.
What should a design engineer internship resume include?
Lead with projects, not work history. Two or three complete, documented projects showing the tools you used and linking to the work, a CAD portfolio, a design case study, or a GitHub repository, give reviewers something concrete to assess. Add relevant coursework, keep technical skills visible, and keep the whole document to one page.
Are there remote design engineer internships?
Yes. Remote and hybrid roles make up 13% of the 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.
What is a rotational design engineer internship program?
Some larger manufacturers and engineering firms run structured rotational internship programs that move interns through two or three design or product teams over a single summer. These programs are built to develop people new to the field, offer broader exposure than a single-team placement, recruit early in the academic year, and are competitive, apply in the first wave if a program fits your goals.
Can international students get 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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