Electrical Hardware Engineer Internships
Electrical hardware engineer internships give university students, recent graduates, and early-career switchers hands-on project experience designing and testing real circuits and embedded systems, mentorship from working engineers, and, at many employers, a path toward a full-time offer. Openings are concentrated across Technology & Software, with CesiumAstro, Hewlett Packard Enterprise | HPE, and RTX among the employers posting roles now.
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The objective of the Student Programs at Nexteer Automotive is to select students with high potential and provide them with "real world" work experiences. Work assignments expose students to many of the company’s products, processes and procedures. Assignments are designed to assimilate acquired classroom education with actual hands-on work experience in a technical environment. In addition, Nexteer Automotive gains the opportunity to find new talent to enhance productivity while providing students exposure to full-time career opportunities.
We are looking for an inquisitive, highly self-motivated individual who is eager to learn and has good attention to detail, creativity, time management and interpersonal skills. This position is responsible for circuit design, board layout, testing and debug of new technologies for power electronics circuits, electric motor drives, embedded systems and sensors. The ideal candidate will be eager to apply and explore their skills in hands-on build, test and debug of prototype hardware.
Description:
- Acquire, build, and test prototype parts i.e., electric motors, sensors, controllers, circuit boards and wire harnesses for bench/dyno/vehicle usage.
- Developing test plans, validation setup and verification criteria for electrical components and circuits.
- Hands-on construction, testing and debug of new electrical hardware to demonstrate and evaluate new technologies for both bench level and vehicle level systems
- Perform electrical tests involving any combination of electric motors, sensor, controllers, etc.
- Documents test results and correct deficiencies found in designs and prototypes.
- Assists engineers with project duties on complex electromechanical ("Mechatronic") systems.
Requirements:
- Student pursuing a BS or MS in Electrical Engineering, with emphasis in Power Electronics, Embedded Systems or similar specialization
- Must have a 2.7 GPA on a 4.0 scale
- Candidate must be enrolled in a collegiate program the following fall
- Candidate must be able to work onsite in Saginaw, MI
- Knowledge of circuit analysis and analog/digital electronics; power electronics or electric machines coursework is a plus
- Hands-on experience with lab equipment (oscilloscopes, multimeters, power supplies) and ability to do hands-on build and debug work
- General competency in all core fields (electronics, electromagnetic)
- Excellent problem-solving techniques
- Good organization and documentation abilities
- Ability to manage & support multiple activities
- Strong desire to learn new skills and strong work ethic
- Demonstrated ability to work independently and with others
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
- Must be able to lift 25+ lbs of lab equipment
- Candidate will be expected to work onsite in Saginaw
- Candidate must have the right to work in the US and not require current or future sponsorship
Nexteer is an Equal Opportunity Employer Disabled/Minorities/Veterans/Women
Nexteer is an E-Verify employer. E-Verify is an internet based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA) that allows participating employees to electronically verify the employment eligibility of their newly hired employees in the United States.
Accessibility for Applicants with Disabilities: If you need a reasonable accommodation for the online application process due to a disability please email careers@nexteer.com. Please provide your contact information and details about the posted position of interest. Only inquiries regarding assistance for those who need an accommodation with the online application process due to a disability will be returned.
The objective of the Student Programs at Nexteer Automotive is to select students with high potential and provide them with "real world" work experiences. Work assignments expose students to many of the company’s products, processes and procedures. Assignments are designed to assimilate acquired classroom education with actual hands-on work experience in a technical environment. In addition, Nexteer Automotive gains the opportunity to find new talent to enhance productivity while providing students exposure to full-time career opportunities.
We are looking for an inquisitive, highly self-motivated individual who is eager to learn and has good attention to detail, creativity, time management and interpersonal skills. This position is responsible for circuit design, board layout, testing and debug of new technologies for power electronics circuits, electric motor drives, embedded systems and sensors. The ideal candidate will be eager to apply and explore their skills in hands-on build, test and debug of prototype hardware.
Description:
- Acquire, build, and test prototype parts i.e., electric motors, sensors, controllers, circuit boards and wire harnesses for bench/dyno/vehicle usage.
- Developing test plans, validation setup and verification criteria for electrical components and circuits.
- Hands-on construction, testing and debug of new electrical hardware to demonstrate and evaluate new technologies for both bench level and vehicle level systems
- Perform electrical tests involving any combination of electric motors, sensor, controllers, etc.
- Documents test results and correct deficiencies found in designs and prototypes.
- Assists engineers with project duties on complex electromechanical ("Mechatronic") systems.
Requirements:
- Student pursuing a BS or MS in Electrical Engineering, with emphasis in Power Electronics, Embedded Systems or similar specialization
- Must have a 2.7 GPA on a 4.0 scale
- Candidate must be enrolled in a collegiate program the following fall
- Candidate must be able to work onsite in Saginaw, MI
- Knowledge of circuit analysis and analog/digital electronics; power electronics or electric machines coursework is a plus
- Hands-on experience with lab equipment (oscilloscopes, multimeters, power supplies) and ability to do hands-on build and debug work
- General competency in all core fields (electronics, electromagnetic)
- Excellent problem-solving techniques
- Good organization and documentation abilities
- Ability to manage & support multiple activities
- Strong desire to learn new skills and strong work ethic
- Demonstrated ability to work independently and with others
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
- Must be able to lift 25+ lbs of lab equipment
- Candidate will be expected to work onsite in Saginaw
- Candidate must have the right to work in the US and not require current or future sponsorship
Nexteer is an Equal Opportunity Employer Disabled/Minorities/Veterans/Women
Nexteer is an E-Verify employer. E-Verify is an internet based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA) that allows participating employees to electronically verify the employment eligibility of their newly hired employees in the United States.
Accessibility for Applicants with Disabilities: If you need a reasonable accommodation for the online application process due to a disability please email careers@nexteer.com. Please provide your contact information and details about the posted position of interest. Only inquiries regarding assistance for those who need an accommodation with the online application process due to a disability will be returned.
Electrical Hardware Engineer Internship Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software
Tips for Your Electrical Hardware Engineer Internship Search
Apply in the fall for summer internships
Large employers in aerospace, defense, and semiconductors open summer cohort applications as early as September. If you wait until spring, the structured programs at those companies are already closed. Smaller firms and co-op roles post year-round, so staying active across both cycles gives you the widest set of options.
Build a hardware portfolio before you apply
Hiring teams for electrical hardware engineer interns want something concrete to evaluate. Document two or three complete projects with schematics, PCB layouts, or embedded firmware, name the tools you used, and make the files or a writeup publicly accessible. A linked portfolio does more work for you than a list of coursework ever will.
Work your campus network and apply directly at the same time
Campus career fairs surface structured 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 alongside campus activity widens the pool you reach and keeps you from depending on a single channel.
Practice the technical screen before you apply
Electrical hardware engineer intern interviews typically include a circuits or systems design question, sometimes a debugging scenario with a schematic. Practice out loud, walking through your reasoning step by step, because interviewers weigh how you think through a problem as much as whether you land on the right answer.
Target structured hardware internship programs early
Many large employers in defense, semiconductor, and consumer electronics run dedicated hardware engineering cohort programs designed to train people new to the field. These programs recruit early, fill fast, and often include rotations across hardware disciplines. Identify the ones that fit your focus area and get your applications in during the first wave.
Set your work-type filter before you start
On-site roles are 100% of the electrical hardware engineer internships listed here. Hardware work often requires lab access, so a large share of roles expect you to be on-site. Decide what you can realistically commit to, then filter by location and work type so you are not sorting through positions you cannot take.
Electrical Hardware Engineer Internships: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get an electrical hardware engineer internship?
Lead with coursework and personal projects rather than work history, since hiring teams expect limited experience at the intern level. The concrete artifact that gives recruiters something to assess is a hardware portfolio, whether that is a documented PCB design, a completed embedded systems project, or a schematic with test results. Combine direct applications with campus career fairs, where recruiters often move faster for students they meet in person.
Can an electrical hardware 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 for electrical hardware engineer interns is performance on real project work, available headcount on the team, and how early the return-offer conversation happens. The practical approach is to treat every assignment as a demonstration of your abilities without counting on a specific outcome.
When should I apply for electrical hardware engineer internships?
Earlier than most students expect. Large employers, particularly in aerospace, defense, and semiconductors, recruit summer interns the preceding fall, with application windows opening in September and October. Smaller companies and co-op programs post closer to start dates, so openings appear year-round. Checking listings regularly rather than waiting for a single season keeps you from missing early cohorts.
Are electrical hardware engineer internships paid?
Most professional electrical hardware engineer internships in the United States are paid. Compensation varies by company size, industry, and location, and listings show pay ranges where the employer chooses to disclose them. Research or government lab positions may offer stipends rather than hourly wages, so read each listing carefully to understand the structure before applying.
What should an electrical hardware engineer internship resume include?
Lead with projects, not work history. Include two or three complete, documented hardware projects, naming the tools used, such as Altium, KiCad, or MATLAB, and linking to a portfolio, GitHub repository, or design file where the recruiter can review your work. Add relevant coursework in circuits, signals, or embedded systems. Keep the whole document to one page.
Are there remote electrical hardware engineer internships?
Yes. Remote and hybrid roles make up 0% of the electrical hardware engineer internship listings here, with the rest on-site. Hardware roles often require lab access, so the remote share tends to skew toward firmware, verification, or systems work rather than bench-level design. Remote cohorts fill fast, so apply early and filter by work type to see them.
Can international students get electrical hardware 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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