Engineering Intern Jobs in Virginia
Engineering Intern jobs in Virginia are consistently active, concentrated in defense contracting, aerospace, civil infrastructure, and cybersecurity, with openings at every stage from first-year undergraduates to students finishing advanced degrees. The largest hiring metros are Northern Virginia, Richmond, and Hampton Roads, where established employers like Northrop Grumman, Leidos, and the Army Corps of Engineers maintain substantial intern programs. The most in-demand specialties right now are systems engineering, electrical engineering, and civil and environmental engineering tied to Virginia's extensive federal and infrastructure projects. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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SPA has an immediate need for a Systems Engineering Intern to provide acquisition and operations support to Nuclear Weapon Security (NWS) capabilities for the Navy's Strategic Systems Programs (SSP) office. The support would be provided from our company HQ in Alexandria, VA. The option to telework part-time is also available.
Timeline for intern selection:
- Applications can be submitted and will be reviewed until 14 November 2026.
- Interviews will be ongoing and conclude by 19 December 2026.
- Offers/decisions will be extended by 26 December 2026.
A "day in the life" for this position will vary greatly but generally includes preparing customer products for SPA leadership review, coordinating with multiple customers via phone/e-mail, occasional local trips to customer locations, and potential trips out of the DC area to locations like Kings Bay, GA, and Bangor WA to support customer meetings or at-sea test events. It is expected that the amount of independence in this position will quickly grow as the employee becomes acclimated to our customer and product set. The intern will also complete a summer project, attend weekly SPA informational round-tables and working lunches with SPA leadership.
- US Citizenship required with the ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret Clearance.
- Ability to report to designated work location in Alexandria, VA, up to full time 5 days a week, based on the needs of the customer.
- Working toward a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering, Data Science, Operations Research or other technical or programmatic field. Must have at least one remaining semester or quarter of school remaining at the beginning of the internship.
- Strong written and oral communication skills, with ability to synthesize data and communicate clearly via written and verbal means.
- Proficient in using Microsoft Office, including Word, PowerPoint, and Excel to communicate to decision makers.
- Proactive interest in learning new skills and engaging new challenges.
- Strong customer service skills, with interest in proactively anticipating and addressing client needs.
- MATLAB or similar programming or data analysis experience.
SPA has an immediate need for a Systems Engineering Intern to provide acquisition and operations support to Nuclear Weapon Security (NWS) capabilities for the Navy's Strategic Systems Programs (SSP) office. The support would be provided from our company HQ in Alexandria, VA. The option to telework part-time is also available.
Timeline for intern selection:
- Applications can be submitted and will be reviewed until 14 November 2026.
- Interviews will be ongoing and conclude by 19 December 2026.
- Offers/decisions will be extended by 26 December 2026.
A "day in the life" for this position will vary greatly but generally includes preparing customer products for SPA leadership review, coordinating with multiple customers via phone/e-mail, occasional local trips to customer locations, and potential trips out of the DC area to locations like Kings Bay, GA, and Bangor WA to support customer meetings or at-sea test events. It is expected that the amount of independence in this position will quickly grow as the employee becomes acclimated to our customer and product set. The intern will also complete a summer project, attend weekly SPA informational round-tables and working lunches with SPA leadership.
- US Citizenship required with the ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret Clearance.
- Ability to report to designated work location in Alexandria, VA, up to full time 5 days a week, based on the needs of the customer.
- Working toward a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering, Data Science, Operations Research or other technical or programmatic field. Must have at least one remaining semester or quarter of school remaining at the beginning of the internship.
- Strong written and oral communication skills, with ability to synthesize data and communicate clearly via written and verbal means.
- Proficient in using Microsoft Office, including Word, PowerPoint, and Excel to communicate to decision makers.
- Proactive interest in learning new skills and engaging new challenges.
- Strong customer service skills, with interest in proactively anticipating and addressing client needs.
- MATLAB or similar programming or data analysis experience.
See All 134+ Engineering Intern Jobs in Virginia
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Find Engineering Intern JobsEngineering Intern Jobs by City in Virginia
Where Virginia roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Engineering Intern Job Market in Virginia
A snapshot from current Virginia openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- General Dynamics Mission Systems10
- Jacobs9
- Burns & McDonnell8
- AECOM6
- Dewberry6
Top Industries Hiring
- Government & Public Sector
- Consulting & Professional Services
What Virginia Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in engineering intern jobs across Virginia.
- Current enrollment in an ABET-accredited engineering degree program at a Virginia or regional university
- Coursework completed in core engineering fundamentals such as thermodynamics, circuits, or mechanics
- Proficiency with engineering software relevant to the discipline, such as AutoCAD, MATLAB, or SolidWorks
- Ability to obtain or hold a U.S. security clearance, required by many Northern Virginia defense contractors
- Strong written and verbal communication skills for technical documentation and team collaboration
- Demonstrated experience with engineering projects through coursework, labs, or prior internship programs
Engineering Intern Jobs in Virginia: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a engineering intern in Virginia?
Most engineering intern roles in Virginia require current enrollment in an accredited undergraduate or graduate engineering program, with relevant coursework completed in your discipline. Virginia Tech, University of Virginia, George Mason University, and Virginia Commonwealth University are among the institutions whose students regularly enter Virginia's intern market. For disciplines like civil engineering where professional licensure matters, familiarity with Virginia's Professional Engineer path through the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation strengthens your candidacy even as a student.
Which companies hire engineering interns in Virginia?
Companies currently hiring engineering interns in Virginia include General Dynamics Mission Systems, Jacobs, and Burns & McDonnell, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Virginia's heavy concentration of federal contractors and government agencies in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads means many of the largest programs are tied to defense, intelligence, and civil infrastructure work.
Which Virginia cities have the most engineering intern jobs?
The Virginia cities with the most engineering intern openings are Richmond, Herndon, and Manassas. Northern Virginia dominates because of its dense cluster of defense contractors and federal agencies, Hampton Roads draws heavily from naval and aerospace operations centered around Naval Station Norfolk and Langley Air Force Base, and Richmond serves as a hub for civil, environmental, and utility engineering tied to the region's infrastructure and energy sectors.
Are there remote engineering intern jobs in Virginia?
Yes, but they're rare. About 72% of engineering intern openings tied to Virginia are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the hands-on and lab-based nature of most engineering intern work. The sub-disciplines most likely to offer remote or hybrid flexibility are software-adjacent roles, data analysis, and systems engineering work that does not require physical lab access or classified facilities.
How can I get hired as a engineering intern in Virginia with little or no experience?
The most realistic path is applying directly through university co-op and intern programs, since large Virginia employers like Northrop Grumman, Leidos, and the Army Corps of Engineers run structured early-career programs specifically designed for students with no prior work history. Completing relevant coursework, building a portfolio of class projects, and obtaining any discipline-specific certifications available to students, such as SOLIDWORKS Associate credentials for mechanical engineers, meaningfully strengthen applications. Adjacent roles like engineering technician or research assistant at Virginia universities also serve as practical entry points.
Where can I find and apply to engineering intern jobs in Virginia?
You can find and apply to engineering intern jobs in Virginia on Migrate Mate, which lists current Virginia openings across disciplines and metro areas. Search the listings for roles that fit your discipline, year of study, and preferred location, then apply directly to the ones that match your background.
See All 134+ Engineering Intern Jobs in Virginia
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