Hardware Development Engineer Internships
Hardware development engineer internships give university students, recent graduates, and early-career switchers hands-on project experience designing and testing real hardware systems, mentorship from working engineers, and, at many employers, a path toward a full-time offer. Openings are concentrated across Retail, Technology & Software, and E-Commerce & Online Marketplaces, with Amazon, Rockwell Automation, and Zoox among the employers posting roles now.
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Showing 5 of 11+ Hardware Development Engineer Internships
Zoox's internship program offers hands-on experience with cutting-edge technology, mentorship from some of the industry's brightest minds, and the opportunity to make meaningful contributions to real projects. We seek interns who demonstrate strong academic performance, engagement beyond the classroom, intellectual curiosity, and a genuine interest in Zoox's mission.
- Vehicle Integration: Brings subsystems together into a working vehicle, including integration and validation testing.
- Geometric Integration: Manages the packaging and fit of components within the vehicle.
- Powertrain, Thermal & Electrical: Develops and validates the electric drive, battery, thermal and electrical systems.
- Body, Closures & Chassis: Works on body safety structure, closures and chassis, including design, validation, testing and concept fabrication.
- Robot Industrial Design: Shapes the exterior and interior design of the vehicle. Strong transportation or automotive design work is a priority.
- Robot Platform: Develops the vehicle platform that autonomy hardware and software depend on.
In this Role, You Will…
- Design, model and analyze components or subsystems using CAD and simulation tools
- Plan and run tests, then analyze results to validate a design
- Investigate issues found in build or testing and propose fixes
- Document your work and present it to the vehicle engineering team
Internship Requirements
- Currently working towards a B.S., M.S., Ph.D., or advanced degree in a relevant engineering program (mechanical, electrical, automotive, aerospace, systems or industrial design)
- Good academic standing
- Expected to graduate between Fall 2027 and Summer 2028, and enrolled at an accredited college or university throughout the internship
- Able to commit to a full-time, 12-week internship beginning in May/June 2027
- Ability to relocate to the Bay Area, California, for the duration of the internship
- Interns at Zoox may not use any proprietary information they are working on as part of their thesis, any published work with their university, or to be distributed to anyone outside of Zoox
Qualifications
- Foundational understanding of mechanical or electrical design principles, such as GD&T, design for manufacturability and design for assembly
- Experience with CATIA or similar CAD software
- Experience writing test cases and test reports for vehicle or feature requirements
- Ability to select test assets and analyze data in Python, MATLAB or similar tools
- Strong analytical problem solving and clear communication
Bonus Qualifications
- Previous co-op or internship in automotive, robotics, battery systems or power electronics
- FSAE, Baja or similar engineering competition experience
- Simulation or FEA coursework
The monthly salary range for this position is $6,500 to $8,500. Additional benefits may include medical insurance and a stipend to assist with relocation.
About Zoox
Follow us on LinkedIn
Accommodations
A Final Note:
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.
Zoox's internship program offers hands-on experience with cutting-edge technology, mentorship from some of the industry's brightest minds, and the opportunity to make meaningful contributions to real projects. We seek interns who demonstrate strong academic performance, engagement beyond the classroom, intellectual curiosity, and a genuine interest in Zoox's mission.
- Vehicle Integration: Brings subsystems together into a working vehicle, including integration and validation testing.
- Geometric Integration: Manages the packaging and fit of components within the vehicle.
- Powertrain, Thermal & Electrical: Develops and validates the electric drive, battery, thermal and electrical systems.
- Body, Closures & Chassis: Works on body safety structure, closures and chassis, including design, validation, testing and concept fabrication.
- Robot Industrial Design: Shapes the exterior and interior design of the vehicle. Strong transportation or automotive design work is a priority.
- Robot Platform: Develops the vehicle platform that autonomy hardware and software depend on.
In this Role, You Will…
- Design, model and analyze components or subsystems using CAD and simulation tools
- Plan and run tests, then analyze results to validate a design
- Investigate issues found in build or testing and propose fixes
- Document your work and present it to the vehicle engineering team
Internship Requirements
- Currently working towards a B.S., M.S., Ph.D., or advanced degree in a relevant engineering program (mechanical, electrical, automotive, aerospace, systems or industrial design)
- Good academic standing
- Expected to graduate between Fall 2027 and Summer 2028, and enrolled at an accredited college or university throughout the internship
- Able to commit to a full-time, 12-week internship beginning in May/June 2027
- Ability to relocate to the Bay Area, California, for the duration of the internship
- Interns at Zoox may not use any proprietary information they are working on as part of their thesis, any published work with their university, or to be distributed to anyone outside of Zoox
Qualifications
- Foundational understanding of mechanical or electrical design principles, such as GD&T, design for manufacturability and design for assembly
- Experience with CATIA or similar CAD software
- Experience writing test cases and test reports for vehicle or feature requirements
- Ability to select test assets and analyze data in Python, MATLAB or similar tools
- Strong analytical problem solving and clear communication
Bonus Qualifications
- Previous co-op or internship in automotive, robotics, battery systems or power electronics
- FSAE, Baja or similar engineering competition experience
- Simulation or FEA coursework
The monthly salary range for this position is $6,500 to $8,500. Additional benefits may include medical insurance and a stipend to assist with relocation.
About Zoox
Follow us on LinkedIn
Accommodations
A Final Note:
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.
Hardware Development Engineer Internship Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Retail
- Technology & Software
- E-Commerce & Online Marketplaces
Tips for Your Hardware Development Engineer Internship Search
Apply in the fall for summer roles
Large employers in semiconductors, aerospace, and consumer electronics open summer intern applications as early as August and close them well before the new year. Smaller companies and co-op programs post closer to start dates, so check listings throughout the year rather than waiting until spring.
Build a hardware portfolio before you apply
Recruiters screening hardware development engineer interns want proof of hands-on work, not a list of coursework. Document two or three complete projects with schematics, PCB layouts, simulation results, or CAD files and host them somewhere reviewers can inspect the actual work. A strong portfolio beats a longer resume at the intern level.
Work your campus network and apply directly at the same time
Campus career fairs surface structured intern 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 catches openings that never appear at a fair.
Practice your technical screen out loud
Hardware development engineer intern interviews typically include a technical screen covering circuits analysis, digital logic, embedded systems concepts, or design trade-offs. Practice solving problems out loud and explaining your reasoning step by step, because interviewers weigh how you think through a problem as much as whether you reach the correct answer.
Target structured new-grad hardware programs early
Many large technology and semiconductor companies run rotational or cohort-based hardware intern programs specifically designed to train candidates new to the field. These programs recruit on a fixed calendar, fill in the first application wave, and offer structured mentorship that standalone team placements don't always provide. Identify the ones that fit your interests and apply as soon as they open.
Set your work-type filter before you start
On-site roles are 20% of the hardware development engineer internships listed here. Hardware work often requires lab access, so decide what you can actually commit to before you start applying. Filter by location and work type on Migrate Mate first so you're only reviewing roles you can take, not sorting through postings that don't fit your situation.
Hardware Development Engineer Internships: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a hardware development engineer internship?
Lead with coursework and personal projects rather than work history, since hiring teams expect limited professional experience at the intern level. Build a portfolio of complete hardware projects, documented with schematics, design files, and test results, so recruiters have something concrete to assess. Apply directly to companies and attend campus career fairs, where engineers often move faster for students they meet in person.
Can a hardware development 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 is consistent performance on real project work, available headcount on the team at the end of your term, and timing your expression of interest before the offer window closes. Position for a return offer by delivering on your assigned scope, but keep applying elsewhere in parallel.
When should I apply for hardware development engineer internships?
Earlier than most students expect. Large employers, particularly in semiconductors and defense electronics, recruit summer interns the preceding fall, with application windows opening in August and September. Smaller companies and co-op programs post closer to their actual start dates, so openings appear year-round. Checking listings regularly means you won't miss roles that fill quickly outside the main recruiting season.
Are hardware development engineer internships paid?
Most professional hardware development engineer internships in the United States are paid. Compensation varies by company size, industry, and location, and listings display it where the employer chooses to disclose it. Larger technology and semiconductor companies tend to pay more than smaller startups or nonprofit organizations, so comparing offers across a range of employers is worth doing before accepting.
What should a hardware development engineer internship resume include?
Lead with projects, not work history. Highlight two or three complete, documented hardware projects, naming the tools, simulation software, and design environments you used, and link to your design files, CAD portfolios, or GitHub repositories where reviewers can inspect the actual work. Add relevant coursework in circuits, embedded systems, or signal processing, and keep the whole document to one page.
Are there remote hardware development engineer internships?
Yes. Remote and hybrid roles make up 80% of the hardware development engineer internship listings here, with the rest on-site. Hardware roles often require lab access, so the remote share is shaped by whether the team can structure firmware, simulation, or documentation work off-site. Remote cohorts fill fast, so apply early and filter by work type to see them.
Can international students get hardware development 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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