Industrial Design Engineer Internships
Industrial design engineer internships give university students, recent graduates, and early-career switchers hands-on project experience developing physical and digital products, mentorship from working engineers, and, at many employers, a path toward a full-time offer. Openings are concentrated across Manufacturing, with 3M, Stanley Black & Decker, and Henkel among the employers posting roles now.
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Showing 5 of 28+ Industrial Design Engineer Internships
Do your Best Work in Mooresville
This position is based at our headquarters in Mooresville, North Carolina. Our corporate office is a space where you can collaborate and do your best work. Take a walk, grab a bite (or a cup of coffee), work out or get a check-up – we invest in you so you can find your inspiration.
Your Impact
Bring your creativity to life and help design products that make a difference in the home. As an Industrial Design Intern, you’ll work alongside Lowe’s Product Development Design Team to help create innovative, customer-focused products. You’ll gain hands-on experience across the design process—from researching customer needs and market trends to developing concepts, building prototypes, and bringing ideas to life through sketches and 3D modeling.
Working under the guidance of experienced designers, you’ll contribute to real product development projects while learning how great design balances customer needs, functionality, aesthetics, brand strategy, and business objectives.
Summer Internship Program
Whether you’re starting your professional journey or pivoting to a new field, Lowe’s offers the resources and opportunities you need to thrive.
Our 10-week summer internship program (May 24 – July 30, 2027) immerses you in real-world retail operations. You’ll work directly with industry experts across our stores, distribution centers, and corporate offices, gaining practical experience through hands-on projects that make meaningful contributions to our business and communities.
To succeed in this role, we seek future leaders who:
- Drive innovation with fresh perspectives and an eagerness to learn.
- Bring dynamic energy while staying open to inspiration.
- Take on challenges with sharp thinking and embrace new opportunities.
- Build strong partnerships through collaborative teamwork.
- Push boundaries to discover what’s possible.
Do Your Best Work in Mooresville
This internship is based at our headquarters in Mooresville, North Carolina. Our corporate office is a space where you can collaborate and do your best work. Take a walk, grab a bite (or a cup of coffee), work out or get a check-up – we invest in you so you can find your inspiration.
What You’ll Do
- Research customer needs, market trends, and emerging product innovations.
- Generate and communicate product concepts through sketching, ideation, and design development.
- Create 2D drawings, 3D CAD models, prototypes, and technical design documentation.
- Build, evaluate, test, and refine prototypes through an iterative design process.
- Help develop customer-centric products that support Lowe’s brand and business strategies.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams and external partners to bring design concepts to life.
- Develop compelling visuals and presentations that communicate design concepts and direction.
- Gain exposure to product feasibility, manufacturing considerations, and cost evaluation.
What You’ll Gain
This internship provides an opportunity to apply your design skills in a real-world retail and product development environment, learn from experienced design professionals, and see how an idea progresses from customer insight and early concept through design, prototyping, and product development.
Minimum Qualifications
- Pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design or a related field (e.g. Product Design, Human-Centered Design)
- Expected graduation dates of December 2027 or May 2028.
Benefits
- Paid Internship
- Eligibility for Lowe’s Housing Benefit
- 10% Associate Discount
About Lowe’s
Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) is a FORTUNE® 100 home improvement company with total fiscal year 2025 sales of more than $86 billion. Lowe’s employs approximately 300,000 associates and operates over 1,750 home improvement stores, 540 branches and 120 distribution centers. Lowe’s is a core value S&P 500 equity stock and a dividend aristocrat. Based in Mooresville, N.C., Lowe’s supports the communities it serves through programs focused on creating safe, affordable housing, improving community spaces, helping to develop the next generation of skilled trade experts and providing disaster relief to communities in need. For more information, visit Lowes.com.
Lowe’s is an equal opportunity employer and administers all personnel practices without regard to race, color, religious creed, sex, gender, age, ancestry, national origin, mental or physical disability or medical condition, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, military or veteran status, genetic information, or any other category protected under federal, state, or local law.
Starting rate of pay may vary based on factors including, but not limited to, position offered, location, education, training, and/or experience. For information regarding our benefit programs and eligibility, please visit https://talent.lowes.com/us/en/benefits.Do your Best Work in Mooresville
This position is based at our headquarters in Mooresville, North Carolina. Our corporate office is a space where you can collaborate and do your best work. Take a walk, grab a bite (or a cup of coffee), work out or get a check-up – we invest in you so you can find your inspiration.
Your Impact
Bring your creativity to life and help design products that make a difference in the home. As an Industrial Design Intern, you’ll work alongside Lowe’s Product Development Design Team to help create innovative, customer-focused products. You’ll gain hands-on experience across the design process—from researching customer needs and market trends to developing concepts, building prototypes, and bringing ideas to life through sketches and 3D modeling.
Working under the guidance of experienced designers, you’ll contribute to real product development projects while learning how great design balances customer needs, functionality, aesthetics, brand strategy, and business objectives.
Summer Internship Program
Whether you’re starting your professional journey or pivoting to a new field, Lowe’s offers the resources and opportunities you need to thrive.
Our 10-week summer internship program (May 24 – July 30, 2027) immerses you in real-world retail operations. You’ll work directly with industry experts across our stores, distribution centers, and corporate offices, gaining practical experience through hands-on projects that make meaningful contributions to our business and communities.
To succeed in this role, we seek future leaders who:
- Drive innovation with fresh perspectives and an eagerness to learn.
- Bring dynamic energy while staying open to inspiration.
- Take on challenges with sharp thinking and embrace new opportunities.
- Build strong partnerships through collaborative teamwork.
- Push boundaries to discover what’s possible.
Do Your Best Work in Mooresville
This internship is based at our headquarters in Mooresville, North Carolina. Our corporate office is a space where you can collaborate and do your best work. Take a walk, grab a bite (or a cup of coffee), work out or get a check-up – we invest in you so you can find your inspiration.
What You’ll Do
- Research customer needs, market trends, and emerging product innovations.
- Generate and communicate product concepts through sketching, ideation, and design development.
- Create 2D drawings, 3D CAD models, prototypes, and technical design documentation.
- Build, evaluate, test, and refine prototypes through an iterative design process.
- Help develop customer-centric products that support Lowe’s brand and business strategies.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams and external partners to bring design concepts to life.
- Develop compelling visuals and presentations that communicate design concepts and direction.
- Gain exposure to product feasibility, manufacturing considerations, and cost evaluation.
What You’ll Gain
This internship provides an opportunity to apply your design skills in a real-world retail and product development environment, learn from experienced design professionals, and see how an idea progresses from customer insight and early concept through design, prototyping, and product development.
Minimum Qualifications
- Pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design or a related field (e.g. Product Design, Human-Centered Design)
- Expected graduation dates of December 2027 or May 2028.
Benefits
- Paid Internship
- Eligibility for Lowe’s Housing Benefit
- 10% Associate Discount
About Lowe’s
Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) is a FORTUNE® 100 home improvement company with total fiscal year 2025 sales of more than $86 billion. Lowe’s employs approximately 300,000 associates and operates over 1,750 home improvement stores, 540 branches and 120 distribution centers. Lowe’s is a core value S&P 500 equity stock and a dividend aristocrat. Based in Mooresville, N.C., Lowe’s supports the communities it serves through programs focused on creating safe, affordable housing, improving community spaces, helping to develop the next generation of skilled trade experts and providing disaster relief to communities in need. For more information, visit Lowes.com.
Lowe’s is an equal opportunity employer and administers all personnel practices without regard to race, color, religious creed, sex, gender, age, ancestry, national origin, mental or physical disability or medical condition, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, military or veteran status, genetic information, or any other category protected under federal, state, or local law.
Starting rate of pay may vary based on factors including, but not limited to, position offered, location, education, training, and/or experience. For information regarding our benefit programs and eligibility, please visit https://talent.lowes.com/us/en/benefits.Industrial Design Engineer Internship Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Manufacturing
Tips for Your Industrial Design Engineer Internship Search
Apply earlier than you think necessary
Large consumer goods, automotive, and technology hardware companies open summer internship applications the preceding fall. Smaller design studios and co-op programs post closer to start dates, so roles appear year-round. Checking listings in September and October puts you ahead of the spring rush at structured programs.
Build a portfolio before you apply
Hiring teams for industrial design engineer intern roles want something to look at, not just a resume. Document two or three projects with CAD files, sketches, prototype photos, or process case studies that show how you moved from brief to finished form. A linked portfolio gives recruiters a concrete reason to move you forward.
Work your campus network alongside direct applications
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. Pair that with direct applications to companies running smaller cohorts, since not every industrial design engineer internship is promoted through campus channels.
Practice your design portfolio review out loud
Industrial design engineer intern interviews typically include a portfolio walkthrough where you explain your design decisions, materials choices, and iteration process. Practice presenting each project aloud, narrating your reasoning rather than just describing the outcome, because interviewers weigh how you think through constraints as much as the final object.
Target structured internship programs at larger employers
Many large manufacturers, consumer products firms, and technology hardware companies run cohort-based internship programs built to develop people new to applied industrial design. These programs recruit early, fill competitive spots fast, and often come with mentorship and project ownership built in. Identify the ones that fit your interests and apply in the first posting wave.
Set your work-type filter before you start
On-site roles are 40% of the industrial design engineer internships listed here. Industrial design work often requires access to prototyping equipment, model shops, and fabrication tools, so location matters more than in some other fields. Decide what you can commit to, then filter by location and work type so you focus only on roles you can actually accept.
Industrial Design Engineer Internships: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get an industrial design engineer internship?
Lead with coursework, personal projects, and a design portfolio rather than work history, since hiring teams expect limited experience at the intern level. A portfolio with CAD models, prototype documentation, or case studies 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 an industrial 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 consistent performance on real project work, available headcount on the team, and acting on return-offer conversations before the internship ends. Treat every deliverable as a sample of full-time work without counting on the outcome.
When should I apply for industrial design engineer internships?
Earlier than most students expect. Large employers, particularly consumer goods companies and technology hardware firms, open summer internship applications the preceding fall. Smaller studios and co-op programs post closer to start dates, so openings appear year-round. Checking listings regularly means you won't miss an early cohort that closes before spring.
Are industrial design engineer internships paid?
Most professional industrial design engineer internships in the United States are paid. Compensation varies by company size, industry, and location. Where an employer discloses pay, the listing will show it. Unpaid arrangements are uncommon at established companies and rare at larger ones, though some academic co-op structures may differ.
What should an industrial design engineer internship resume include?
Lead with projects, not work history. Include two or three complete, documented projects that name the tools used, the design problem solved, and where the work can be seen, such as a CAD or design portfolio link. Add relevant coursework in product design, materials, or manufacturing. Keep everything to one page.
Are there remote industrial design engineer internships?
Yes. Remote and hybrid roles make up 60% of the industrial design 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 those openings before they close.
Can international students get industrial 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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