Mechanical Design Engineer Internships
Mechanical 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. Manufacturing and Consulting & Professional Services lead in internship volume, with Tesla, Bowman, and DBR Engineering Consultants among the employers posting roles now.
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Showing 5 of 68+ Mechanical Design Engineer Internships
The Opportunity:
At Acucraft, we dont just build fireplaces; we turn customer dreams into reality. As a Mechanical Design Intern, youll work alongside our Engineering Team to learn how custom fireplace designs move from concept to production. This hands-on role at our Big Lake, MN office offers an opportunity to build your SolidWorks skills, explore sheet metal manufacturing, and contribute to real projects with guidance from experienced designers and engineers.
What Youll Do
- Design & Draft: Assist with creating and updating SolidWorks parts, assemblies, and production drawings under the guidance of the Engineering Team.
- Support Production: Participate in design reviews and spend time on the production floor learning how fireplaces are built. Help document questions and proposed solutions for engineering review.
- Learn & Improve: Apply basic design for manufacturing principles and help identify opportunities to simplify parts, improve fit, and support efficient fabrication.
- Check & Document: Assist with measuring parts, checking dimensions against drawings, and documenting findings for review by the Engineering Team.
- Support Projects: Help maintain bills of materials, drawing revisions, and project documentation. Communicate progress, ask questions, and work toward assigned deadlines.
- Contribute: Assist with prototypes, continuous improvement projects, and related engineering tasks while following shop safety procedures and company design standards.
- The Experience: Classroom, lab, or personal design projects that demonstrate mechanical aptitude, attention to detail, and problem-solving skills. Prior professional experience is not required.
- The Tech Stack: Basic familiarity with SolidWorks or similar 3D CAD software through coursework or projects, plus a working knowledge of Microsoft Office.
- A willingness to learn new tools is essential.
Exposure to technical drawings, sheet metal design, fabrication, or CAM/nesting software is helpful but not required. Strong communication, teamwork, and a willingness to ask questions are valued.
- Education: Currently pursuing an associate or bachelors degree in mechanical engineering, mechanical design, engineering technology, drafting and design, or a related field.
Schedule: MondayFriday, day shift; weekly hours and internship dates to be confirmed.
Location: Big Lake, MN
Compensation: $25 per hour.
Benefits: Benefits are available to full-time employees working 40 hours per week.
Work Location: In person
Offered compensation: $25/hr
Experience and License Requirements
- Mechanical Design
- SolidWorks
Mechanical Design Engineer Internship Market
Who's Hiring
- Tesla11
- Bowman3
- DBR Engineering Consultants3
- nVent2
- L3Harris2
Top Industries Hiring
- Manufacturing
- Consulting & Professional Services
Tips for Your Mechanical Design Engineer Internship Search
Apply in the fall for summer internships
Large aerospace, automotive, and industrial employers open summer mechanical design engineer internship applications as early as August or September. Waiting until spring means many cohort seats are already filled. Smaller companies and co-op programs post closer to start dates, so check back regularly throughout the year.
Build a design portfolio before you apply
Hiring teams for mechanical design engineer internships expect limited work history, so your CAD models, design project files, and engineering coursework projects are your proof. Document two or three complete projects with the software used, the design problem, and the outcome, then link the portfolio in your resume and application.
Work your campus network alongside direct applications
Campus career fairs surface structured internship programs tied to your university, and professors or career center staff often know which employers recruit from your school before roles post publicly. Apply directly to companies running smaller cohorts at the same time so you are reaching employers who never come to campus.
Practice the mechanical design engineer intern technical screen out loud
Many mechanical design engineer intern interviews include a technical screen covering statics, materials, or a design challenge, sometimes combined with questions about your projects. Practice explaining your reasoning out loud, not just arriving at an answer, because interviewers weigh how you think through a problem as much as the final result.
Target structured rotational and university programs early
Large manufacturers and engineering firms run formal rotational or university intern programs built to train people new to the field. These programs recruit in the first wave of fall recruiting and fill fast. Identify the ones that match your discipline, check their application windows, and apply before general recruiting opens.
Set your work-type filter before you start
On-site roles are 75% of the mechanical design engineer internships listed here. Decide what you can commit to before searching so you are not sorting through roles you cannot take. Filter by location and work type first, then apply to the openings that actually fit your situation.
Mechanical Design Engineer Internships: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a mechanical design engineer internship?
Lead with coursework and personal projects rather than work history, since hiring teams expect limited experience at the intern level. A CAD or design portfolio gives recruiters something concrete to assess your mechanical skills. Apply directly to companies posting openings and attend campus career fairs, where recruiters often move faster with students they meet in person.
Can a mechanical 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 for mechanical design engineer interns is consistent performance on real project work, whether the team has open headcount, and hitting the return-offer conversation early before the internship ends. Position for one without counting on it, and keep other applications active.
When should I apply for mechanical design engineer internships?
Earlier than most expect. Large employers recruit their summer intern cohorts the preceding fall, sometimes as early as August or September. Smaller companies and co-op programs post closer to start dates, so openings appear year-round. Applying as soon as a role posts gives you the best chance before cohort seats fill.
Are mechanical design engineer internships paid?
Most professional mechanical design engineer internships in the U.S. are paid. Compensation varies by company size, industry, and location, and listings show the range where the employer discloses it. Unpaid arrangements are uncommon in industry settings outside certain academic or nonprofit contexts.
What should a mechanical design engineer internship resume include?
Lead with projects, not work history. Include two or three complete, documented projects that name the tools used, the problem solved, and a link to the work, whether that is a CAD portfolio, a design case study, or a GitHub repository with engineering files. Add relevant coursework in mechanics, materials, or CAD software, and keep the whole document to one page.
Are there remote mechanical design engineer internships?
Yes. Remote and hybrid roles make up 25% of the mechanical design engineer internship listings here, with the rest on-site. Remote cohorts fill fast since they draw applicants from across the country, so apply early. Filter by work type to see only remote or hybrid listings before sorting through everything else.
Can international students get mechanical 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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