Mechanical Engineering Intern Internships
Mechanical engineering intern 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. Openings cover Manufacturing, Automotive, and Consulting & Professional Services, with Cleveland-Cliffs, WSP, and Jacobs among the employers posting roles now.
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- Work daily on various technical topics with an engineering mentor
- Provide assistance to system engineers to assess system health, prepare/review design changes, determine replacements for obsolete parts, troubleshoot system equipment, review work packages, support/resolve installation technical issues.
- Work with data management/organization to assist in developing tools associated with system health, and spare parts.
Additional Information:
The internship is expected to be a 10–12 week period from May 2027 until the end of July 2027. Housing is not provided, but reasonable rentals may be available through local university student housing offices. The selected candidate will be responsible for their own transportation.
A 40-hour work week is set and scheduled by the individual departments. SRMC utilizes various work schedules including 5/8s (8 hours/day; five days per week), 4/10s (10 hours/day; four days per week), etc. Each workday has a 30-minute lunch. Interns will be paid a competitive hourly rate; no summer interns will be assigned to shift work; overtime is not available; Interns will be paid for site holidays (Memorial Day, July 4th) as applicable.
Assignments will be located in SRMC facilities in Aiken, SC. Public transportation is not available, and interns will be required to arrange their own transportation. A valid Driver’s License, Registration and proof of automobile insurance is required for driving on the Savannah River Site.
Resumes will be reviewed by the selection panel in January 2027. All selected applicants will be contacted by February or March 2027.
If you are selected to participate in the SRMC internship program, additional information will be requested such as: SRMC employment application, references and official transcripts. You will be assigned to SRS General Employee Training and Drug and Alcohol test appointments before badging and commencement of assignment.
- Candidate must be enrolled as a full-time student at:
- An accredited four-year university, and currently working towards a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical, Structural or Civil Engineering
- Must have completed their Sophomore year
- Must pass General Employment Training (GET)
- Must pass Drug and Alcohol Testing (DAT)
- Must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5
- High Deductible Health Insurance
- 2 paid holidays during the summer months
- Paid Sick Leave
Mechanical Engineering Intern Internship Market
Who's Hiring
- Cleveland-Cliffs13

- WSP12

- Jacobs12

- Burns & McDonnell11

- Stantec9

Top Industries Hiring
- Manufacturing12
- Automotive9
- Consulting & Professional Services4
- Science & Research2
Tips for Your Mechanical Engineering Intern Internship Search
Apply in the fall for summer roles
Large manufacturers, aerospace companies, and engineering consultancies open summer internship applications as early as September. Co-op programs and smaller firms post closer to their start dates. Starting your search in the fall gives you access to the most structured, well-resourced programs before they close.
Build a CAD or project portfolio before you apply
Hiring teams evaluating mechanical engineering interns look for documented proof of technical work. Assemble two or three projects that show your design process, SolidWorks files, ANSYS simulation results, fabrication photos, or a written project report. A linked portfolio gives recruiters something concrete to assess when your work history is limited.
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 reaches employers who recruit independently of university partnerships.
Practice your technical screen out loud before interviews
Mechanical engineering intern screens typically include a technical conversation covering statics, materials, or design fundamentals, and sometimes a take-home problem. Practice answering questions aloud and walking through your reasoning step by step, interviewers weigh how you think through a problem as much as whether you reach the right answer.
Target rotational and structured internship programs early
Larger manufacturers and aerospace companies run cohort-based or rotational internship programs designed to train people new to the field. These programs are competitive and recruit months before their start dates. Identify the ones aligned with your interests, automotive, aerospace, consumer products, and apply in the first wave.
Set your work-type filter before you start searching
On-site roles are 53% of the mechanical engineering intern internships listed here. Decide what you can commit to before you start sorting listings. Filtering by location and work type up front means you spend your time on roles you can actually take, whether that is on-site near campus or a remote position you can work from anywhere.
Mechanical Engineering Intern Internships: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a mechanical engineering intern internship?
Lead with coursework, personal projects, and a portfolio rather than work history, hiring teams expect limited experience at the intern level. A CAD portfolio, design project writeup, or lab report gives recruiters something concrete to evaluate. Pair direct applications with campus career fairs, where recruiters often move faster for students they meet in person.
Can a mechanical engineering intern 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 engineering interns is performance on real deliverables, whether the team has open headcount, and the timing of the return-offer window. Position for one by treating every project seriously, but don't count on it until an offer is in writing.
When should I apply for mechanical engineering intern internships?
Earlier than most students expect. Large employers recruit for summer cohorts the preceding fall, so October and November deadlines are common. Smaller companies and co-op programs post closer to their start dates, which means openings appear year-round. Checking listings regularly rather than waiting for a single recruiting season gives you the widest window.
Are mechanical engineering intern internships paid?
Most professional mechanical engineering intern internships in the U.S. are paid. Compensation varies by company size, industry, and location. Where an employer discloses pay, the listing will show it. Unpaid arrangements are more common at small startups or nonprofit organizations, so read each posting carefully before applying.
What should a mechanical engineering intern internship resume include?
Lead with projects, not work history. Include two or three complete, documented projects that name the tools used, SolidWorks, ANSYS, MATLAB, or whichever software the work required, and link to a CAD portfolio or project report where possible. Add relevant coursework such as thermodynamics, materials science, or fluid mechanics. Keep the whole document to one page.
Are there remote mechanical engineering intern internships?
Yes. Remote and hybrid roles make up 47% of the mechanical engineering intern internship listings here, with the rest on-site. Remote cohorts tend to fill quickly, so apply early and filter by work type to see them without sorting through roles that require relocation.
What is a rotational engineering internship?
Rotational engineering internships place interns across two or more functional teams during a single summer, giving exposure to design, manufacturing, testing, or systems engineering in sequence. Programs at larger manufacturers and aerospace companies are built to train people new to the field. They recruit early and are competitive, so identify the ones that fit your interests and apply in the first wave.
Can international students get mechanical engineering intern 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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