Performance Engineer Internships
Performance 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. Openings are concentrated in {{top_industries_phrase}}, with TikTok, Hendrick Motorsports, and PACCAR among the employers posting roles now.
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Showing 5 of 10+ Performance Engineer Internships
Date: Nov 2, 2026
Location: Denton, TX, US, 76205-7864
Company: PACCAR
PACCAR is a global technology leader in the design, manufacture and customer support of high-quality light-, medium- and heavy-duty trucks under the Kenworth, Peterbilt and DAF nameplates. PACCAR also designs and manufactures advanced power trains, provides financial services and information technology, and distributes truck parts related to its principal business.
Peterbilt Motors Company
On highways, construction sites, city streets, logging roads - everywhere our customers earn their living - Peterbilt's red oval is a familiar symbol of performance, reliability and pride. Peterbilt has reigned as America's premium quality truck manufacturer since the company's founding in 1939. Our dedication to deliver products and services focused on improving customers' performance, image, profitability and peace of mind truly makes Peterbilt the Class of the Industry.
Requisition Summary
Peterbilt Motors Company, a PACCAR Company, has an internship for students currently enrolled in college. This opening is for a Vehicle Performance, Test and Analysis Intern to add to our Vehicle Performance & Vehicle Properties team in Denton, Texas.
Job Responsibilities
This position will be working on various projects and reports to include but not limited to:
Test Setups and Data Collection:
- Siemens and HEADacoustics data acquisition and data post processing
- Q-Source noise generator and microphone arrays positioned to capture acoustic signatures and air-borne transfer path analysis
- Accelerometers mounted on vehicle structures to measure vibration
- Electro-dynamic shaker generating controlled excitation on test articles
- Data collection during lab and on-road environments
Statistical Analysis Quantifying System Level Contribution:
- Mean, standard deviation, and percentile distributions of noise/vibration metrics
- Time-domain waveform analysis
Benchmarking Studies:
- Comparative analysis against competitor vehicles
- Variance analysis (ANOVA) to identify significant differences
- Correlation studies between design parameters and NVH performance
Required Qualifications
The candidate we seek will be currently enrolled in an Automotive Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, NVH Engineering, or a related program.
Preferred Qualifications
The skills that are important to be successful in this position are as follows:
- Self-starter and Resourceful
- Interest in collecting, analyzing, and reporting on tests
- Experience with professional grade data acquisition systems
- Statistical analysis in Minitab, MATLAB, Excel, Python, and C++
- Exceptional Microsoft Office
- Excellent verbal and written communication
- Multi-tasking
- Strong Professionalism
- Analytical
General Description of Internship Benefits
As a U.S. PACCAR intern, you have a full range of benefit options including:
- Competitive salary and 401k with up to a 5% company match
- Medical, dental, and vision plans for you and your family
- Paid holidays
- Flexible spending accounts (FSA) and health savings account (HSA)
- Life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance
- EAP services including wellness plans, estate planning, financial counseling and more
- Global Fortune 500 company with a wide array of growth, training, and development opportunities
- Work alongside experienced goal-oriented colleagues recognized as experts in their field
- This position may offer stipend assistance benefits
Additional Job Board Information
PACCAR is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veteran/Disability corporation. Peterbilt promotes Diversity and Inclusion through mentorship, events, and affinity support groups – The Diversity Council, Peterbilt Women’s Initiative (PBWIN), Veterans Group, Peterbilt Black Organization for Leadership and Development (B.O.L.D) and Peterbilt+ (An LGBTQ support group).
#LI-Onsite
Job Segment: Statistics, Construction, Test Engineer, Summer Internship, Intern, Data, Engineering, Entry Level
Date: Nov 2, 2026
Location: Denton, TX, US, 76205-7864
Company: PACCAR
PACCAR is a global technology leader in the design, manufacture and customer support of high-quality light-, medium- and heavy-duty trucks under the Kenworth, Peterbilt and DAF nameplates. PACCAR also designs and manufactures advanced power trains, provides financial services and information technology, and distributes truck parts related to its principal business.
Peterbilt Motors Company
On highways, construction sites, city streets, logging roads - everywhere our customers earn their living - Peterbilt's red oval is a familiar symbol of performance, reliability and pride. Peterbilt has reigned as America's premium quality truck manufacturer since the company's founding in 1939. Our dedication to deliver products and services focused on improving customers' performance, image, profitability and peace of mind truly makes Peterbilt the Class of the Industry.
Requisition Summary
Peterbilt Motors Company, a PACCAR Company, has an internship for students currently enrolled in college. This opening is for a Vehicle Performance, Test and Analysis Intern to add to our Vehicle Performance & Vehicle Properties team in Denton, Texas.
Job Responsibilities
This position will be working on various projects and reports to include but not limited to:
Test Setups and Data Collection:
- Siemens and HEADacoustics data acquisition and data post processing
- Q-Source noise generator and microphone arrays positioned to capture acoustic signatures and air-borne transfer path analysis
- Accelerometers mounted on vehicle structures to measure vibration
- Electro-dynamic shaker generating controlled excitation on test articles
- Data collection during lab and on-road environments
Statistical Analysis Quantifying System Level Contribution:
- Mean, standard deviation, and percentile distributions of noise/vibration metrics
- Time-domain waveform analysis
Benchmarking Studies:
- Comparative analysis against competitor vehicles
- Variance analysis (ANOVA) to identify significant differences
- Correlation studies between design parameters and NVH performance
Required Qualifications
The candidate we seek will be currently enrolled in an Automotive Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, NVH Engineering, or a related program.
Preferred Qualifications
The skills that are important to be successful in this position are as follows:
- Self-starter and Resourceful
- Interest in collecting, analyzing, and reporting on tests
- Experience with professional grade data acquisition systems
- Statistical analysis in Minitab, MATLAB, Excel, Python, and C++
- Exceptional Microsoft Office
- Excellent verbal and written communication
- Multi-tasking
- Strong Professionalism
- Analytical
General Description of Internship Benefits
As a U.S. PACCAR intern, you have a full range of benefit options including:
- Competitive salary and 401k with up to a 5% company match
- Medical, dental, and vision plans for you and your family
- Paid holidays
- Flexible spending accounts (FSA) and health savings account (HSA)
- Life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance
- EAP services including wellness plans, estate planning, financial counseling and more
- Global Fortune 500 company with a wide array of growth, training, and development opportunities
- Work alongside experienced goal-oriented colleagues recognized as experts in their field
- This position may offer stipend assistance benefits
Additional Job Board Information
PACCAR is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veteran/Disability corporation. Peterbilt promotes Diversity and Inclusion through mentorship, events, and affinity support groups – The Diversity Council, Peterbilt Women’s Initiative (PBWIN), Veterans Group, Peterbilt Black Organization for Leadership and Development (B.O.L.D) and Peterbilt+ (An LGBTQ support group).
#LI-Onsite
Job Segment: Statistics, Construction, Test Engineer, Summer Internship, Intern, Data, Engineering, Entry Level
Performance Engineer Internship Market
Who's Hiring
Tips for Your Performance Engineer Internship Search
Apply months before the internship starts
Large employers open summer cohort applications the preceding fall, with many deadlines in October and November. Smaller companies and co-op programs recruit on shorter timelines, so new roles post year-round. Check listings regularly and treat fall semester as your primary application window for the following summer.
Build a portfolio before you send a single application
Hiring teams for performance engineer internships expect limited work history and look for proof instead. Document two or three projects that show profiling, load testing, or benchmarking work, a linked code repository or a written performance analysis gives reviewers something to evaluate that a resume alone cannot.
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 widens the pool you reach and increases your chances of an early response.
Practice your technical screen out loud before you interview
Performance engineer intern screens typically involve a systems or software engineering component covering topics like concurrency, memory management, or algorithmic efficiency. Practice solving problems while narrating your reasoning, interviewers weigh how you think through a performance bottleneck as much as the final answer you reach.
Target structured rotational and university programs early
Larger companies run cohort and university programs specifically built to train people new to performance engineering. These programs recruit early, fill in the first application wave, and offer structured mentorship that accelerates growth. Identify the ones aligned with your background and apply as soon as they open.
Set your work-type filter before you start searching
On-site roles are 100% of the performance engineer internships listed here. Decide what you can commit to, on-site, hybrid, or remote, before you start reviewing openings, then filter by location and work type so you're only spending time on roles you can actually take.
Performance Engineer Internships: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a performance engineer internship?
Lead with coursework, personal projects, and a portfolio rather than work history, hiring teams expect limited experience at the intern level. For performance engineer candidates, a linked repository or documented test suite showing load simulations, profiling results, or benchmarking scripts 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 a performance 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 for performance engineer interns is consistent delivery on real work, demonstrated curiosity about system behavior, and available headcount on the team at offer time. Position yourself well by treating every project as production-quality work without counting on the outcome.
When should I apply for performance engineer internships?
Earlier than most students expect. Large employers recruit summer interns the preceding fall, often with deadlines in October and November, so waiting until spring means those cohorts are already closed. Smaller companies and co-op programs post closer to their start dates, which is why new openings appear year-round and checking regularly pays off.
Are performance engineer internships paid?
Most professional performance engineer internships in the United States are paid. Compensation varies by company size, industry, and location, and the specifics depend on what each employer discloses. Listings show compensation details where the employer has provided them, so checking individual postings is the clearest way to compare.
What should a performance engineer internship resume include?
Lead with projects, not work history. Include two or three complete, documented projects that name the tools used and link to where the work lives, a code repository, a published benchmark report, or a performance analysis writeup gives reviewers something concrete. Add relevant coursework in systems, networking, or software engineering, and keep the resume to one page.
Are there remote performance engineer internships?
Yes. Remote and hybrid roles make up 0% of the performance 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 them before they close.
Can international students get performance 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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