Product Design Engineer Internships
Product 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. Openings are concentrated across Technology & Software and Investment & Asset Management, with Stellantis, TikTok, and Versant among the employers posting roles now.
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Position Summary
The Shape Corp student engineering program provides students with hands-on experience in a dynamic automotive product development environment. The Product Development Engineering Intern will support the design, development, analysis, testing, and launch of products while working alongside engineering and cross-functional teams. This opportunity is designed to help an entry-level engineering student apply classroom knowledge to real-world product development challenges and build practical technical skills.
Essential Job Functions
- Assist with product design and development activities from concept through validation and production launch.
- Create, review, and revise engineering drawings, models, specifications, and other technical documentation using CAD and product lifecycle management tools.
- Support engineering calculations, tolerance analysis, design reviews, and evaluation of product performance against customer and internal requirements.
- Assist with prototype builds, test planning, validation activities, data collection, and analysis of test results.
- Participate in design failure mode and effects analysis, structured problem-solving, root-cause investigation, and corrective-action activities.
- Support material, manufacturing process, and component selection while considering performance, quality, cost, timing, and manufacturability.
- Coordinate assigned project activities with Engineering, Program Management, Manufacturing, Quality, Test, Purchasing, and other teams.
- Track assigned deliverables, document project status, and communicate technical findings, risks, and recommendations.
- Participate in benchmarking, continuous improvement, and value engineering activities.
- Develop or update technical reports, presentations, engineering documentation, and work instructions.
- Follow applicable safety, quality, customer, and engineering standards while performing assigned work.
- Perform additional duties as assigned by the supervisor, not otherwise specified in this position description.
Education & Experience
- Currently pursuing a bachelor's degree from an accredited program in Mechanical Engineering, Product Design Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Engineering Technology, or a closely related field.
- 3.0 GPA or higher on a 4.0 scale.
- Coursework or project experience involving engineering design, mechanics, materials, manufacturing processes, CAD, testing, or data analysis.
- Proficient with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
- Able to work independently while also contributing effectively within a cross-functional team.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong analytical, technical, and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.
Preferred Qualifications
- Exposure to 3D CAD software such as CATIA, NX, Creo, or SolidWorks through coursework, student projects, or prior work experience.
- Familiarity with engineering drawings, geometric dimensioning and tolerancing, design for manufacturability, or product lifecycle management systems.
- Experience with prototyping, testing, data analysis, technical documentation, or structured engineering problem-solving.
- Participation in engineering design teams such as Formula SAE, Baja SAE, robotics, capstone design, or similar technical projects.
- Interest in automotive structures, lightweighting, product development, and advanced manufacturing.
Position Summary
The Shape Corp student engineering program provides students with hands-on experience in a dynamic automotive product development environment. The Product Development Engineering Intern will support the design, development, analysis, testing, and launch of products while working alongside engineering and cross-functional teams. This opportunity is designed to help an entry-level engineering student apply classroom knowledge to real-world product development challenges and build practical technical skills.
Essential Job Functions
- Assist with product design and development activities from concept through validation and production launch.
- Create, review, and revise engineering drawings, models, specifications, and other technical documentation using CAD and product lifecycle management tools.
- Support engineering calculations, tolerance analysis, design reviews, and evaluation of product performance against customer and internal requirements.
- Assist with prototype builds, test planning, validation activities, data collection, and analysis of test results.
- Participate in design failure mode and effects analysis, structured problem-solving, root-cause investigation, and corrective-action activities.
- Support material, manufacturing process, and component selection while considering performance, quality, cost, timing, and manufacturability.
- Coordinate assigned project activities with Engineering, Program Management, Manufacturing, Quality, Test, Purchasing, and other teams.
- Track assigned deliverables, document project status, and communicate technical findings, risks, and recommendations.
- Participate in benchmarking, continuous improvement, and value engineering activities.
- Develop or update technical reports, presentations, engineering documentation, and work instructions.
- Follow applicable safety, quality, customer, and engineering standards while performing assigned work.
- Perform additional duties as assigned by the supervisor, not otherwise specified in this position description.
Education & Experience
- Currently pursuing a bachelor's degree from an accredited program in Mechanical Engineering, Product Design Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Engineering Technology, or a closely related field.
- 3.0 GPA or higher on a 4.0 scale.
- Coursework or project experience involving engineering design, mechanics, materials, manufacturing processes, CAD, testing, or data analysis.
- Proficient with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
- Able to work independently while also contributing effectively within a cross-functional team.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong analytical, technical, and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.
Preferred Qualifications
- Exposure to 3D CAD software such as CATIA, NX, Creo, or SolidWorks through coursework, student projects, or prior work experience.
- Familiarity with engineering drawings, geometric dimensioning and tolerancing, design for manufacturability, or product lifecycle management systems.
- Experience with prototyping, testing, data analysis, technical documentation, or structured engineering problem-solving.
- Participation in engineering design teams such as Formula SAE, Baja SAE, robotics, capstone design, or similar technical projects.
- Interest in automotive structures, lightweighting, product development, and advanced manufacturing.
Product Design Engineer Internship Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software
- Investment & Asset Management
Tips for Your Product Design Engineer Internship Search
Apply months before the internship starts
Large employers in aerospace, automotive, and consumer electronics open summer intern applications the preceding fall and close them well before spring. If you wait until January for a June start, the structured cohort programs are often already filled. Set a reminder to check for openings in September and October.
Build a portfolio before you send a single application
Hiring teams for product design engineer interns expect limited work history and weigh your project portfolio instead. Document two or three complete projects with the CAD software, simulation tools, or prototyping methods you used, and make the files or images accessible through a link you can include on your resume.
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 companies recruit from your school before roles post publicly. Applying directly to employers running smaller cohorts alongside that campus activity reaches a wider pool than either channel alone.
Practice your technical screen out loud before you apply
Product design engineer intern interviews typically include a technical screen covering mechanical concepts, materials selection, or a design challenge, and interviewers weigh how you reason through the problem as much as the final answer. Practice walking through your logic out loud, as if explaining your approach to someone who cannot see your work.
Target structured new-to-field programs early
Many large manufacturers and technology companies run cohort-based internship programs designed to train candidates new to product design engineering. These programs recruit on a fixed cycle, fill fast, and often close applications before smaller employers even post their openings. Identify the programs that fit your background and apply in the first recruiting wave.
Set your work-type filter before you start
On-site roles are 54% of the product design engineer internships listed here. Decide what you can realistically commit to before you start sorting through openings, then filter by location and work type so you spend your time on roles you can actually take.
Product Design Engineer Internships: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a product design engineer internship?
Lead with coursework, personal projects, and a portfolio rather than work history. Hiring teams expect limited professional experience at the intern level, so a CAD or design portfolio gives recruiters something concrete to assess your skills against. Pair direct applications with campus career fairs, where recruiters often move faster for students they meet in person.
Can a product design 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 the term, and how early you signal interest. Position for a return offer by delivering on your assigned scope and asking your manager what a strong finish looks like.
When should I apply for product design engineer internships?
Earlier than most students expect. Large employers, particularly in aerospace, automotive, and consumer products, recruit for summer cohorts the preceding fall, with applications closing months before the start date. Smaller companies and co-op programs post closer to their actual start dates, so openings appear year-round and checking regularly is worthwhile.
Are product design engineer internships paid?
Most professional product design engineer 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 very small companies or nonprofits, so check each listing carefully before applying.
What should a product design engineer internship resume include?
Lead with projects, not work history. Include two or three complete, documented projects showing the tools you used, the problem you solved, and links to your CAD files, design portfolio, or prototypes where reviewers can see the actual work. Add relevant coursework, and keep the whole document to one page.
Are there remote product design engineer internships?
Yes. Remote and hybrid roles make up 46% of the product design engineer internship listings here, with the rest on-site. Remote cohorts fill fast, so apply early once they open. Use the work-type filter to see only the format you can commit to before sorting through the full list.
Can international students get product 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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