Product Development Engineer Internships
Product development 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 {{top_industries_phrase}}, with GAF, MSA Safety, and KLA among the employers posting roles now.
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Sealed Air designs and delivers packaging solutions that protect essential goods transported worldwide, preserve food, enable e-commerce and digital connectivity, and help create a global supply chain that is touchless, safer, less wasteful, and more resilient. We strive to foster a caring, high-performance growth culture that will deliver consistent, sustainable profitable growth and accelerate our performance – a culture where accountability is clear and aligned, and where we reward business outcomes and impact. That culture guides everything we do, including how we partner with our customers and suppliers, how we attract and retain top talent, and how we create and deliver value to our stakeholders. In 2025, Sealed Air generated $5.4 billion in sales and has approximately 16,100 employees who serve customers in 119 countries/territories. To learn more, visit www.sealedair.com.
Job Description
We are excited to offer a summer position (May-Aug 2027) to highly motivated students currently pursuing a degree in chemical engineering, materials science, or plastics engineering. This role will be located on the campus of our Global Headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina within our Research & Development group. This program offers applied experience that has a true impact on the business. The program includes opportunity to present to senior leadership teams, participate in formal training, interact with members of other departments (Sales, Marketing, Customer Service, Field Quality, Supply Chain), and participate in campus-wide community service events. This is a unique opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of food processing and packaging processes in the food, medical, and industrial markets. You’ll work in a highly collaborative team environment and will have the ability to have direct influence on active innovation projects. Sealed Air utilizes our internship program as a pipeline for identifying and hiring top talent for full time employment within our R&D team.
Responsibilities
- Apply your area of study to the development of new products and processes at Sealed Air. Products may
include multi-layer polymer films, foams, or packaging equipment and automation. - Apply knowledge of packaging requirements for markets including food (dairy, fresh red meat, seafood, smoked
& processed protein, etc.), medical devices, and industrials - Participate in shelf-life studies utilizing analytical methods, microbiology, and food discoloration
- Plan and conduct experiments under the direction of an experienced scientist/engineer
- Analyze results and assist with decision-making for next steps
- Prepare reports and present results at technical meetings
- Opportunity to lead a project including the management of timeline, execution, resources, and a final
presentation of results and conclusions - Some limited travel may be involved to manufacturing plants or customers
Qualifications
- Completed at least 2 years towards a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering, materials science, or plastics engineering.
- Strong academic record with 3.0 or higher GPA
- Authorized to work in the US for any employer without sponsorship
- Creative and a strong problem solver
- Ability to work independently with limited supervision
- Good written and verbal communication skills
Requisition id: 57304
Relocation: Yes
Sealed Air is committed to attracting, selecting, and developing talent that reflects the diversity of the communities and customers we serve. We take pride in our selection process to identify, infuse, and grow talent to align with our culture, values, and norms. Sealed Air prioritizes talent development, fostering a culture of continuous growth and career progression. The company is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment and to all employees, without regard to race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, protected disability, veteran status, or any other protected status in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.
- Please be cautious of fraudulent recruiting efforts using the Sealed Air name or logo. Sealed Air will never request private information during the application process, such as a Driver's License or Social Security Number. If you have any concerns about information received from SEE during the application process, please reach out to us directly at globalta@sealedair.com.
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Sealed Air designs and delivers packaging solutions that protect essential goods transported worldwide, preserve food, enable e-commerce and digital connectivity, and help create a global supply chain that is touchless, safer, less wasteful, and more resilient. We strive to foster a caring, high-performance growth culture that will deliver consistent, sustainable profitable growth and accelerate our performance – a culture where accountability is clear and aligned, and where we reward business outcomes and impact. That culture guides everything we do, including how we partner with our customers and suppliers, how we attract and retain top talent, and how we create and deliver value to our stakeholders. In 2025, Sealed Air generated $5.4 billion in sales and has approximately 16,100 employees who serve customers in 119 countries/territories. To learn more, visit www.sealedair.com.
Job Description
We are excited to offer a summer position (May-Aug 2027) to highly motivated students currently pursuing a degree in chemical engineering, materials science, or plastics engineering. This role will be located on the campus of our Global Headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina within our Research & Development group. This program offers applied experience that has a true impact on the business. The program includes opportunity to present to senior leadership teams, participate in formal training, interact with members of other departments (Sales, Marketing, Customer Service, Field Quality, Supply Chain), and participate in campus-wide community service events. This is a unique opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of food processing and packaging processes in the food, medical, and industrial markets. You’ll work in a highly collaborative team environment and will have the ability to have direct influence on active innovation projects. Sealed Air utilizes our internship program as a pipeline for identifying and hiring top talent for full time employment within our R&D team.
Responsibilities
- Apply your area of study to the development of new products and processes at Sealed Air. Products may
include multi-layer polymer films, foams, or packaging equipment and automation. - Apply knowledge of packaging requirements for markets including food (dairy, fresh red meat, seafood, smoked
& processed protein, etc.), medical devices, and industrials - Participate in shelf-life studies utilizing analytical methods, microbiology, and food discoloration
- Plan and conduct experiments under the direction of an experienced scientist/engineer
- Analyze results and assist with decision-making for next steps
- Prepare reports and present results at technical meetings
- Opportunity to lead a project including the management of timeline, execution, resources, and a final
presentation of results and conclusions - Some limited travel may be involved to manufacturing plants or customers
Qualifications
- Completed at least 2 years towards a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering, materials science, or plastics engineering.
- Strong academic record with 3.0 or higher GPA
- Authorized to work in the US for any employer without sponsorship
- Creative and a strong problem solver
- Ability to work independently with limited supervision
- Good written and verbal communication skills
Requisition id: 57304
Relocation: Yes
Sealed Air is committed to attracting, selecting, and developing talent that reflects the diversity of the communities and customers we serve. We take pride in our selection process to identify, infuse, and grow talent to align with our culture, values, and norms. Sealed Air prioritizes talent development, fostering a culture of continuous growth and career progression. The company is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment and to all employees, without regard to race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, protected disability, veteran status, or any other protected status in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.
- Please be cautious of fraudulent recruiting efforts using the Sealed Air name or logo. Sealed Air will never request private information during the application process, such as a Driver's License or Social Security Number. If you have any concerns about information received from SEE during the application process, please reach out to us directly at globalta@sealedair.com.
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Product Development Engineer Internship Market
Who's Hiring
Tips for Your Product Development Engineer Internship Search
Apply earlier than you think necessary
Large employers close their summer product development engineer intern cohorts the preceding fall, often before spring recruiting season starts. Smaller companies and co-op programs post closer to start dates. Check listings in September and October for the following summer, and revisit throughout the year for rolling openings.
Build a portfolio before you need it
Hiring teams for product development engineer internships expect limited work history and look for proof of ability instead. Document two or three complete projects with the tools used, design decisions made, and outcomes reached. CAD files, prototype photos, engineering reports, or published design portfolios give recruiters something concrete to assess before an interview.
Work your campus network alongside direct applications
Campus career fairs surface structured programs tied to your university, and recruiters there often move faster for students they meet in person. Professors and career center staff frequently know which employers recruit from your school before roles post publicly. Applying directly to companies running smaller cohorts at the same time widens the pool you reach.
Practice your technical screen out loud
Product development engineer intern interviews typically include a technical screen covering engineering design problems, materials knowledge, or CAD-based challenges. Practice solving problems out loud and explaining your reasoning step by step, since interviewers weigh your thinking process as much as the final answer. Run through problems until narrating your approach feels natural.
Target structured rotational and university programs early
Many large manufacturers and technology companies run rotational or university cohort programs built specifically to develop engineers new to the field. These programs recruit early and fill fast, often well before general intern applications open. Identify the ones that fit your location and discipline and apply in the first recruiting wave.
Set your work-type filter before you start
On-site roles are 100% of the product development engineer internships listed here. Decide what you can realistically commit to before you start applying, then filter by location and work type so you're not sorting through roles you can't take. Migrate Mate's filters let you narrow by work type and location at the same time.
Product Development Engineer Internships: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a product development engineer internship?
Lead with coursework, personal projects, and a portfolio rather than work history, hiring teams expect limited experience at the intern level. For product development engineer candidates, a portfolio showing CAD models, prototype documentation, or design files 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 product development 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 product development engineer interns is performance on real project work, available headcount on the team, and how early you understand the return-offer timeline. Position for one by treating every deliverable seriously, without counting on a specific outcome.
When should I apply for product development engineer internships?
Earlier than most expect. Large employers recruit summer interns the preceding fall, often closing cohorts before spring semester begins. Smaller companies and co-op programs post closer to actual start dates, so openings appear year-round. Checking listings regularly rather than waiting for a single seasonal push gives you the widest window.
Are product development engineer internships paid?
Most professional product development engineer internships in the U.S. are paid. Compensation varies by company size, industry, and location, and listings show pay where the employer discloses it. Unpaid arrangements are more common at very small firms or nonprofits, so read each listing carefully before applying.
What should a product development engineer internship resume include?
Lead with projects, not work history. Include two or three complete, documented projects that show the tools and software you used, with links to CAD portfolios, design files, or prototype documentation wherever possible. Add relevant coursework in engineering design, materials, or manufacturing processes. Keep the whole resume to one page.
Are there remote product development engineer internships?
Yes. Remote and hybrid roles make up 0% of the product development engineer internship listings here, with the rest on-site. Remote cohorts fill fast, so apply early and filter by work type to see them before they close.
Can international students get product development 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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