Silicon Engineer Internships
Silicon engineer internships give university students, recent graduates, and early-career switchers hands-on project experience working alongside working engineers, and, at many employers, a path toward a full-time offer. Openings are concentrated across Telecommunications and Electronics & Hardware, with Nokia, Tesla, and ByteDance among the employers posting roles now.
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At Cadence, we hire and develop leaders and innovators who want to make an impact on the world of technology.
Are you currently enrolled in a STEM, electrical engineering, or computer engineering program and seeking an exciting summer 2027 internship with a leading Silicon Valley technology company? Join the Cadence Design Systems Customer Success Team (CST), where you will work with industry-leading electronic design automation (EDA) tools and collaborate with technical experts in a dynamic, innovative environment focused on silicon design, systems development, and design automation. You will gain insight into leading-edge silicon and systems technologies, learn how a global technology company operates, and experience how technical teams solve complex engineering challenges.
Cadence is a global leader in electronic design, building on more than 35 years of computational software expertise. Through its Intelligent System Design strategy, Cadence delivers software, hardware, and intellectual property that transform silicon and electronic design concepts into reality.
Cadence serves many of the world’s most innovative companies, enabling extraordinary electronic products—from chips and boards to complete systems—for dynamic markets including consumer electronics, hyperscale computing, 5G communications, automotive, aerospace, industrial, and healthcare.
At Cadence, we hire and develop leaders and innovators who are committed to advancing technology and making a meaningful global impact.
Where is the internship located?
San Jose, California
What does the internship offer?
Interns will participate in a three-month, cohort-based program alongside peers from across the United States. The program provides hands-on training in applications supporting system and package design; digital and analog IC design and simulation; physical design and analog layout; advanced verification; hardware emulation; and the application of artificial intelligence across these disciplines. Interns will also learn from technical experts and application engineers who provide design services, technical sales support, and customer support to Cadence’s most advanced customers.
The cohort-based program provides experience in the following areas:
- Fundamentals of design, verification, synthesis, and timing analysis
- Embedded software development and hardware/software co-design and co-verification
- UNIX, C/C++, and scripting languages such as Perl, Tcl, and Python
- Digital physical design and implementation for silicon and systems
- Analog physical design and implementation for silicon
- Signoff analysis for timing, IR drop, power, and signal integrity
- Application of artificial intelligence to enhance design flows and methodologies
How long is the internship?
The internship is a three-month program scheduled for summer 2027.
Position Requirements:
The ideal candidate is a rising senior pursuing a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or another STEM discipline at an accredited university. Experience with electronic design automation (EDA), foundational silicon, package or board design, or AI use cases is preferred. Candidates must be able to manage multiple complex assignments and demonstrate strong communication, presentation, assessment, and analytical skills.
We’re doing work that matters. Help us solve what others can’t.
Company Description:
At Cadence, our core values are more than just words, they are the way we work, laugh, debate, care, question, and innovate together. We are One Cadence—One Team.
Cadence plays a critical role in creating the technologies that modern life depends on. We are a global electronic design automation (EDA) company, providing software, hardware, and intellectual property to design advanced semiconductor chips that enable our customers to create revolutionary products and experiences. Our team’s shared passion for solving the world’s toughest technical challenges makes us proud to be part of Cadence. Our unique culture has been recognized on FORTUNE Magazine’s 100 Best Companies to Work For list and garnered accolades from the Great Place To Work Institute around the globe.
The annual salary range for California is $28.60 to $53.12 an hour. Sales positions generally offer a competitive On Target Earnings (OTE) incentive compensation structure. Please note that the salary range is a guideline and compensation may vary based on factors such as qualifications, skill level, competencies and work location. Our benefits programs include: paid holidays and 401(k) plan with employer match.
We’re doing work that matters. Help us solve what others can’t.
At Cadence, we hire and develop leaders and innovators who want to make an impact on the world of technology.
Are you currently enrolled in a STEM, electrical engineering, or computer engineering program and seeking an exciting summer 2027 internship with a leading Silicon Valley technology company? Join the Cadence Design Systems Customer Success Team (CST), where you will work with industry-leading electronic design automation (EDA) tools and collaborate with technical experts in a dynamic, innovative environment focused on silicon design, systems development, and design automation. You will gain insight into leading-edge silicon and systems technologies, learn how a global technology company operates, and experience how technical teams solve complex engineering challenges.
Cadence is a global leader in electronic design, building on more than 35 years of computational software expertise. Through its Intelligent System Design strategy, Cadence delivers software, hardware, and intellectual property that transform silicon and electronic design concepts into reality.
Cadence serves many of the world’s most innovative companies, enabling extraordinary electronic products—from chips and boards to complete systems—for dynamic markets including consumer electronics, hyperscale computing, 5G communications, automotive, aerospace, industrial, and healthcare.
At Cadence, we hire and develop leaders and innovators who are committed to advancing technology and making a meaningful global impact.
Where is the internship located?
San Jose, California
What does the internship offer?
Interns will participate in a three-month, cohort-based program alongside peers from across the United States. The program provides hands-on training in applications supporting system and package design; digital and analog IC design and simulation; physical design and analog layout; advanced verification; hardware emulation; and the application of artificial intelligence across these disciplines. Interns will also learn from technical experts and application engineers who provide design services, technical sales support, and customer support to Cadence’s most advanced customers.
The cohort-based program provides experience in the following areas:
- Fundamentals of design, verification, synthesis, and timing analysis
- Embedded software development and hardware/software co-design and co-verification
- UNIX, C/C++, and scripting languages such as Perl, Tcl, and Python
- Digital physical design and implementation for silicon and systems
- Analog physical design and implementation for silicon
- Signoff analysis for timing, IR drop, power, and signal integrity
- Application of artificial intelligence to enhance design flows and methodologies
How long is the internship?
The internship is a three-month program scheduled for summer 2027.
Position Requirements:
The ideal candidate is a rising senior pursuing a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or another STEM discipline at an accredited university. Experience with electronic design automation (EDA), foundational silicon, package or board design, or AI use cases is preferred. Candidates must be able to manage multiple complex assignments and demonstrate strong communication, presentation, assessment, and analytical skills.
We’re doing work that matters. Help us solve what others can’t.
Company Description:
At Cadence, our core values are more than just words, they are the way we work, laugh, debate, care, question, and innovate together. We are One Cadence—One Team.
Cadence plays a critical role in creating the technologies that modern life depends on. We are a global electronic design automation (EDA) company, providing software, hardware, and intellectual property to design advanced semiconductor chips that enable our customers to create revolutionary products and experiences. Our team’s shared passion for solving the world’s toughest technical challenges makes us proud to be part of Cadence. Our unique culture has been recognized on FORTUNE Magazine’s 100 Best Companies to Work For list and garnered accolades from the Great Place To Work Institute around the globe.
The annual salary range for California is $28.60 to $53.12 an hour. Sales positions generally offer a competitive On Target Earnings (OTE) incentive compensation structure. Please note that the salary range is a guideline and compensation may vary based on factors such as qualifications, skill level, competencies and work location. Our benefits programs include: paid holidays and 401(k) plan with employer match.
We’re doing work that matters. Help us solve what others can’t.
Silicon Engineer Internship Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Telecommunications
- Electronics & Hardware
Tips for Your Silicon Engineer Internship Search
Apply months before you expect to start
Large semiconductor and chip design employers recruit summer interns the preceding fall, closing cohorts well before the new year. Smaller companies and co-op programs post closer to start dates. Starting your search early gives you access to both structured programs and the rolling openings that appear throughout the year.
Build a portfolio before you need one
Hiring teams for silicon engineer intern roles expect limited work history, so projects carry the weight your resume otherwise can't. Document two or three completed designs, RTL implementations, or layout exercises, name the tools you used, and link your repository or design files so recruiters can assess your work directly rather than taking your word for it.
Work your campus network and apply directly at the same time
Campus career fairs surface structured intern 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 catches openings that never come through university channels.
Practice the technical screen out loud before applying
Silicon engineer intern screens typically include digital design questions, RTL coding exercises, or circuit analysis problems. Practice solving them out loud, walking through your reasoning step by step, since interviewers weigh how you think through a problem as much as whether you reach the right answer. Run mock sessions with peers before your first real interview.
Target structured university intern programs early
Major chip design and semiconductor companies run cohort-based intern programs built specifically to train candidates new to the field. These programs recruit early, fill fast, and often lead to return offers for strong performers. Identify the ones that fit your background and apply in the first wave of their recruiting cycle, not after you have heard back from other applications.
Set your work-type filter before you start searching
On-site roles are 100% of the silicon engineer internships listed here. Decide what you can commit to before you start reviewing openings, then filter by location and work type on Migrate Mate so you are sorting through roles you can actually take rather than ones you will decline at the offer stage.
Silicon Engineer Internships: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a silicon engineer internship?
Lead with coursework and personal projects rather than work history, since hiring teams expect limited experience at the intern level. For silicon engineer candidates, a portfolio of documented hardware or chip design projects, shared through a linked repository or design archive, 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 silicon 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 silicon engineer interns is performance on real project work, available headcount on the team, and how early in the internship you signal interest. Position for a return offer by delivering on your assigned scope and asking your manager about full-time timelines, without counting on it as a certain outcome.
When should I apply for silicon engineer internships?
Earlier than most candidates expect. Large semiconductor and chip design employers recruit summer interns the preceding fall, often closing cohorts before the calendar year turns. Smaller companies and co-op programs post closer to their start dates, so openings appear year-round. Checking listings regularly rather than waiting for a single seasonal push means you catch roles at both ends of that window.
Are silicon engineer internships paid?
Most professional silicon engineer internships in the United States are paid. Compensation varies by company size, industry, and location, so listings show it where the employer chooses to disclose it. Filtering by role type and reading each posting carefully is the fastest way to understand what a specific opportunity offers.
What should a silicon engineer internship resume include?
Lead with two or three complete, documented projects rather than work history. For silicon engineer candidates, that means naming the tools and processes used, such as RTL design, physical verification, or SPICE simulation, and linking directly to your code repository, design files, or published schematics where possible. Add relevant coursework in digital design, computer architecture, or VLSI. Keep the whole document to one page.
Are there remote silicon engineer internships?
Yes. Remote and hybrid roles make up 0% of the silicon engineer internship listings here, with the rest on-site. Remote cohorts fill fast because they draw from a wider candidate pool, so apply early and filter by work type to see them before they close.
Can international students get silicon 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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