Structural Engineer Internships

Structural 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. Roles are concentrated in Food & Beverage, Construction & Real Estate, and Consulting & Professional Services, with Dennis, Thornton Tomasetti, and Tesla among the employers posting roles now.

Find Structural Engineer Internships

Overview

Open roles9
Top stateTexas
Top employerDennis
Top cityAustin, TX
Work type100% On-site
Top industryFood

Showing 5 of 9+ Structural Engineer Internships

Dennis Group
Structural Engineer Co-Op / Intern (Starting Summer 2027)
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Dennis Group
Added 1d ago
Structural Engineer Co-Op / Intern (Starting Summer 2027)
Dennis Group
Duluth, Georgia
Accounting
Business Operations
Tax
201-500

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Dennis Group
Structural Engineer Intern (Starting Summer 2027)
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Dennis Group
Added 1d ago
Structural Engineer Intern (Starting Summer 2027)
Dennis Group
Austin, Texas
Customer Support
IT Support
Technical Program Management
201-500

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Dennis Group
Structural Engineer Intern (Starting Summer 2027)
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Dennis Group
Added 1d ago
Structural Engineer Intern (Starting Summer 2027)
Dennis Group
Springfield, Massachusetts
Business Operations
Compensation & Benefits
Human Resources (HR) — Generalist
$22 - $23/hr
201-500

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L3Harris
Intern, Structural Engineer
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L3Harris
Added 3d ago
Intern, Structural Engineer
L3Harris
Waco, Texas
Compliance & Risk
Cybersecurity
Security Engineering
10,000+

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Tesla
Internship, Architecture & Structural Engineer, Infrastructure (Winter/Spring 2027)
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Tesla
Added 3d ago
Internship, Architecture & Structural Engineer, Infrastructure (Winter/Spring 2027)
Tesla
Austin, Texas
Software Engineering
Solutions Engineering & Architecture
Specialized Engineering
Technical Program Management
10,000+

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Structural Engineer Internship Market

Who's Hiring

Dennis
Dennis3 open roles
Thornton Tomasetti
Thornton Tomasetti2 open roles
Tesla
Tesla1 open role

Top Industries Hiring

  • Food & Beverage
  • Construction & Real Estate
  • Consulting & Professional Services

Tips for Your Structural Engineer Internship Search

Apply in the fall for summer cohorts

Large engineering consultancies and infrastructure firms open summer intern applications as early as September. If you wait until spring, the structured cohort programs are often full. Set a reminder to search active listings the moment your fall semester begins and submit before October when possible.

Build a portfolio before you apply

Hiring teams for structural engineer interns expect limited work history, so your coursework projects carry the weight. Document two or three complete projects, include the load calculations, structural drawings, or model files you produced, the software you used, and the design problem you solved. A linked portfolio or PDF gives recruiters something concrete to review.

Use campus fairs and direct applications together

Campus career fairs surface structured internship programs tied to your university, and recruiters there often move faster for students they meet in person. Professors and your career center staff frequently know which firms recruit from your school before roles post publicly. Applying directly to smaller firms running their own cohorts widens the pool you reach beyond what appears on campus.

Practice structural engineering technical screens out loud

Structural engineer intern interviews commonly include a technical screen covering mechanics of materials, structural analysis concepts, and software proficiency, sometimes a design or hand-calculation problem. Practice solving problems out loud, explaining your reasoning as you go, since interviewers weigh how you approach a problem as much as whether you reach the right answer.

Target structured co-op and rotational programs early

Larger firms in civil and structural engineering run formal co-op or rotational programs built to train students new to the field. These programs recruit a full semester or more ahead of the start date and fill fast. Identify the ones affiliated with your university, note their deadlines, and apply in the first wave rather than after the initial cohort closes.

Set your work-type filter before you start

On-site roles are 100% of the structural engineer internships listed here. Decide what you can realistically commit to before you start searching, then filter by location and work type so you're not sorting through roles you cannot take. Applying to well-matched openings early is more effective than applying broadly to every listing.

Structural Engineer Internships: Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get a structural engineer internship?

Lead with coursework and personal projects rather than work history, hiring teams expect limited experience at the intern level. A design or CAD portfolio gives recruiters something concrete to assess for structural engineer candidates. Combine direct applications with campus career fairs, where recruiters often move faster for students they meet in person than for cold applicants.

Can a structural 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 structural engineer interns is performance on real project work, available team headcount at the end of the term, and how early you signal interest. Position for one by treating every assignment seriously, without counting on the outcome.

When should I apply for structural engineer internships?

Earlier than most candidates expect. Large employers, engineering consultancies, infrastructure firms, and major government contractors, recruit summer interns the preceding fall, often closing cohorts before spring semester begins. Smaller companies and co-op programs post closer to their start dates, so openings appear year-round and checking regularly pays off.

Are structural engineer internships paid?

Most professional structural engineer internships in the U.S. are paid. Compensation varies by company size, industry, and location, and listings show it where the employer discloses it. Stipend-only or unpaid arrangements exist mainly at nonprofits or very small firms, so read each posting carefully before applying.

What should a structural engineer internship resume include?

Lead with projects, not work history. Include two or three complete, documented projects that name the software tools used, AutoCAD, Revit, SAP2000, ETABS, or similar, and link to or reference a design portfolio or case study where the work is visible. Add relevant coursework, keep everything to one page, and put the strongest technical evidence first.

Are there remote structural engineer internships?

Yes. Remote and hybrid roles make up 0% of the structural engineer internship listings here, with the rest on-site. Remote cohorts fill fast because they attract a larger applicant pool, so apply early and filter by work type to see them before they close.

What is a structural engineering co-op, and how is it different from an internship?

A co-op is a structured, multi-semester work arrangement coordinated between your university and an employer, typically alternating full semesters of work with academic terms. Unlike a single-summer internship, a co-op runs for six to eighteen months and often extends across more than one rotation. Programs recruit early and are competitive, so identify co-op partners at your school and apply in the first wave.

Can international students get structural 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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