How to Land a Mechanical Engineering Internship

For aspiring mechanical engineers, internship programs offer invaluable opportunities to gain practical experience and explore the diverse possibilities within the field. From aerospace engineering and robotics to civil engineering and manufacturing, mechanical engineering internships cater to various interests and expertise levels.

Types of Mechanical Engineering Internships

Several types of mechanical engineering internships are available, each offering unique experiences and career paths.

Aerospace Engineering Intern

Aerospace engineers design, test, and produce aircraft, spacecraft, and their components. Aerospace engineering internships, typically offered by universities and private companies, provide practical experience and networking opportunities. Interns develop essential skills such as technical production planning, effective communication, and teamwork.

Requirements: Completion of two to three years of college is generally required. A strong understanding of aerospace engineering, aerodynamics, and other engineering principles is essential, along with proficiency in computer programming and AutoCAD.

Career Opportunities: Potential career paths include aerodynamic engineers and aeronautical engineers.

Electrical Engineering Intern

An electrical engineering internship allows students to apply theoretical knowledge to practical tasks like branch circuiting, lighting calculations, site investigations, and design drawings. It also builds professional aptitude, character, and confidence.

Requirements: Proficiency in C++, Analog, and Revit is needed to develop software programs for hardware automation designing and setup. A bachelor's degree in electrical engineering and proficiency in at least two programming languages are also required.

Career Opportunities: Electrical engineering interns can pursue careers in computer or software engineering, advanced automation, robotic system engineering, and defense systems engineering.

Manufacturing Engineering Intern

Manufacturing internships are open to undergraduate students from industrial design, mechanical, and electrical engineering disciplines. Interns observe and learn from production staff, review and assess manufacturing equipment and tools, examine quality control records, and complete administrative tasks to understand plant operations.

Requirements: Familiarity with Lean Manufacturing, Computer-Aided Design (CAD), AutoCAD, and other computer software is essential. Certifications like Six Sigma Green Belt or Engineer in Training (EIT) are also beneficial.

Career Opportunities: Graduates can pursue careers in quality assurance engineering, project and process engineering, and product engineering.

Industrial Engineering Intern

Ideal for manufacturing, mechanical, and electrical engineering students, an industrial engineering internship involves observing and learning from production staff, reviewing manufacturing tools, observing quality control protocols, working on project management, and understanding job functions.

Requirements: A strong understanding of instrumentation, project management, and data analysis is necessary, along with a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering.

Career Opportunities: Potential career paths include manufacturing technician, industrial mechanic, and supply chain analyst.

Mechanical Design Intern

Also known as a drafting internship, a mechanical design internship involves contributing to the creation of designs for mechanical devices, such as machines or electronics. Interns work across all stages of the process, from brainstorming to production and testing.

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Requirements: Knowledge of creating engineering drawings, mechanical design skills, and experience with CAD, Java, Autodesk, Matlab, and Finite Element Analysis (FEA) software are required.

Career Opportunities: Graduates can pursue careers in product design engineering, project engineering, engineering management, and mechanical engineering.

Securing a Mechanical Engineering Internship

Finding Internship Opportunities

College/University Programs: Many colleges and universities offer internship programs specifically for engineering students.
Job Fairs: Attending job fairs provides an industry overview and networking opportunities with potential employers.
Job Boards: Online job boards are a valuable resource for finding internship opportunities. Setting up job alerts can help you stay informed about new postings. Look for job postings mentioning “reasonable accommodations” and “equal opportunity.”
Handshake: Platforms like Handshake connect students with internship opportunities.

Nailing the Interview

Highlight Skills: Showcase skills from past internships or projects, and emphasize awards or honors on your resume and cover letter.
Personalize Cover Letters: Tailor cover letters to each specific position and company.
The STAR Technique: Use the STAR technique to structure your responses to interview questions:
- Situation: Describe a professional situation.
- Task: Explain what was asked of you or what you needed to accomplish.
- Action: Detail the steps you took to address the task.
- Result: Highlight the positive outcomes of your actions.
Research Common Questions: Prepare for common interview questions by practicing your answers beforehand.
Show Enthusiasm: Demonstrate enthusiasm and eagerness to learn by asking thoughtful questions about the company and the internship.

Additional Tips for Robotics and Mechanical Engineering Internships

Master Key Skills: Focus on mastering CAD design, programming (Python, MATLAB, or C++), and simulation tools.
Hands-on Projects: Build a portfolio of hands-on projects, such as creating a robot, designing mechanical systems, or coding automation processes.
Industry Events: Attend industry events like hackathons, expos, or robotics competitions.
Networking: Connect with alumni, professors, and industry experts for advice and mentorship.
Join Clubs: Participate in robotics clubs or engineering societies like ASME or IEEE.
Competitions: Volunteer for engineering competitions like Formula SAE or FIRST Robotics.
Summer Jobs/Volunteer Roles: Look for summer jobs or volunteer roles involving mechanicals or robotics, such as working in an auto shop, helping with irrigation equipment, or teaching robot programming.
Strong Foundation: Build a strong foundation in control systems, kinematics, and artificial intelligence.
Industry Tools: Get familiar with industry tools like MATLAB, SolidWorks, Python, C++, and Robot Operating System (ROS).
University Labs: Join university labs or participate in competitions like FIRST Robotics, VEX, and hackathons.
Tailor Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight your technical skills and project experience.
Explore Programs: Look into programs like NASA Internships, Google Summer of Code, and MIT’s UROP.
Online Resources: Utilize online resources like Coursera, edX, Udacity, MIT OpenCourseWare, and Udemy.
Open-Source Projects: Contribute to open-source projects on GitHub or Hackster.io.
Stay Engaged: Join communities like r/robotics on Reddit, Stack Exchange, and IEEE forums.
Industry Trends: Keep up with industry trends through sites like IEEE Spectrum, TechCrunch Robotics, and Robotics Business Review.

Companies Hiring Mechanical Engineering Interns

Many companies offer mechanical engineering internships. Examples include:

Boeing: Boeing offers internships in various engineering fields, including mechanical, electrical, and aerospace engineering. Interns work on cutting-edge projects and contribute to the future of aerospace.
Lockheed Martin: Lockheed Martin's engineering internships provide opportunities to work on real-world projects in aerospace, defense, and security.
Phantom Works (Boeing’s advanced research and development division): This division provides opportunities to shape the future of aerospace through innovative research and development.

Types of Internships

Mechanical engineering internship job might be unpaid, paid, or count toward college credit. Unpaid internships provide valuable experience and the opportunity to network with professionals. Paid internships offer compensation for the work, but may require more experience and qualifications. College students may earn college credit for the internship experience.

Skills

To qualify for most internships, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent work experience in mechanical engineering or a related field), and many also require a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

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