Design Engineer Intern Responsibilities: A Comprehensive Guide

A design engineer internship offers invaluable experience for aspiring engineers. Interns provide crucial support to senior engineers, contributing to various stages of the design process. This article delves into the multifaceted responsibilities of a design engineer intern, the skills required to excel in this role, and how it compares to similar engineering positions.

Core Responsibilities of a Design Engineer Intern

Generally, a design engineer intern is primarily responsible for performing support tasks under the guidance of a manager or a more experienced engineer. These tasks can range from documentation and data management to design participation and problem-solving. It's essential for interns to report to their supervisors and adhere to company policies.

Here's a breakdown of typical responsibilities based on real design engineer internship resumes:

Documentation and Data Management: Processing documents, updating records, and populating databases are common tasks.
Communication and Support: Responding to inquiries and correspondence, running errands, and sharing insights.
Design Participation: Participating in designing projects, presenting designs and concepts to the engineering team.
CAD and Modeling: Design and analyze new and existing parts for retrofit systems using AutoCAD and SolidWorks. Complete AutoCAD structural designs for project estimation and bidding. Develop and create drawings of truck assembly components for manufacturing using Unigraphics. Design of truck seats, seat mountings, and body structural components using Unigraphics.
Analysis and Calculation: Perform basic stress calculations on newly designed parts and work with the internal FEA department when additional analysis are needed. Design large tonnage drilling equipment involving stress and FEA analysis.
HVAC System Design: Design and draft HVAC systems in small and large scale residential projects. Generate reports and analyze HVAC performance data to identify issues and improvement opportunities.
Programming and Software: Incorporate MATLAB programming to image process bone and tissue scans to calculate mechanical properties. Develop a python GUI as an interface for testing, data-logging and monitoring data of sensor module. Implement more scalable programming technologies (.NET, JAVA) into existing web platforms.
Networking: Engineer, manage and implement configuration and installation of complex Ethernet network backbones.
Mentorship: Mentor new engineers on design, CATIA, PIOS (manufacturing information database), and liaison engineering skills.

Essential Skills and Personality Traits

While technical skills are important, certain soft skills and personality traits are equally crucial for success as a design engineer intern. Analysis of resumes reveals the following key skills:

Technical Prowess: Proficiency in software like Python (9%), RF (7%), and C++ (5%) is often expected. Knowledge of Verilog (5%) and Java (4%) can also be beneficial.
Creativity: Mechanical engineers design and build complex pieces of equipment and machinery. Perform needed changes to standard engineering drawings using AutoCAD and Inventor.
Listening Skills: Mechanical engineers often work on projects with others, such as architects and computer scientists. Communicated and brainstormed with senior administrators about new product designs.
Math Skills: Mechanical engineers use the principles of calculus, statistics, and other advanced subjects in math for analysis, design, and troubleshooting in their work. Developed and tested Perl script for analysis and display of computer host availability statistics on various server queues.
Mechanical Skills: Mechanical skills allow engineers to apply basic engineering concepts and mechanical processes to the design of new devices and systems. Worked in research and product development to design new mechanical systems related to fire sprinkler operations.
Problem-Solving Skills: Mechanical engineers need good problem-solving skills to take scientific principles and discoveries and use them to design and build useful products. Experience gained: completed SolidWorks 2011 essentials training with TriMech solutions in Charlotte, NC.
Communication Skills: Strengthen skills in presentation, PowerPoint. Created and presented technical PowerPoint presentations to customers which were instrumental in wining new business.

Design Engineer Intern vs. Other Engineering Roles

Understanding the differences between a design engineer intern role and other engineering positions can help clarify career paths and expectations.

Read also: UCLA DMA Program

Design Engineer Intern vs. Product Engineer

A product engineer specializes in designing and developing commercial materials and services, conducting research and analysis of market trends to create new products.

Salary: Product engineers generally earn more, with an average of $34,299 higher per year.
Skills: Both roles share skills like RF, level analysis, and C++. However, design engineer interns need skills like Python, Verilog, PowerPoint, and mechanical design, while product engineers need CAD, project management, continuous improvement, and UL skills.
Industry: Product engineers thrive in the technology industry, earning an average of $90,301. Design engineer interns also benefit from the technology industry, with an average salary of $62,117.
Education: Product engineers are slightly more likely to hold a Master's Degree (1.0% more) or a Doctoral Degree (0.2% more).

Design Engineer Intern vs. Staff Engineer

Staff engineers design, develop, and inspect products, equipment, or structures, overseeing construction projects and ensuring compliance with regulations.

Salary: Staff engineers earn significantly more, with an average of $52,184 higher per year.
Skills: Both roles require Python, RF, and C++. Design engineer interns need skills like level analysis, PowerPoint, mechanical design, and SolidWorks, while staff engineers need architecture, software development, project management, and API skills.
Industry: Staff engineers earn the most in the telecommunications industry ($119,079), while design engineer interns earn the most in the technology industry ($62,117).
Education: Staff engineers are slightly more likely to have a Master's Degree (3.9% more) or a Doctoral Degree (0.2% more).

Design Engineer Intern vs. Co-Operations Engineer

A Co-Operations Engineer ensures operations-related activities are performed in compliance with company standards and regulations and optimizes business efficiency.

Salary: Co-operations engineers earn less, with an average of $12,728 lower per year.
Skills: Both roles share skills like Python, RF, and C++. Design engineer interns need skills like level analysis, Verilog, design reviews, and mechanical design, while co-operations engineers need CAD, lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, and project management skills.
Industry: Co-operations engineers earn the most in the energy industry ($51,087), while design engineer interns earn the most in the technology industry ($62,117).
Education: Co-operations engineers tend to have similar levels of education.

Design Engineer Intern vs. Tool Engineer

A tooling engineer creates and adjusts tools or parts for various products, developing design blueprints and ensuring compliance with operational standards.

Salary: Tool engineers earn more, with an average of $45,789 higher per year.
Skills: Both roles use skills like Python, Java, and design reviews. Design engineer interns need RF, level analysis, C++, and Verilog, while tool engineers need CAD, Linux, Jenkins, and Ruby skills.
Industry: Tool engineers earn the most in the technology industry ($94,406), which is also the highest-paying industry for design engineer interns.
Education: Tool engineers are slightly more likely to have a Master's Degree (4.3% more) or a Doctoral Degree (0.2% more).

Types of Design Engineer Internships

Design engineer internships can vary based on the company and industry. For instance, Dimensional Innovations (DI) offers a Design Engineer Internship where interns work on real client projects alongside professionals, turning ideas into reality. This type of internship focuses on hands-on experience and collaboration.

Andersen Corporation offers a Product Design Intern position where the intern uses their design background to improve existing products or innovate future products, working with engineering, marketing, and sales teams.

Red E, LLC, an agricultural equipment company, offers opportunities to contribute to and learn from a team of engineers, solving engineering challenges in product development or manufacturing.

Writing an Effective Design Engineer Intern Job Description

When creating a job description for a design engineer intern, it's important to:

List detailed duties, responsibilities, and expectations.
Specify required qualifications and skills.
Highlight the company culture and benefits.

For example, Andersen Corporation emphasizes its core values of Humility, Ownership, Meaningful connection, and Expertise (HOME) and its commitment to environmental health and sustainability.

Read also: Breaking into Motion Graphics

tags: #design #engineer #intern #responsibilities