Internships are a great way for students to gain exposure to corporate life and start building their networks. The best internships give students practical experience in their field, complementing their school learning and preparing them for the workforce. This is particularly true of engineering internships, which are critical for helping students develop real-life skills they can’t learn in the classroom.
Whether you are studying mechanical, biomedical, chemical, civil, or any other engineering discipline, practical experience is necessary to ensure you’re ready to jump into a job after graduation. A great engineering internship will allow you to get your hands dirty and give you the opportunity to work alongside experts in the field while solving real-world problems. Of course, the best engineering internships will also help you develop your network and give you plenty of opportunities to have fun!
If you’re an engineering student starting to think about your first internship, here are 13 companies with engineering internships that stand out from the rest.
If you’re looking for an internship that challenges your preconceived notions of what an internship experience should be, then Amazon Robotics is the company for you! The Amazon Robotics internship program allows students to work on real world projects side-by-side with other employees and work toward advancing the productivity and efficiency of Amazon fulfillment centers. At Amazon Robotics, you aren’t just getting first-in-class learning experiences, but you also get to have the summer of a lifetime. Interns get a ton of Amazon Robotics SWAG, introductions to the Amazon Robotics leadership team, and opportunities to attend fun social events like Red Sox games and completing a scavenger hunt throughout Boston. Students who participate in the Amazon Robotics internship program are sure to learn a lot while having an exciting and fulfilling experience!
Arcadis, a global design, engineering, and management consultant company with a strong US presence, offers interesting internships that help students develop skills they typically wouldn’t learn in the classroom. In the engineering sector alone, Arcadis offers internships in Transportation Planning, Traffic Engineering, Water Engineering, Water Management, and Environmental Engineering. Their internship programs allow students to immerse themselves in the everyday engineering processes of these roles, including preparing technical reports, drawings, and work plans, coordinating vendors and subcontractors, and obtaining project permits. Interns get to work together and with professional architects and engineers on unique projects that benefit local communities and give them real-life experience in the field. Former interns cite the emphasis on teamwork as the cornerstone of their experience, as they were able to develop meaningful working relationships with both their fellow interns and full-time employees while learning and developing their engineering skills.
Bechtel Corporation, a trusted engineering, construction, and project management partner, offers an engineering internship program that is dedicated to preparing engineering students for success. Bechtel’s on-site interns experience organized and clean work sites and can be assured that every day will be different from the last. Engineering interns gain experience solving problems like material issues, safety concerns, and weather conflicts, while working directly with the local community. Intern supervisors go above and beyond to help students network with current Bechtel Engineers, learn about specific projects, and identify areas that pique their interest. Additionally, interns have the option of taking courses and gaining certifications through Bechtel University, which offers thousands of instructor-led virtual courses in multiple languages. This makes it possible for interns to finish their program with up to 40 or more certifications under their belt. Beyond work, Bechtel’s HR team works tirelessly to make sure #Bechterns experience a proper work-life balance. They encourage bonding through planned social events, like bowling and intern dinners, making sure students enjoy every aspect of their internship.
Bohler provides land development consulting and technical design services to owners and developers across commercial, institutional, and residential markets. An internship with Bohler is an authentic experience where students learn what it’s like to work at an engineering firm focused on land development. Interns are matched with a design team and paired with mentors who not only show them the “technical” ropes, but help guide them through the internship experience. Interns receive hands-on training and develop skills that will benefit them throughout their careers. Staff engineer interns, for example, have the opportunity to learn the stages of the site development process, prepare concept plans, research and learn zoning ordinances, and actually visit sites to see the engineering process in action. Interns also have a lot of fun, with opportunities to participate in intramural sports and plenty of social events to help them network and unwind.
Boston Scientific, a manufacturer of medical devices, was named a 2021 Fortune World’s Most Admired Company, and for good reason. Participants in their 12-week internship program learn about the real-life impact of their work from the start. Interns attend many fun social events throughout the summer, but their “Everyone Makes an Impact Day” is truly special. It allows employees and interns to celebrate how the work they do to improve devices contributes directly to the improvement of patients’ lives. Boston Scientific’s Process Development Engineering Internship gives students the opportunity to work in cross-functional groups and contribute to a variety of technically-challenging projects. Engineering interns get valuable experience working on projects alongside full-time employees, gaining real-life skills all while knowing that their work is helping others.
Clark Construction is one of the most experienced and respected building and civil construction firms in the United States, and they offer an internship program to match. Recognized as one of WayUp’s top 100 internship programs, Clark Construction’s Summer Associate Program allows students to gain valuable construction experience while enjoying a number of networking opportunities. Although they had to quickly adapt their summer associate program to a hybrid format in 2020 due to Covid-19, Clark still managed to provide virtual jobsite tours, one-on-one video calls, and virtual leadership-building opportunities, while providing interns learning opportunities through Clark Corporate University and LinkedIn Learning. Summer associates are also given a number of opportunities for hands-on learning, even getting the chance to present to Clark’s leadership team. Every year, summer associates conduct research on areas central to Clark’s business, like safety, innovation, and client service, and present them to leadership on Capstone Day. These opportunities are invaluable for summer associates’ development and growth, and it’s clear that the program meets the company’s goal of being “more than just an internship.”
Dolby, an innovator in audio visual technology, provides impactful, collaboration-based internships where students are challenged to utilize their creativity while working on real-life projects alongside industry leaders. Interns in the Dolby-U Intern Program are immersed in daily life at the company, benefitting from a structured curriculum. Dolby offers a variety of niche internships where students learn specific entertainment and communication audio visual engineering processes. Intern opportunities include IP Security Engineering, Image QA Engineering, Embedded Audio Engineering, Sound Tech Programming, Platform Development, Enterprise Application Integrations, Deep Learning Audio, and more. Dolby-U interns don’t just work all day, though. They are also offered a robust social calendar of intern-specific and company-wide events like baseball games, speaker series, and volunteer activities!
Gates Corporation, a leading manufacturer of application-specific fluid power and power transmission solutions, gives their engineering interns a hands-on and challenging experience. Interns get first-hand experience working on exciting projects, allowing them to learn quickly on the job. Gates offers a variety of concentrations, including manufacturing, process, quality, packaging, and research and development. No matter the focus, interns get the opportunity to work one-on-one with current Gates engineers, and are encouraged to meet employees outside of their department to build their network and get an understanding of all the roles at the organization. No matter their area of focus, engineering interns at Gates gain real-world experience, working on projects that are relevant to the company’s current and long-term goals. This experience is invaluable and sure to stick with interns for the rest of their careers.
General Atomics, founded in 1955, is an organization specializing in research and development. If you’re looking to follow in the footsteps of some of the world’s leading scientists & engineers, then General Atomics is a great place to start. They offer a number of paid summer and year-round internships for both undergrads and graduate students. Interns work on transformative technology and get exposure to many different areas, such as Nuclear Fuel Cycle, Electromagnetic Systems, Airborne Sensors, & Laser Technology. In addition to gaining real-world experience and the opportunity to learn from some of the brightest minds in the business, interns get the chance to present ideas and accomplishments to team leaders and executives. Beyond practical learning opportunities, interns also get many chances to network with each other, full-time employees, and executives, plus can immerse themselves in the local community through a number of social events. General Atomics offers impressive benefits to their interns, with housing assistance, access to an on-site fitness center, and free access to their Employee Recreation Association, on top of competitive compensation. It’s clear that General Atomics’ internship program is a rewarding and beneficial experience for any engineering student.
Hubbell Incorporated, founded in 1988, has grown into an international manufacturer of quality electrical, lighting and power solutions with more than 75 brands used and recognized around the world. With a bevy of intern opportunities for engineering students across the country, Hubbell offers their interns a chance to complete engineering tasks related to design, analysis, test, integration and systems engineering. Throughout their 10 to 12 week programs, interns gain valuable corporate experience that will prepare them for a future career at the company. Engineering interns will typically support one or more experienced engineers in performance of assignments, spend time shadowing actual operations, and have unique assignments that support larger projects as well as the day-to-day operations of the engineering department. Interns also get the opportunity to build their network and gain insight into the daily life of an engineer.
Kiewit, one of the largest construction and engineering organizations in North America, offers a robust internship program. In fact, while many companies canceled their programs in 2020, Kiewit hosted over 800 summer interns for a hybrid program. Kiewit offers internships in a variety of engineering fields, including Field/Office, Instrumentation & Controls, Structural, Civil, Mechanical and more. Interns get the opportunity to work right alongside Kiewit professionals to solve real business problems and travel across the country to different project sites, gaining experience in a variety of different areas. The university team at Kiewit is so dedicated to the success of future engineers, that they donated $20 million to the College of Engineering at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and created the Kiewit Scholar Program—a full-tuition scholarship combined with a rigorous leadership program. Their university team is literally invested in developing strong engineering talent!
Looking for an engineering internship that could get you security clearance? Look no further than Lockheed Martin. Lockheed Martin’s internship program allows students to delve deeply into careers surrounding the future of technology and creativity. Want to be involved in developing tools used in space? Lockheed Martin can take your ideas to the moon! Lockheed Martin’s structured internship program includes training modules, real-world projects, and a formal end-of-assignment presentation to organization leaders. Interns also get the opportunity to participate in volunteer opportunities, attend social events and network with employees. To ensure success, interns are paired with buddies who help them adapt to the organization, work with mentors who offer guidance, and have access to executives for learning opportunities. Combining challenging experiences, inclusive work environments and relationship-building, Lockheed Martin’s internship program is sure to be rewarding.
Shaw Industries, a top supplier of carpet, hardwood and other flooring products, is dedicated to supporting the next generation of engineers. In 2020, when the pandemic disrupted countless internships, they offered students co-ops and internships to continue their professional development in a virtual world. During a Shaw co-op, students gain diverse work experience and are exposed to many different aspects of the company’s operations. The Shaw early career team’s dedication has ranked the company among Training Magazine’s 25 Companies for Training and Development 16 years in a row! Beyond professional development and real-world experience, the college team also makes sure to build community and have fun with interns by hosting events like Virtual Game Night. All these initiatives for intern success make this company an excellent place to start your career in industrial, chemical, or mechanical/electrical engineering!
