How to hire a design engineer internship

How to hire a design engineer internship, step by step

Here's a step-by-step design engineer internship hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a design engineer internship job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new design engineer internship
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a design engineer internship do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a design engineer internship, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect design engineer internship also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   The following list breaks down different types of design engineer interns and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Design Engineer Internship	Description	Hourly rate
   Design Engineer Internship	Mechanical engineering is one of the broadest engineering disciplines. Mechanical engineers design, develop, build, and test mechanical and thermal sensors and devices, including tools, engines, and machines.	$18-37
   Product Engineer	A product engineer specializes in designing and developing commercial materials and services. They are primarily responsible for conducting thorough research and analysis of the latest trends and marketing conditions to come up with new ideas and products for the public... Show more	$32-56
   Staff Engineer	Staff engineers are responsible for designing, developing, and inspecting various products, equipment, or structures. These professionals may perform varied duties depending on their specialization that includes overseeing the design and construction of buildings, bridges, sewer systems, and other infrastructure, estimating the financial costs of construction projects, and ensuring compliance with health and safety laws and regulations... Show more	$33-80

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Python
   • RF
   • C++
   • Verilog
   • Java
   • PowerPoint
   • Design Reviews
   • Perl
   • Mechanical Design
   • Solidworks
   • Aided Design
   • Engineering Design
   • Product Design
   • Design Verification

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Engineer, manage and implement configuration and installation of complex Ethernet network backbones.
   • Design and analyze new and existing parts for retrofit systems on various models of work over rigs using AutoCAD and SolidWorks.
   • Strengthen skills in presentation, PowerPoint.
   • Specialize in MOSFET switching circuits for powering/pulsing RF amplifiers.
   • Present designs and concepts to engineering team using PowerPoint.
   • Design large tonnage drilling equipment involving stress and FEA analysis.

   More design engineer internship duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your design engineer internship job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A design engineer internship salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a design engineer internship in Georgia may be lower than in Washington, and an entry-level design engineer internship usually earns less than a senior-level design engineer internship. Additionally, a design engineer internship with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average design engineer internship salary

   $55,346yearly

   $26.61 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level design engineer internship salary

   $38,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

   Average design engineer internship salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$71,648	$34
   2	Washington	$68,211	$33
   3	Oregon	$62,757	$30
   4	Arizona	$61,463	$30
   5	Connecticut	$57,792	$28
   6	Massachusetts	$56,540	$27
   7	Texas	$55,755	$27
   8	Colorado	$55,505	$27
   9	New York	$55,333	$27
   10	Louisiana	$55,010	$26
   11	Michigan	$54,684	$26
   12	Utah	$54,106	$26
   13	Nebraska	$53,476	$26
   14	New Hampshire	$53,386	$26
   15	North Carolina	$52,802	$25
   16	Minnesota	$52,479	$25
   17	Iowa	$51,801	$25
   18	Georgia	$48,654	$23
   19	Florida	$47,586	$23
   20	Arkansas	$44,251	$21

   Average design engineer internship salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Ampere	$120,876	$58.11
   2	Apple	$101,951	$49.01	597
   3	Xilinx	$92,310	$44.38
   4	General Motors	$88,282	$42.44	304
   5	Renesas Electronics	$88,208	$42.41	12
   6	Parsons	$87,189	$41.92	156
   7	Adobe	$85,592	$41.15	88
   8	Ambarella	$85,380	$41.05	5
   9	ATI Physical Therapy	$78,302	$37.65	12
   10	Illinois Central College	$77,487	$37.25
   11	Qorvo	$73,675	$35.42
   12	Curtiss-Wright	$72,541	$34.88	41
   13	SAP	$70,949	$34.11	14
   14	MACOM	$70,359	$33.83	31
   15	Amd	$69,728	$33.52	103
   16	Micron Technology	$68,123	$32.75	145
   17	Dynamic Engineering Consultants PLLC	$67,201	$32.31	61
   18	AMETEK	$66,291	$31.87	27
   19	Eversource Energy	$63,481	$30.52	59
   20	PACCAR	$59,573	$28.64	14

4. Writing a design engineer internship job description

   A design engineer internship job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a design engineer internship job description:

   Design engineer internship job description example

   Thornton Tomasetti provides engineering design, investigation and analysis services to clients worldwide on projects of every size and level of complexity. We are a growing 1500+ person firm with 10 practices: Structural Engineering, Forensics, Applied Science, Renewal, Resilience, Construction Engineering, Protective Design and Security, Facade Engineering, Sustainability and Transportation. We work on everything from landmark buildings to small-scale specialty structures, from the historic to the high performing, while balancing multiple objectives, including form, function, schedule, sustainability, constructability and budget. TALENT is at the core of our business.
   
   Our Protective Design practice helps architects, owners, developers, and public agencies worldwide achieve security objectives while upholding each project's aesthetic, functional and budgetary goals. A recognized leader in security services - with more than 60 years of experience - we collaborate with clients and project teams to develop physical, technical, and operational security solutions for facilities of every type, use, and size.
   The Role
   We have an opportunity for a Structural Engineer Intern for our Protective Design & Security Practice.
   
   Responsibilities
   Responsible for structural analysis, design, detailing of steel, concrete, masonry, and timber systems.Coordination of design work with in-house staff as we as other design professionals including Architects and other Engineering disciplines. Preparation of construction documents within a BIM environment.
   
   Requirements
   Undergraduate or graduate student with a concentration in engineering or architecture.Excellent academic record.Experience in Revit, Tekla, and AutoCAD is helpful but not required.
   
   Thornton Tomasetti is proud to be an equal employment workplace. Individuals seeking employment at Thornton Tomasetti are considered without regards to age, ancestry, color, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, mental or physical disability, national origin, protected family care or medical leave status, race, religion (including beliefs and practices or the absence thereof), sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.
   
   (US Locations Only) In our culture of collaboration and innovation, we find we do our best work when we are together while minimizing the risks of COVID-19. For new hires at Thornton Tomasetti, we require COVID-19 vaccination to the extent allowed by access and permitted by government jurisdiction in your area and barring any religious or medically approved exemption.
   
   Thornton Tomasetti Global Terms of Use and Privacy Statement
   Carefully read these Terms of Use before using this website. Your access to and use of this website and application for a job at Thornton Tomasetti are conditioned on your acceptance and compliance with these terms.
   
   Please access the linked document by clicking here, select the country where you are applying for employment, and review. Before submitting your application you will be asked to confirm your agreement with the terms.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right design engineer internship for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your design engineer internship job on Zippia to find and recruit design engineer internship candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit design engineer interns, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new design engineer internship

   Once you've selected the best design engineer internship candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new design engineer internship. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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