How to hire a hardware engineering internship

How to hire a hardware engineering internship, step by step

Here's a step-by-step hardware engineering 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 hardware engineering internship job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new hardware engineering internship
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a hardware engineering 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

   A hardware engineering internship's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, hardware engineering interns from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of hardware engineering interns and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Hardware Engineering Internship	Description	Hourly rate
   Hardware Engineering Internship	Computer hardware engineers research, design, develop, and test computer systems and components such as processors, circuit boards, memory devices, networks, and routers. These engineers discover new directions in computer hardware, which generate rapid advances in computer technology.	$22-40
   Design Verification Engineer	A design verification engineer is responsible for running diagnostic tests on project outputs and adjusting methodologies as needed to achieve high-quality deliverables according to clients' specifications and business requirements. Design verification engineers create efficient techniques to improve products and services by utilizing various system tools and applications... Show more	$42-74
   Verification Engineer	A verification engineer is responsible for running quality tests to the production processes to ensure high-quality outputs according to business requirements and client specifications. Verification engineers develop testing methodologies, inspect tools and equipment, and creating instructional manuals... Show more	$36-68

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Python
   • Solidworks
   • CAD
   • Cadence
   • C
   • C++
   • PCB
   • Linux
   • Signal Integrity
   • LabVIEW
   • Firmware
   • Circuit Design
   • Perl
   • RF

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Lead the integration and validation of a programmable clock generator on a board via I2C interface.
   • Programme VBA tool to organize and manage operator-supply production data into a comprehensive data set.
   • Analyze FCC EMI scans and subsequently debug and eliminate spurious emissions.
   • Experiment with clocks in Verilog RTL to debug a decoder failure at high symbol rates.
   • Design, develop, and test a complete software packages for software engineers to debug firmware utilizing logic analyzers.
   • Assist in writing verilog files.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your hardware engineering internship job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A hardware engineering internship can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, hardware engineering interns' average salary in tennessee is 47% less than in washington.
   • Seniority. Entry-level hardware engineering interns 44% less than senior-level hardware engineering interns.
   • Certifications. A hardware engineering internship with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a hardware engineering internship's salary.

   Average hardware engineering internship salary

   $63,154yearly

   $30.36 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level hardware engineering internship salary

   $47,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 20, 2026

4. Writing a hardware engineering internship job description

   A job description for a hardware engineering internship role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a hardware engineering internship job description:

   Hardware engineering internship job description example

   Introduction
   
   At iRobot, our mission is to empower people to do more by building the world's most thoughtful robotics and intelligent home innovations. By interning with the Automation team, you will have hand in improving the efficiency in how we manufacture, test, and qualify our new and existing products. While collaborating with Program, Electrical, Mechanical, Software, and Systems teams, you will grow interdisciplinary engineering skillsets that will help you excel into a dynamic engineering career.
   
   As a part of our Automation team, you will work under the guidance of a mentor who is experienced in your pursued degree to plan, design, develop and support automation projects (hardware and software).
   
   Our team is looking for undergraduate students to work full-time (40hrs; M-F) at our Bedford, MA office with the opportunity for a hybrid work schedule from January 2023 to end of June 2023. Students must be within a commutable distance to the Bedford, MA office.
   Essential Functions/ Job Duties:
   Because Automation requires interdisciplinary engineering, what you do is dependent on where you want to grow!
   CAD, PCB & control panel design support for fixture development and modifications Manage requirements for complex electromechanical systems with a significant software component Test and evaluate fixtures hardware for reliability Document and manufacture build process of fixtures Participate in various phases of our product development process Collect, interpret, and document data collection
   
   Qualifications:
   Currently pursuing a Bachelors degree in Robotics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field with at least 2 years of coursework completed.Demonstrated experience working with electromechanical systems or automation hardware Experience with or desire to learn various programming languages (C, C++, C#, Python, ROS2) Experience working with or desire to learn multiple OS (Windows, Linux, Mac) Passionate life-long learner who is self-driven and brings their learnings outside of work and school through personal projects (Arduino Project, Raspberry Pi Projects, 3D Modelling and Printing, etc.) Ability to work well in a team environment Comfortable exploring work tasks, seeking answers, and working independently when necessary Strong interpersonal skills track record including excellent oral and written communication skills
   
   Nice to have:
   Well-rounded knowledge set in electrical, mechanical, and software engineering IT background with an understanding of IP networking Knowledge of computer vision, SLAM, kinematics, and path-planning algorithms

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find hardware engineering interns for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your hardware engineering internship job on Zippia to find and recruit hardware engineering 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 hardware engineering 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.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   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 hardware engineering internship

   Once you've found the hardware engineering internship candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new hardware engineering 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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