How to hire a project engineer internship

How to hire a project engineer internship, step by step

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a project 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

   A project engineer internship's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, project engineer 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 project engineer interns and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Project Engineer Internship	Description	Hourly rate
   Project Engineer Internship	Civil engineering technicians help civil engineers to plan, design, and build highways, bridges, utilities, and other infrastructure projects. They also help to plan, design, and build commercial, industrial, residential, and land development projects.	$14-24
   Design Technician	A design technician's role revolves around conducting extensive research and analysis to determine a company's needs. The technician will develop system plans and collaborate with fellow technicians and engineers... Show more	$17-50
   Cadd Technician	A CADD technician specializes in using special computer-aided software in producing electronic design plans for machinery and construction. They usually work together with engineers and architects in turning technical sketches and designs into 2D or 3D models... Show more	$19-33

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Project Management
   • PowerPoint
   • RFI
   • CAD
   • Meeting Minutes
   • Construction Projects
   • Data Collection
   • Data Analysis
   • R
   • Shop Drawings
   • Windows
   • PLC
   • Solidworks
   • C++

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage quality assurance checks for FDA and internal audits which result in no documentation/information error and successful completion of the audits.
   • Produce alpha, beta and pilot prototype units for full scale testing in conjunction with FMEA (DFMEA and PFMEA).
   • Perform field layout and as-built surveys using Trimble GPS and maintain up-to-date GPS models on construction equipment.
   • Involve in testing the application with QA team which are involved in cross browser testing and performance testing.
   • Conduct stringent schedule coordination with owner to complete HVAC upgrades to existing facilities to maintain facility operations during and after hours.
   • Identify a new advertising vehicle using Facebook.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your project engineer internship job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A project engineer internship salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, project engineer interns' average salary in texas is 42% less than in new jersey.
   • Seniority. Entry-level project engineer interns earn 39% less than senior-level project engineer interns.
   • Certifications. A project engineer internship with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a project engineer internship's salary.

   Average project engineer internship salary

   $40,356yearly

   $19.40 hourly rate

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   Entry-level project engineer internship salary

   $31,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 20, 2026

4. Writing a project engineer internship job description

   A project 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. To help get you started, here's an example of a project engineer internship job description:

   Project engineer internship job description example

   Participate in and/or lead detailed technical WBS definition, cost estimation, risk estimation, and technical schedule creation
   
   Assist managing day to day technical aspects of the project, including cross-functional decision making, task/schedule management, issue resolution/escalation, communication, requirements management, and risk management activities.
   
   Activities overseen include software, digital, electrical power, mechanical, configuration management, and systems engineering.
   
   Participate in and/or lead efforts for unit testing, integration testing, verification testing, and pre-production (qualification) testing including efforts for defect tracking and correction
   Support technical efforts for customer upgrade requests and change management for released products Coordinate with multiple levels of staff (PMs and Engineers) to finalize project plan presentations Coordinate with multiple levels of staff (PMs and Engineers) to establish timelines, deadlines, coordinate, and schedule meetings Organize, track, and maintain project and program documentation Participate in project/program meetings as requested Assist in the preparation of materials to support program meetings Assist with processing staff expense reports and adjudicate issues Assist with special projects and tasks from functional areas that support the S&AS Business Area
   Qualifications:
   Pursuing a Bachelor's Degree technical discipline (Engineering, Information Technology, Computer Science, etc.), Business Administration, Management, or related GPA of 3.0 or greater
   Preferred Skills:
   Broad based technical knowledge and experience in order to understand and evaluate design and development activity across the engineering functions. Preferred emphasis in Electrical Power Conversion Engineering and Systems Engineering experience highly desired. Ability to analyze the assigned project, break down work into functional disciplines and plan out a means for the work to be accomplished. Experience working with Microsoft, Word, Excel, Access, Visio and Power Point Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail Ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks, involving complex and varying problems Willingness to grow and learn in a fast-paced environment Effective time management skills Excellent verbal and written communication skills The successful candidate must possess a high-level of confidence and be a self-starter Ability to take on more responsibility over a period of time Ability to learn new tools and processes as related to technology and software

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find project engineer 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 project engineer internship job on Zippia to find and recruit project engineer internship candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with project engineer internship candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you 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 project engineer internship

   Once you have selected a candidate for the project engineer internship position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new project engineer internship. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

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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