Engineers are behind the Golden Gate Bridge and the Hoover Dam. They designed the Channel Tunnel between the United Kingdom and France. Engineers have built game-changing railways, skyscrapers, and spaceships. And they all had to start somewhere. One of the most common ways engineers get started in the business is through an engineering internship.
During an internship, they hone their craft, and receive valuable guidance from professionals.
Let’s take a closer look at the field of engineering, what engineering internships offer and how to find the best internship for you.
All About Engineering
In short, engineers are problem solvers on a global scale, using primarily math and science to make our lives a better place or present new solutions to modern problems.
Engineers design and develop works or systems that help us in a variety of ways — from traffic flow to water management. They build landmarks and everyday buildings that become part of a city’s identity and help it run properly.
They invent products for the average person and take us to the moon. They identify and attempt to fix vital issues impacting mankind, including pollution and dwindling fossil fuels.
There are hundreds of different field categories within the umbrella of engineering.
Major Branches of Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical engineers design and build types of mechanical devices. They generally work in industries that require machine manufacturers, for example, the automotive industry.
Within mechanical engineering, job duties nay include designing engines and tools, robotic engineering.
When a tool or a system is not working as properly as it should — or is in desperate need of modernization — it’s mechanical engineers who get to work.
Many integrate computer technology in their day-to-day work to create designs and test system solutions.
Popular subfields
• Thermal engineering
• Sports engineering
• Manufacturing engineering
Who Hires Mechanical Engineers
• Technology companies, such as Google
• The federal government, such as the United States Department of Energy
• Automotive companies, such as Ford
• Aerospace companies, such as Boeing
2023 median pay: $90,160 a year, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics
Chemical Engineering
Chemical engineers work with anything and everything that relies on chemicals to operate, including food, drugs, fuel, and more.
You will commonly see chemical engineers working in refineries, industrial plants, or medical laboratories. The discipline combines the fields of math, science, physics, biology, and chemistry.
Popular subfields
• Molecular engineering
• Biomolecular engineering
• Material engineering
Who Hires Chemical Engineers
• Chemicals companies, such as DuPont
• Manufacturing companies, such as Goodyear
• Natural gas companies, such as ExxonMobil
• Biopharmaceutical companies, such as Bristol-Meyers Squibb
2023 median pay: $108,540 a year
Civil Engineering
The roads and bridges you use each day? That’s the work of civil engineers, who design, construct and refine the operations of various types of infrastructure and major city products.
These can also include airports, railroads, tunnels, and dams. Engineers will also work on-site supervising the construction of their projects.
Popular subfields
• Environmental engineering
• Geotechnical engineering
• Water resources engineering
Who Hires Civil Engineers
• Engineering and construction companies, such as Bechtel
• Telecommunications companies, such as Comcast
• Design and consulting companies, such as Stantec
• Environmental and infrastructure solutions companies, such as Wood
2023 median pay: $88,570 a year
Electrical Engineering
Anything that uses electricity in some form is the domain of electrical engineers, including power generators and small and large electrical components of products or services.
Electrical engineers usually develop and test new electrical systems.
Popular subfields
• Power engineering
• Optical engineering
• Electronic engineering
Who Hires Electrical Engineers
• Commodity chemical companies, such as Monsanto
• Mining and metals companies, such as Mosaic
• The federal government, such as the United States Department of Defense
• Electronics companies, such as AT&T
2023 median pay: $103,390 a year
There are also engineering disciplines that reflect many characteristics of each of the main branches. Among these: agricultural engineering, industrial engineering, military engineering, textile engineering, and mining engineering.
Engineering Qualifications
Jobs within the major branches of engineering typically require a bachelor’s degree in the respective fields or related fields (for example a bachelor’s degree specifically in mechanical engineering or mechanical engineering technology).
Many engineers must be licensed by professional licensing boards by individual states, and many engineers are licensed in multiple states. This multi-state licensure can be obtained by passing the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying principles of engineering, or PE, exam
There are entry-level positions in engineering fields that will accept associate’s degrees, including aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, and industrial engineering.
Engineering managers, who supervise engineering teams or act as consultants, typically have master’s or doctorate degrees in engineering management.
The Best Schools for Engineering
U.S. News & World Report regularly ranks the top engineering schools in the United States, based on peer assessments across engineering specialties. Here’s a look at who made the top.
1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Mass.
Engineering is synonymous with MIT, with 45 percent of graduate students enrolled in its School of Engineering.
A third of MIT faculty teach there, with 15 degree areas for graduate students.
Also a draw: MIT’s highly specialized research centers, supporting such subfields of engineering as ocean engineering and soldier nanotechnologies.
2. Stanford University, Sanford, Calif.
Engineering has been a mainstay at Stanford since the university was founded in 1891 and the formal School of Engineering was founded in 1925.
It boasts world-renowned faculty and beneficial proximity to California’s technology hub. The engineering school offers 16 undergraduate majors.
3. University of California-Berkeley
UC-Berkeley’s College of Engineering offers advanced degrees in a robust eight fields and has 40 engineering research centers and institutes.
Among its strengths: industrial engineering and applied science and technology. It also has a two-year master’s in engineering program.
4 (tie). California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, Calif.
CalTech has had a long history of making an impact on the engineering community with its Division of Engineering and Applied Science and a chemical engineering program.
CalTech offers engineering degrees in two years in aeronautical, mechanical, electrical, and civil engineering, as well as a one-year master of science program.
4. (tie) Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pa.
The Carnegie Institute of Technology at Carnegie Mellon offers a lot to choose from, including 10 majors across disciplines, research-based master’s degrees, and doctoral programs.
It’s also well known for its global engineering and technology research and study opportunities and its 30 on-campus research centers.
4. (tie) Purdue University- West Lafayette, West Lafayette, Indiana
There are nearly 400 faculty at the College of Engineering at Purdue University-West Lafayette, with a particularly strong focus on agricultural and biomedical engineering and a top-ranked online graduate engineering program.
Undergraduate engineering degrees include aeronautics, biomedical engineering, and ecological engineering, in addition to master’s and Ph.D. programs.
Engineering Internships: What to Expect
Before diving into the engineering workforce, many college graduates look for internships either during school or following the earning of a degree.
There are internships available in every engineering field, in companies large and small, public and private, across the world.
What do you do as an engineering intern? It depends on your field of choice.
You could assist in product development, work on coding or designs, manage engineering projects, and complete data analysis.
Internships are considered necessary for those seeking a permanent job in the industry. At some schools, it’s mandatory for an engineering student to complete an internship in order to graduate.
Benefits of an Engineering Internship
Exploring different fields
While you may be focused on one field of engineering in school, internships allow you to get a real-world taste of what different engineering jobs have to offer.
An internship in your desired field may work out well, but sometimes you may realize that your previously selected path is not quite a right fit.
Networking
In landing jobs, who you know can go a long way. Internships are a fantastic way to build your network of engineering-industry connections through fellow interns, co-workers, or bosses.
Those connections are invaluable throughout your career — and can help you land your dream job now and into the future.
Diving Deep into a Particular Company
Just as you may have a favorite engineering field in mind when looking for jobs, you may have your eyes set on a specific company.
If you’re lucky to land an internship with a company on your list, it’s the perfect way to get a test drive.
You can discover just how the company works on a daily basis, the work environment, and see how you work with their current employers.
You’re also likely to get a good look at the type of work they do consistently and the type of projects that will be part of your workload.
Beefing Up your Resume
Nothing quite equals being able to put an internship on a resume if you’re looking for your first job.
It’s not just having one that matters — it’s the skills and experiences you had in that internship that makes a resume shine.
Being able to outline skills you learned or projects you had a direct hand in separates you from the job-seeking pack.
Where to Find Engineering Internships
Deciding you want to try an engineering internship is just the beginning. Thankfully, there are many resources to help you on your internship quest. Here are a few to consider.
Search on Internship Job Boards
Popular job boards such as ZipRecruiter and LinkedIn have hundreds of listings for engineering internships, typically grouped by company or location. Other options to try: Indeed, Internships.com, and Internshipprograms.com.
Individual companies frequently host their own job boards on the websites, outlining rotating engineering internships; Boeing has one broken down by field.
Also hosting great engineering internship listings; departments within local, state and federal government agencies.
Talk to a Career Counselor
Colleges offer great job resources for students for free. Your college or school of engineering may have a specific career coach or counselor that can review potential engineering openings for you to apply to or interview for.
They can also review salary and expectations from your employer. Just come prepared with a list of your needs: preferred location, field, or company goals.
They’ll also likely have information about a timeline for applying for internships.
Generally, to be considered for a summer engineering internship, you should apply about a year in advance, experts recommend. Some engineering lab internships start in the fall or the spring.
Reach Out to a Company or Firm Directly
You don’t need to wait for an internship posting to put feelers out.
If you have companies in mind you’d like to intern for, reach out to them directly or use a connection to the company to get a feeling about what internships may be available and what the company is looking for.
Think Outside the Box
Sure, you may have your heart set on a specific company or engineering field, but your internship horizons will broaden wildly if you search for other engineering field opportunities.
It will give you far more options and you may even discover that other fields would be perfect for you as well.
Work on your Resume
Resumes aren’t just for landing a job. A refined and carefully curated resume will help you get an internship as well.
Be sure to review your resume before applying, adding in relevant experience, specialty courses, a list of impressive references, and a statement about what you’re interested in as well as career goals. If necessary find a career coach for hire to look over your resume and give you actionable tips.
Attend a Career Fair
Another form of networking, career fairs for engineering jobs and internships will provide face-to-face interactions with those who matter most in nailing an internship.
Come prepared with copies of your resume and business cards, and ask smart questions about a specific company’s internship program. First impressions matter.
Talk with Fellow Students
Colleges of engineering are full of master’s or graduate students who have already completed internships, sometimes several of them.
If you’re an undergraduate (or even a fellow advanced-degree student), reach out to your peers to get the lowdown on how to find internships as well as their honest experiences with them or the companies offering them.