An engineering internship gives you the chance to step out of the classroom and see how the design, problem-solving, and technical skills you learn are applied in the real world. You may work on projects related to aerospace, civil, electrical, or mechanical engineering, while also developing skills that can make your future college applications and career path stronger.
These opportunities are usually short, structured, and focused on a single area of engineering. Some are offered by universities and research centers, while others are hosted by companies, labs, or government organizations. Each type of program gives you direct exposure to how engineering work is done and helps you start building connections with professionals in the field.
To give you a sense of what’s available, we’ve pulled together 15 engineering internships that high school students can apply to!
14 Engineering Internships for High School Students
1. GRASP Lab High School Internships, UPenn
Location: University of Pennsylvania Campus
Cost: None
Application Deadline: Not specified
Dates: Summer (6-week program, from early or mid June to July). Check out the documents required here.
Eligibility: Applicants must be a rising senior, give at least 6 weeks of commitment
The General Robotics, Automation, Sensing, and Perception Lab (GRASP) at the University of Pennsylvania offers selective summer research opportunities for high school students interested in engineering and robotics. You must contact GRASP faculty members directly to request an internship, as there is no centralized application process. Each faculty member decides whether to accept interns based on their interests, availability, and alignment with their research. You may assist with tasks such as robot design, sensor integration, computer vision, or autonomous systems, depending on the lab’s focus. A list of the GRASP Primary Faculty members may be seen here.
2. UPenn Provost’s Summer Mentorship Program (SMP)
Location: University of Pennsylvania
Stipend: Summer Mentorship Program is a Free Program
Application Deadlines: Feb 21
Dates: July 7 – Aug 1
Eligibility: Applicants are required to be enrolled in a Philadelphia (Public, Catholic, Private, or Charter) High School, and must be rising 10th and 11th graders
The Provost’s Summer Mentorship Program (SMP) at the University of Pennsylvania is a free four-week summer program for rising 10th and 11th-grade students from Philadelphia public and charter schools. You get exposure to Penn’s professional schools – Engineering, Medicine, Nursing, Law, and Dental Medicine through hands-on academic and career activities. The program runs Monday through Friday on Penn’s campus and also includes digital literacy, SAT prep, financial literacy, wellness, and college access workshops.
3. NASA Internship Programs
Location: Various Centres, and also the NASA SF office
Stipend: All interns are rewarded with a stipend
Application Deadline: Most NASA centers close Fall applications on May 1. Verify center-specific deadlines here.
Dates: Summer: 10 weeks – Late May/Early June – August; Fall: 16 weeks – Late August/Early September – Mid-December
Eligibility: Applicants must be full-time students (high school through graduate-level) and be 16 years old at the time of application and a U.S. Citizen, unless you’re applying for the International Internship
The NASA Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) Internships are paid programs for high school and college students to work directly on NASA projects. You can work full-time or part-time, either remotely or on-site at one of NASA’s centers. Most positions are in engineering fields such as aerospace, robotics, and systems engineering, but opportunities are also available in IT, cybersecurity, project management, communications, and business. As an intern, you contribute to active missions, gain mentorship from NASA professionals, and develop skills in a high-level research and engineering environment.
4. Research Science Institute | Center for Excellence in Education
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cambridge, MA)
Stipend: Provided, but the amount is not mentioned
Dates: 6-week program, from June 22 to August 2
Application Deadline: December 11
Eligibility: Academically exceptional students in their 11th and 12th grades, with applications typically submitted during the junior year of High School. High School Seniors are not eligible.
The Research Science Institute (RSI), organized by the Center for Excellence in Education and hosted at MIT, is a fully funded six-week program for 100 of the world’s top high school students. The program begins with an intensive academic week featuring seminars in biology, chemistry, physics, engineering, and mathematics. After that, you spend five weeks in a research internship, working under the guidance of MIT faculty and graduate mentors to design and carry out an original project. RSI is recognized as one of the most rigorous and prestigious STEM opportunities available to high school students.
5. The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Scholars Program
Location: AFRL Scholar internship opportunities are offered at several locations across the United States. Check them here
Stipend: $492/week
Application Deadline: January 10
Dates: Start dates may vary based on the AFRL sites and/or projects to which you are applying. End dates are based on student availability and funding. For site-specific start dates, please visit the site page (accessed from the Locations menu)
Eligibility: Applicants must have a minimum 3.0 GPA, be US citizens, at least 16 years old, available to work full-time in the summer, and willing to relocate temporarily.
Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Scholars Program offers stipend-paid summer internships to upper-level high school students interested in STEM. You work alongside AFRL scientists and engineers on real research projects in areas like aerospace, robotics, cybersecurity, and materials science. Internships are available at multiple AFRL sites across the U.S. and typically last 8 to 12 weeks. You gain hands-on experience with advanced technologies, receive mentorship, and take part in professional development activities.
6. Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering (ARISE), NYU
Location: Tandon School of Engineering, New York University Campus
Stipend: $1000
Application Deadline: Feb 21
Dates: June 2 – August 8
Eligibility: Applicants must live in New York City and be completing 10th or 11th grade in June of the current year.
NYU ARISE (Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering) is a free, seven-week summer research program for academically motivated 10th and 11th-grade students who live in New York City. You work full-time in NYU faculty labs on real research projects in fields like robotics, bioengineering, computer science, chemical engineering, and machine learning. The program begins with two weeks of workshops covering scientific ethics, research methods, data analysis, and college preparation. You then spend five weeks conducting research under the mentorship of graduate or postdoctoral researchers.
7. Anson L. Clark Scholars Program
Location: Texas Tech University
Stipend: $750 stipend at the end of the program
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 12 highly qualified high school juniors and seniors
Dates: June 22 to August 7
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: Applicants must be current high school juniors turning 17 by program start
The Clark Scholars Program at Texas Tech University is a highly selective, seven-week summer research experience for high school juniors and seniors. Only 12 students are admitted each year. You work one-on-one with faculty mentors on advanced research projects in fields such as mechanical engineering, electrical and computer engineering, cancer bioimaging, and other STEM disciplines. The program includes daily lab work, weekly seminars, field trips, and group activities. You live on campus and receive room, board, and a $750 stipend.
8. Careers in Science (CiS) Intern Program – California Academy of Sciences
Location: California Academy of Sciences
Stipend: Stipends are only paid to continuing-year interns (typically juniors and seniors); first-year participants receive no stipend.
Application Deadline: Usually in Feb-March
Dates: Multi-year, year-round participation
Eligibility: Applications open for 9th – 12th graders
Careers in Science (CiS) is a multi-year paid internship program at the California Academy of Sciences for SFUSD students entering 9th or 10th grade. The program focuses on building exposure to STEM careers through activities like environmental data collection, sensor-based fieldwork, and contributions to exhibit design. You work on Saturdays during the school year and full-time in the summer. Along the way, you receive training in science communication, attend STEM conferences, and go on college tours. As you progress, you can take on leadership roles and work directly with Academy researchers on applied science projects.
9. MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute
Location: In-Person at MIT and Virtual.
Cost/Stipend: Free except for students whose family income is $150,000 or greater. For them, the fee for the program will be $1,750
Application Deadlines: March 31
Dates: Typically July to Aug
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors attending school in the U.S
MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI) is a four-week project-based STEM program for rising high school seniors. You take hands-on courses taught by MIT faculty and industry professionals while working on advanced engineering topics. Aerospace-focused options include satellite design, rocket propulsion, autonomous flight systems, and Unmanned Air System–Synthetic Aperture Radar (UAS-SAR).
Other tracks cover microelectronics, hardware development, and Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs). You can also explore Cyber Operations, Autonomous Air Vehicle Racing, or the Autonomous RACECAR Grand Prix. Across all tracks, you gain experience in coding, system design, and problem-solving while collaborating in teams to complete complex engineering challenges.
10. Summer High School Internship Program | MIT Lincoln Laboratory
Location: MIT Campus
Stipend: Unspecified, but this is a paid internship experience
Application Deadline: April 16
Dates: July 9 to Aug 15
Eligibility: Applicants must be U.S. citizens, local rising high school seniors, at least 16 years old before the start date, and able to work onsite in Lexington, Massachusetts.
MIT Lincoln Laboratory High School Summer Internship Program is a paid six-week STEM research experience for rising seniors who live and attend high school in the New England area. You are matched with a Laboratory staff mentor and work on engineering projects in areas such as robotics design, autonomous systems, and technology prototyping. The program gives you access to advanced lab resources and lets you apply technical and problem-solving skills in a professional research setting.
11. Internships – Idaho National Laboratory
Location: Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Falls, Idaho
Cost/Stipend: No cost. A stipend is provided, but information on the exact amount is not available
Application Deadlines: Applications close in the spring.
Dates: 10-16 weeks in the summer, beginning in June
Eligibility: Full-time students who are 16 or above, attending an accredited high school or college, with at least a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA.
Idaho National Laboratory (INL) High School Internship Program is a six- to eight-week paid summer opportunity for rising juniors, seniors, and recent graduates who are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents. You work full-time alongside INL scientists and engineers on real-world projects in areas like civil, electrical, chemical, and materials engineering, cybersecurity, clean energy, and advanced transportation systems. The program gives you direct experience applying science and engineering concepts to practical challenges while exposing you to career paths in both research and industry.
12. NASA and UT Austin’s SEES High School Summer Intern Program
Location: Online and on-site at the University of Texas, Austin, TX.
Cost/Stipend: No cost; unpaid, but interns receive a NASA certificate upon completion.
Application Deadlines: February 22
Dates: Various dates, depending on online or on-site engagement from May to July 22
Eligibility: Applicants must be current high school sophomores or juniors, at least 16 years old by July 5, and U.S. citizens.
The STEM Enhancement in Earth Science (SEES) High School Summer Intern Program is a nationally competitive, NASA-supported internship hosted by the University of Texas at Austin’s Center for Space Research. You might explore areas like remote sensing, satellite data analysis, and space geodetic techniques, or work on Earth systems modeling, astronomy, and planetary science. Many projects involve Python-based simulations, data visualization, and engineering design connected to mission planning and instrumentation.
13. Scripps Research Institute High School Internship Program
Location: La Jolla, California
Stipend: Paid, approximately $4,760 for the full program
Application Deadline: Typically February
Dates: Late June to early August (about 6 weeks)
Eligibility: High school students aged 16 or older residing in San Diego County
The Scripps Research Institute High School Summer Internship Program is a competitive, seven-week paid research experience held at the La Jolla, California campus. If selected, you will work full-time in biomedical research labs under the guidance of graduate students and postdoctoral researchers. The program emphasizes advanced techniques in chemical and biomedical engineering, including molecular biology, organic synthesis, computational biology, and structural analysis. Research areas vary by lab and may include chemical catalysis, bioinformatics, neuroscience, and imaging technologies.
14. Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) by the U.S. Department of the Navy
Location: Multiple Navy labs across the United States
Stipend: Paid, about $4,000 – $4,500 depending on experience
Application Deadline: November 1 annually
Dates: June through August (8 weeks)
Eligibility: U.S. citizens, aged 16+, who have completed Grade 9 and are enrolled in high school
The Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) is an eight-week, fully paid summer internship hosted by the U.S. Department of the Navy. It places high-achieving high school students at more than 38 Navy research laboratories across the country. During the program, you work directly with Navy engineers and scientists on real-world projects in fields such as mechanical, electrical, computer, and systems engineering. You will gain hands-on experience with advanced technologies, contribute to defense-related research, and receive mentorship from professional staff who guide both technical work and career development.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, and chemistry, consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs! This is a selective virtual research program that lets you engage in advanced research and develop a research paper on a subject of your choosing. Horizon has worked with 1000+ high school students so far and offers 600+ research specializations for you to choose from. You can find the application link here!
Image source – Scripps Research Institute