Mechanical engineering is a broad subject that is relevant in multiple fields, from designing aircraft to developing robots and even medical aid. For high school students interested in the field, mechanical engineering internships offer a solid way to learn the area’s foundational topics and gain practical experience. You will get to work on unique hands-on projects like racing your own sailboat or designing a lunar laboratory.
Mechanical engineering internships for high school students offer you the chance to dive into topics like hydromechanics, rapid prototyping, and engineering design, and gain key skills such as circuitry, 3D printing, welding, and using CAD. In addition to experiencing a professional workspace, these internships also offer a great way to network with engineers and learn about possible career pathways in the field.
To help you get started, here are 14 mechanical engineering internships for high school students.
14 Mechanical Engineering Internships for High School Students
1. NASA and UT Austin’s SEES High School Summer Intern Program
Location: UT Austin, Austin, TX
Cost/Stipend: Free; Travel scholarships offered
Program Dates: Online learning: May 19 – July 1; On-site project work: July 6 –19; Virtual SEES Science Symposium: July 21 – 22
Application Deadline: February 22
Eligibility: Current U.S. high school sophomores and juniors (16+)
NASA and UT Austin’s STEM Enhancement in Earth Sciences (SEES) Summer Intern Program is a prestigious program for high school students to dive into STEM research and work on real NASA projects. You will work with real satellite data and be guided by NASA’s scientists and engineers. Projects are available in several areas, including climate research, earth science, mission design, and engineering. A lot of this work falls under mechanical engineering, including tasks like designing an airship, developing a rover mission, exploring methods of refueling aircraft, or designing a lunar laboratory.
2. Anson L. Clark Scholar Program at Texas Tech University
Location: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Cost/Stipend: $25 application fee; $750 stipend
Program Dates: June 22 – August 7
Application Deadline: January 2 – February 16
Eligibility: U.S. rising high school juniors and seniors (17+)
The Anson L. Clark Scholar Program is a highly selective research opportunity typically available to around 12 students annually. Throughout the program, you will have the opportunity to undertake an independent research project. Several research areas are offered, including mechanical engineering. Previous students in this field have worked on topics like fluid dynamics, nanotechnology, and bioimaging for cancer studies. You can expect plenty of hands-on experience and time spent engaging in lab work.
3. Johns Hopkins University’s Explore Engineering Innovation
Location: Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD (An online format is available as well)
Cost: Ranges from $4,115-$9,950 depending on the format (more details here)
Program dates: June 30-July 25
Application deadline: June 15
Eligibility: All high school students and recent graduates who are at least 15 years of age and meet the academic prerequisites mentioned on the website (priority is given to juniors and seniors)
Johns Hopkins University’s Explore Engineering Innovation is a summer program designed for high school students interested in learning engineering at an advanced level. You will engage in several hands-on activities within civil, chemical, electrical, computer, and mechanical engineering. You can expect projects like designing and constructing a bridge, creating an electronic healthcare device, and working with a bioreactor. By the end of the program, you will have a good understanding of how to think like an engineer.
4. SPARK Summer Internship Program
Location: Various locations in Seattle, WA (virtual options available)
Stipend: Varies with each internship
Program Dates: 8-10 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: April (tentative)
Eligibility: U.S. high school students in the Greater Seattle area (in-person) or across the U.S. (virtual)
The SPARK Summer Internship Program connects high school students with mentors, like professionals from companies, academics, or community leaders, giving you the chance to work in a professional setting. You will then work on a real-world project contributing to the larger goals of the company, which could be in fields like robotics, semiconductors, quantum mechanics, or the automotive industry for those interested in mechanical engineering. This internship is a good way to get exposure to a professional workplace and network with industry experts.
5. NASA Johnson Space Center’s Texas High School Aerospace Scholars
Location: Combination of virtual learning and an in-person experience at Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: None
Program Dates: Virtual learning: October – April; The summer virtual component: 1 week in June; The 2-day residential component: July
Application Deadline: September 24
Eligibility: U.S. high school juniors in a Texas high school
NASA’s High School Aerospace Scholars is a three-part program that focuses on aerospace engineering and space exploration. It begins with an online course consisting of four modules, then moves on to a summer virtual experience during which you will design a mission to the moon and Mars. The final stage of the program is a residential experience at the Johnson Space Center, which will involve hands-on experiences, such as design challenges. If you’re interested in mechanical engineering, you will learn plenty of overlapping skills like coding, engineering design, and CAD modelling.
6. Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP)
Location: Various Department of the Navy (DoN) laboratories across the country
Cost: $4,000 for new participants; $4,500 for returning participants
Program Dates: 8 weeks
Application Deadline: November 1
Eligibility: U.S. high school students who have completed the 9th grade and are at least 16 years old
The SEAP places high school students in Department of the Navy laboratories for a mentored research experience in science and engineering. There are several research areas available, and mechanical engineering is one of them. You can expect to work on topics like hydromechanics, machinery systems automation, satellite launch finalization, ship maintenance, and AI processing of infrared imagery. You can go through the full list here. This is also a good opportunity to learn about possible career pathways in the field.
7. NASA’s SCaN Internship Project (SIP)
Location: NASA Glen Research Center, Cleveland
Cost/Stipend: None
Program Dates: Fall, summer, and spring internships are available
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school, undergraduate, and graduate students who are at least 16 years old
NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation offers this internship for students who want to learn more about space exploration. As a participant, you will engage with real mission scenarios, analyze space communication systems, and use the center’s sophisticated technology. At the end of the program, you will present your findings to NASA staff members. By working with various software and hardware tools, you will gain technical skills that are crucial for mechanical engineering as well.
8. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Scholars Program
Location: Multiple locations are available
Cost/Stipend: Free; Weekly stipend of $501.60
Program Dates: Varies with each location
Application Deadline: January 10
Eligibility: Upper-level high school students (16+) with a minimum GPA of 3.0
The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Scholars Program offers paid internships that allow students to work alongside AFRL scientists and engineers on research-based projects. You will engage in hands-on research at an Air Force facility, working on tasks like designing a high-power microwave source, examining molecular dynamics of electrospray thrusters, or developing a portable accelerometer. You can expect considerable overlap with mechanical engineering in most of the projects, which you can go through in detail here.
9. Texas A&M University’s PATHS-UP Young Scholars Program
Location: Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
Cost/Stipend: Free; $2,000 stipend
Program Dates: In-person research period: June 9 – 27; Virtual lecture series: July 7 – 25; Virtual symposium: TBD
Application Deadline: April 11
Eligibility: High school sophomores or juniors (16+) who are in Los Fresnos CISD or Sharyland ISD, or South Texas ISD; Must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents
Texas A&M University’s PATHS-UP Young Scholars Program gives high school students the chance to experience an engineering research internship on a college campus. While the program explores biomedical engineering and healthcare, there is a strong focus on technology, which will include foundational concepts of mechanical engineering. You will also gain experience in scientific writing, literature reviews, data analysis, and communication, and present your findings at the program’s concluding symposium.
10. Idaho National Laboratory (INL) Internships
Location: Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Falls, ID
Cost/Stipend: Free; Paid
Program Dates: Mid-June to late-July
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Current high school juniors or seniors (16+); U.S. citizens or permanent residents; Must have a minimum of 3.0 GPA
A Department of Energy facility, the Idaho National Laboratory offers paid internships to high school, undergraduate, and graduate students. During the program, you will have the opportunity to work on real-world projects in fields like mechanical engineering while under the guidance of scientists and engineers. You and your mentor will outline the scope of the project in the first week, after which you will work on the project with their assistance. You will also attend seminars, tours, and other community events. The program culminates with a presentation of your final project.
11. Engineering Summer Academy at Penn (ESAP) at UPenn
Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: $9,090; Limited financial aid is available
Program Dates: July 6 – 26
Application Deadline: January 2 – March 1
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors who are at least 15
The University of Pennsylvania’s Engineering Summer Academy is a pre-college program that allows high school students to dive into a subdivision of engineering in depth. This is not an internship, but the program is intensive in nature and offers similar hands-on experience with a variety of tools. If you’re interested in mechanical engineering, you can opt for the Robotics course, during which you and your group will build a mobile robot that can be tele-operated. Another option is the nanotechnology course through which you will create your own microfluidic devices using tools like photolithography and etching.
12. Boston Leadership Institute Engineering Research Program
Location: Olin College, Wellesley, MA
Cost: $2,500 tuition; $2,097 residential
Program Dates: July 14 – August 1
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: High school students
The Boston Leadership Institute’s three-week engineering research program offers a hands-on experience of learning mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and computer programming. Aside from classes, labs, and field trips, the core of the program is the team project, for which you and your group will design and program a sailboat for a race. In the process, you will learn key skills like soldering, wiring, circuitry, 3D printing, coding, and using CAD. Previous students have also built a portable stereo speaker set.
13. Washington Aerospace Scholars Program
Location: Phase 1 is online, while Phase 2 takes place at the Museum of Flight in Seattle, WA
Cost: Phase 1: Free (earn college credits for $255); Phase 2: $1,025 residential fee
Program Dates: Phase 1: November – March; Phase 2: July – August
Application Deadline: Mid-October
Eligibility: High school juniors who are also Washington state residents
The Washington Aerospace Scholars program is a two-part program for students interested in aerospace design, space travel, and flight. Phase 1 is an online course that dives into space vehicle design and space science and features a final project. Phase 2 is a summer residential program through which you will work alongside NASA scientists, educators, and STEM professionals. As a WAS alumnus, you may also get more internship opportunities.
14. MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute
Location: MIT, Cambridge, MA; Virtual options are available
Cost: Free for families with an income of less than $150,000; Families in a higher income bracket need to pay a fee of $2,350
Program Dates: July 7 – August 3
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors who live and attend school in the U.S.
The MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute is a prestigious program that includes intensive, workshop-style STEM courses for high school students. There is significant hands-on work involved, and several course options fall under mechanical engineering, such as Autonomous Air Vehicle Racing, Autonomous Underwater Vehicles Challenge, and E-Textiles and Wearable Technology. Through these practical workshops, you will get a firsthand understanding of concepts like systems engineering, hardware design, robotics software, sensor integration, and more.
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 – UT Austin