10 Engineering Internships for High School Students
10 Engineering Internships for High School Students
Dec 12, 2025
Author: George Gatsios
Engineering internships for high school students are a great way to gain early exposure to the field and build your profile for college applications. Whether you’re interested in mechanical engineering or aerospace engineering internships, these are great opportunities for high school students to gain real-world experience, network with industry professionals, and build new skills.
Here are 10 engineering internships for high school students to help you get started!
Delve is a 4-week, virtual work-experience program designed for high school students to gain real-world work experience across different fields. Through the program, you get the chance to work directly with top engineering companies such as:
Ferrari - a mechanical engineering internship program where you will learn the principles of mechanical engineering, sustainable engineering integration, and innovative design synthesis.
Ventures in Space Tech - an aerospace engineering internship where you learn foundations of propulsion mechanics and applied physics.
Delve includes mentorship from industry professionals along with structured training throughout the program. At the end of the internship, you will receive a certificate and a letter of recommendation from the company. You can learn more about the program here.
Cost: $4,900
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the company (you can check all upcoming deadlines here). You can schedule a call to learn more here.
Program Dates: Varies depending on the company (you can check all upcoming dates here)
Eligibility: Open to high school students globally
The SEAP internship is a great opportunity for high school students to work directly with The Department of Navy to conduct research under the guidance of scientists and engineers. You can choose from over 38 labs across the country based on your area of interest. Through the 8-week internship, you conduct research across different domains such as engineering, aeronautics, robotics, and more.
Cost: No cost; stipend - $4000 (for new participants) & $4500 (for returning participants)
Location: Varies depending on lab choice
Application Deadline: August
Program Dates: Varies depending on the lab (usually starts in May-June)
Eligibility: Open to rising juniors and seniors (at the time of the program) who will have turned 16 years old by the start of the program and are U.S. citizens (eligibility criteria with regard to age and citizenship may change based on the lab)
SHIP is an 8-week summer internship offered by the National Institute of Standards and Technology for high school students interested in STEM. As an intern, you get the chance to work on cutting-edge research projects in collaboration with NIST scientists and engineers. You can opt for a summer internship at one of the following labs based on your area of interest:
Communications Technology Laboratory (CTL)
Engineering Laboratory (EL)
Information Technology Laboratory (ITL)
Material Measurement Laboratory (MML)
NIST Center for Neutron Research (NCNR)
Physical Measurement Laboratory (PML)
You can read more about each of the labs and fields here.
Cost: No cost (students must cover transportation and housing costs); no stipend
Location: Varies depending on the lab
Application Deadline: February
Program Dates: June - August
Eligibility: Applicants must -
Be a U.S. citizen
Be juniors or seniors in high school during the application period
Have a minimum GPA of 3.0
VALOR JROTC is a 6-week paid internship opportunity by Fermilab for Illinois JROTC high school juniors, seniors, and recent graduates. As an intern, you will provide support in a specific area such as an experiment or support group where you work directly under the supervision of a Fermilab employee and collaborate with project teams, scientists, engineering, and support personnel.
The internship concludes with an oral presentation. This is a great opportunity for students looking to gain real-world work experience and work directly under the mentorship of industry professionals.
Cost: Stipend - $18/hour
Location: Onsite in Batavia, IL
Application Deadline: March 6
Program Dates: June 22 – July 31
Eligibility: Illinois high school JROTC juniors, seniors, or recent graduates who are eligible to work in the U.S.
Through the Research in Science & Engineering (RISE) internship, rising seniors have the opportunity to collaborate directly with faculty members, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students on research projects. As an intern, you will participate in weekly workshops that provide insights into the scientific process, research ethics, reading research papers, making posters, and networking in the scientific community.
You can pick from biomedical engineering, electrical and computer engineering, and mechanical engineering based on your interests. If you’re interested in the intersection of engineering and research, RISE is a good opportunity for you to upskill under the guidance of mentors from a top university.
Cost: Commuter - $6,185; Residential - $9,785
Location: Boston University, MA
Application Deadline: To be announced
Program Dates: June 28 – August 7
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors who are U.S. citizens/permanent residents
The STEM Enhancement in Earth Sciences (SEES) internship program is a collaboration between UT Austin and NASA. High school interns have the opportunity to work directly with NASA scientists and engineers. As part of the program, you learn how to interpret NASA satellite data while working with scientists and engineers in their chosen area of work – astronomy, remote sensing, and space geodetic techniques to understand Earth systems, natural hazards, and climate science. The internship has an initial virtual learning component and an onsite component at the University of Texas, Austin for students to present their research at the program's symposium.
Cost: No cost
Location: University of Texas, Austin, Texas
Application Deadline: February
Program Dates: May to July
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors (at the time of the program) who are U.S. citizens
Sandia National Laboratories delivers essential science and technology to resolve critical challenges. As part of their internship programs, they have an opportunity for rising juniors or seniors interested in aerospace engineering, computer engineering, mechanical engineering, optical engineering, nuclear engineering, systems engineering, or related fields. As an intern, you will work directly with industry experts on research projects and the development of autonomous systems.
The program is committed to mentoring and training students to gain insights into technical principles and processes, develop research skills, process data, program, operate and maintain hardware, and more. You will also build soft skills such as communicating with stakeholders and leaders, teamwork and collaboration, and networking through social activities.
Cost: Stipend - $17.75/hour
Location: Albuquerque, NM
Application Deadline: Not specified. You can apply here.
Program Dates: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students (at least 16 years of age) who are U.S. citizens/permanent residents/asylees or refugees in the U.S. and have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Scholars Program offers a paid internship opportunity for upper-level high school students. As an intern, you gain hands-on experience and collaborate with AFRL scientists and engineers on cutting-edge research and technology projects. Students can pick from multiple research topics such as data-driven model identification, polymers for additive manufacturing, modeling and simulation for testing autonomous decision-making schemes, and more.
Cost: Stipend - $501.6/week
Location: Various based on the research project. You can find all locations here.
Application Deadline: January 9
Program Dates: To be announced (will take place in the summer)
Eligibility: High school students who are U.S. citizens
Lockheed Martin’s Space High School Internship Program is designed for STEM-interested students. As an intern, you have the opportunity to work with aerospace scientists and engineers and engage in world-changing projects defense tech for customers. Over the 9-weeks, you will get on-the-job training, mentoring and leader shadowing, attend professional development workshops, engage in community service and networking events, and tour the facilities and products.
Cost: Not indicated
Location: In-person at a participating Lockheed Martin Space facility
Application Deadline: December 19. Sign up for a session here to learn how to apply.
Program Dates: June–August
Eligibility: High school students (at least 16 years of age) who live within commuting distance of a participating Lockheed Martin facility.
RSI offers an internship for high school students where you conduct individual research projects. As an RSI intern, you will go through a week of intensive STEM classes with professors and then spend five weeks conducting research for individual projects under the guidance of mentors who are experienced scientists and researchers. During the final week, you deliver written and oral presentations on your research.
Cost: Application fee - $75
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Application Deadline: Second week of December
Program Dates: 6 weeks in the summer
Eligibility: High school juniors who meet RSI’s academic prerequisites
You can also explore other internship opportunities across various fields here and STEM programs here!
Author: George Gatsios
Engineering internships for high school students are a great way to gain early exposure to the field and build your profile for college applications. Whether you’re interested in mechanical engineering or aerospace engineering internships, these are great opportunities for high school students to gain real-world experience, network with industry professionals, and build new skills.
Here are 10 engineering internships for high school students to help you get started!
Delve is a 4-week, virtual work-experience program designed for high school students to gain real-world work experience across different fields. Through the program, you get the chance to work directly with top engineering companies such as:
Ferrari - a mechanical engineering internship program where you will learn the principles of mechanical engineering, sustainable engineering integration, and innovative design synthesis.
Ventures in Space Tech - an aerospace engineering internship where you learn foundations of propulsion mechanics and applied physics.
Delve includes mentorship from industry professionals along with structured training throughout the program. At the end of the internship, you will receive a certificate and a letter of recommendation from the company. You can learn more about the program here.
Cost: $4,900
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the company (you can check all upcoming deadlines here). You can schedule a call to learn more here.
Program Dates: Varies depending on the company (you can check all upcoming dates here)
Eligibility: Open to high school students globally
The SEAP internship is a great opportunity for high school students to work directly with The Department of Navy to conduct research under the guidance of scientists and engineers. You can choose from over 38 labs across the country based on your area of interest. Through the 8-week internship, you conduct research across different domains such as engineering, aeronautics, robotics, and more.
Cost: No cost; stipend - $4000 (for new participants) & $4500 (for returning participants)
Location: Varies depending on lab choice
Application Deadline: August
Program Dates: Varies depending on the lab (usually starts in May-June)
Eligibility: Open to rising juniors and seniors (at the time of the program) who will have turned 16 years old by the start of the program and are U.S. citizens (eligibility criteria with regard to age and citizenship may change based on the lab)
SHIP is an 8-week summer internship offered by the National Institute of Standards and Technology for high school students interested in STEM. As an intern, you get the chance to work on cutting-edge research projects in collaboration with NIST scientists and engineers. You can opt for a summer internship at one of the following labs based on your area of interest:
Communications Technology Laboratory (CTL)
Engineering Laboratory (EL)
Information Technology Laboratory (ITL)
Material Measurement Laboratory (MML)
NIST Center for Neutron Research (NCNR)
Physical Measurement Laboratory (PML)
You can read more about each of the labs and fields here.
Cost: No cost (students must cover transportation and housing costs); no stipend
Location: Varies depending on the lab
Application Deadline: February
Program Dates: June - August
Eligibility: Applicants must -
Be a U.S. citizen
Be juniors or seniors in high school during the application period
Have a minimum GPA of 3.0
VALOR JROTC is a 6-week paid internship opportunity by Fermilab for Illinois JROTC high school juniors, seniors, and recent graduates. As an intern, you will provide support in a specific area such as an experiment or support group where you work directly under the supervision of a Fermilab employee and collaborate with project teams, scientists, engineering, and support personnel.
The internship concludes with an oral presentation. This is a great opportunity for students looking to gain real-world work experience and work directly under the mentorship of industry professionals.
Cost: Stipend - $18/hour
Location: Onsite in Batavia, IL
Application Deadline: March 6
Program Dates: June 22 – July 31
Eligibility: Illinois high school JROTC juniors, seniors, or recent graduates who are eligible to work in the U.S.
Through the Research in Science & Engineering (RISE) internship, rising seniors have the opportunity to collaborate directly with faculty members, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students on research projects. As an intern, you will participate in weekly workshops that provide insights into the scientific process, research ethics, reading research papers, making posters, and networking in the scientific community.
You can pick from biomedical engineering, electrical and computer engineering, and mechanical engineering based on your interests. If you’re interested in the intersection of engineering and research, RISE is a good opportunity for you to upskill under the guidance of mentors from a top university.
Cost: Commuter - $6,185; Residential - $9,785
Location: Boston University, MA
Application Deadline: To be announced
Program Dates: June 28 – August 7
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors who are U.S. citizens/permanent residents
The STEM Enhancement in Earth Sciences (SEES) internship program is a collaboration between UT Austin and NASA. High school interns have the opportunity to work directly with NASA scientists and engineers. As part of the program, you learn how to interpret NASA satellite data while working with scientists and engineers in their chosen area of work – astronomy, remote sensing, and space geodetic techniques to understand Earth systems, natural hazards, and climate science. The internship has an initial virtual learning component and an onsite component at the University of Texas, Austin for students to present their research at the program's symposium.
Cost: No cost
Location: University of Texas, Austin, Texas
Application Deadline: February
Program Dates: May to July
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors (at the time of the program) who are U.S. citizens
Sandia National Laboratories delivers essential science and technology to resolve critical challenges. As part of their internship programs, they have an opportunity for rising juniors or seniors interested in aerospace engineering, computer engineering, mechanical engineering, optical engineering, nuclear engineering, systems engineering, or related fields. As an intern, you will work directly with industry experts on research projects and the development of autonomous systems.
The program is committed to mentoring and training students to gain insights into technical principles and processes, develop research skills, process data, program, operate and maintain hardware, and more. You will also build soft skills such as communicating with stakeholders and leaders, teamwork and collaboration, and networking through social activities.
Cost: Stipend - $17.75/hour
Location: Albuquerque, NM
Application Deadline: Not specified. You can apply here.
Program Dates: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students (at least 16 years of age) who are U.S. citizens/permanent residents/asylees or refugees in the U.S. and have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Scholars Program offers a paid internship opportunity for upper-level high school students. As an intern, you gain hands-on experience and collaborate with AFRL scientists and engineers on cutting-edge research and technology projects. Students can pick from multiple research topics such as data-driven model identification, polymers for additive manufacturing, modeling and simulation for testing autonomous decision-making schemes, and more.
Cost: Stipend - $501.6/week
Location: Various based on the research project. You can find all locations here.
Application Deadline: January 9
Program Dates: To be announced (will take place in the summer)
Eligibility: High school students who are U.S. citizens
Lockheed Martin’s Space High School Internship Program is designed for STEM-interested students. As an intern, you have the opportunity to work with aerospace scientists and engineers and engage in world-changing projects defense tech for customers. Over the 9-weeks, you will get on-the-job training, mentoring and leader shadowing, attend professional development workshops, engage in community service and networking events, and tour the facilities and products.
Cost: Not indicated
Location: In-person at a participating Lockheed Martin Space facility
Application Deadline: December 19. Sign up for a session here to learn how to apply.
Program Dates: June–August
Eligibility: High school students (at least 16 years of age) who live within commuting distance of a participating Lockheed Martin facility.
RSI offers an internship for high school students where you conduct individual research projects. As an RSI intern, you will go through a week of intensive STEM classes with professors and then spend five weeks conducting research for individual projects under the guidance of mentors who are experienced scientists and researchers. During the final week, you deliver written and oral presentations on your research.
Cost: Application fee - $75
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Application Deadline: Second week of December
Program Dates: 6 weeks in the summer
Eligibility: High school juniors who meet RSI’s academic prerequisites
You can also explore other internship opportunities across various fields here and STEM programs here!
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