1

Internship Automotive Engineer Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

You can help connect the unconnected, drive the future of automobiles, transform at-home ... Applicable work experience including internships will be taken into consideration * Application ...

You can help connect the unconnected, drive the future of automobiles, transform at-home ... Applicable work experience including internships will be taken into consideration * Application ...

You can help connect the unconnected, drive the future of automobiles, transform at-home ... Applicable work experience including internships will be taken into consideration * Application ...

Internship Automotive Engineer information

See Virginia salary details

$10

$19

$29

How much do internship automotive engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 31, 2026, the average hourly pay for internship automotive engineer in Virginia is $19.15, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $15.96 and $20.72 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an Internship Automotive Engineer job?

An Internship Automotive Engineer job is a temporary position where students or recent graduates gain hands-on experience in the automotive industry. Interns typically assist with design, testing, and development of vehicle components, working alongside experienced engineers. They may help analyze data, create technical reports, and support manufacturing or quality assurance processes. This role provides valuable industry exposure and helps interns build technical skills.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Internship Automotive Engineer position, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Internship Automotive Engineer, you typically need a solid foundation in mechanical or automotive engineering principles, supported by relevant academic coursework or experience. Familiarity with CAD software, simulation tools, and basic lab instrumentation is often required, and knowledge of industry standards or safety certifications is advantageous. Strong problem-solving skills, teamwork, and effective communication are valuable soft skills that distinguish top candidates. These competencies enable interns to contribute effectively to engineering projects, adapt quickly to new technologies, and collaborate within multidisciplinary teams.

Is there a high demand for automotive engineers?

Automotive engineers are in steady demand due to ongoing advancements in vehicle technology, electric vehicles, and automation. The industry values skills in CAD, systems integration, and knowledge of emerging technologies, leading to consistent job opportunities in manufacturing, design, and research roles.

What are the big 4 internships?

The 'Big 4' internships typically refer to internship programs offered by the four largest professional services firms: Deloitte, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Ernst & Young (EY), and KPMG. These firms offer internships in areas such as consulting, audit, tax, and advisory, providing valuable experience for aspiring professionals, including automotive engineers seeking exposure to industry-related consulting or financial services.

What types of projects and responsibilities can I expect as an Automotive Engineer intern?

As an Automotive Engineer intern, you can expect to participate in a variety of hands-on and technical projects such as product design, prototype testing, data analysis, and assisting with quality assurance processes. Many internships involve supporting senior engineers with computer-aided design work, preparing technical reports, and conducting research on new automotive technologies or materials. Interns often work both independently and as part of a team, collaborating closely with departments like manufacturing, quality, and R&D. This dynamic environment provides valuable exposure to real-world engineering challenges and lays a strong foundation for future career growth in the automotive industry.

Is $20 an hour good for an internship?

For an automotive engineering internship, $20 an hour is generally considered competitive, especially for entry-level positions that may require basic knowledge of CAD software, vehicle systems, or testing procedures. Internships often pay between minimum wage and $20-$25 per hour, depending on location, company size, and required skills. Factors such as the internship's duration, responsibilities, and whether it offers additional benefits can also influence whether this rate is favorable.

What engineers make $200,000 a year?

Senior automotive engineers with extensive experience, advanced degrees, and specialized skills in areas like powertrain or autonomous systems can earn $200,000 or more annually. High-level engineering roles often require leadership responsibilities, certifications, and working in competitive industries or companies with lucrative compensation packages.
What are the most commonly searched types of Automotive Engineer jobs in Virginia? The most popular types of Automotive Engineer jobs in Virginia are:
What cities in Virginia are hiring for Internship Automotive Engineer jobs? Cities in Virginia with the most Internship Automotive Engineer job openings:
Infographic showing various Internship Automotive Engineer job openings in Virginia as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 11% Internship, 67% Full Time, 11% Part Time, and 11% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $39,830 per year, or $19.1 per hour.

Guidance, Navigation & Control Engineer I - Early Career (2026 Starts)

Blue Origin

Reston, VA

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 22 days ago


Blue Origin rating

8.7

Company rating: 8.7 out of 10

Based on 91 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

17th of 71 rated aerospace companies


Job description

Application close date:

Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the requisition is closed.

At Blue Origin, we envision millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth. We're working to develop reusable, safe, and low-cost space vehicles and systems within a culture of safety, collaboration, and inclusion. Join our team of problem solvers as we add new chapters to the history of spaceflight!

-

We are collaborators, doers, and problem-solvers who are relentlessly committed to a culture of safety. This position will directly impact the history of space exploration and will require your commitment and detailed attention towards safe and repeatable space flight. Join us in lowering the cost of access to space and enabling Blue Origin's vision of millions of people living and working in space to benefit Earth.

Multiple positions available across our Business Units. You will be matched with an appropriate engineering team based on your skillset and experience and our current business needs.

Timeline: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Primary locations:

We prioritize placing early career engineers in locations where they can be co-located with their team and the relevant hardware they support. The primary locations for this role are listed below. Please indicate in the application where you would be willing to be located.

  • Kent, WA

  • Denver, CO

  • Reston, VA

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

  • Your projects may include guidance, navigation, controls, autonomy, avionics, simulation, mission design, trajectory optimization, system test, aero sciences, mission design, trajectory optimization, and systems engineering.

  • Design, analyze, develop and verify guidance, navigation, and control (GN&C) software for spaceflight systems.

  • Build on our existing human-rated GN&C software to improve reliability, enable capabilities, and reduce operating cost.

  • Perform system analyses, including simulations and Monte-Carlo, to satisfy specifications and requirements and to drive system-level architectural decisions.

  • Specific duties are subject to our business unit objectives.

Qualifications:

  • Minimum of a B.S. degree in physics, aerospace engineering, computer engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering or other relevant engineering field.

  • Will have earned their degree within the last year and able to start by Fall 2026.

  • Demonstrated knowledge in designing and testing control systems for aerospace vehicles or mechanical and fluidic subsystems.

  • Fundamental understanding of dynamics, orbital mechanics, estimation, and control theory.

  • Practical experience in guidance, navigation, and controls algorithm development and analysis for aerospace or mobile robotic applications.

  • Strong software and model development skills, particularly in MATLAB/Simulink, and C/C++.

  • Relevant internship/co-op and/or hands-on experience that demonstrate development of both technical skills as well as leadership qualities.

  • Ability to earn trust, maintain positive and professional relationships, and strengthen our culture of inclusion.

  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team on rapid development programs.

  • Flexible and adaptable mindset.

  • Self-driven with the ability to seek out requirements with minimal direction.

Desired:

  • M.S. degree or PhD in physics, aerospace engineering, computer engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, or another relevant STEM field.

  • Knowledge of multi-body dynamics, flexible body dynamics, gas and fluid dynamics and thermodynamics.

  • Experience with modeling electro-mechanical, hydraulic and electrical subsystems.

  • Experience anchoring/fitting first principles models to test data or high-fidelity external simulations using system identification or other numerical methods.

  • Experience developing and verifying physical models for the purpose of control design, component sizing, and system performance evaluation.

  • Experience with Spacecraft Systems Engineering

  • Experience with Monte Carlo simulation testing.

  • Experience supporting flight testing or launch operations

  • Experience supporting component level testing and/or flight testing.

  • Ability to continuously manage risk and become comfortable with lean software development techniques

  • Proven system engineering, configuration management skills.

  • Experience with Python and Linux environments.

  • Experience with Verification and Validation

How to prepare:

We are solving challenging, new problems and we need people to represent a wide variety of perspectives. Experience in aerospace is not a requirement. We value broad academic and industry experiences such as Tech, Oil & Gas, Nuclear, Automotive, and more.

When you apply, include your internship, co-curricular and research experience in your resume. Please also include the relevant programming languages you have used in these settings. If you haven't yet used a tool in a professional setting, please include relevant coursework that demonstrates your preparation for these roles.


Compensation Range for:

CO applicants is $80,499.00 - $112,697.55 WA applicants is $87,816.00 - $122,942.40

Other site ranges may differ

Culture Statement

Don't meet all desired requirements? Studies have shown that some people are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single desired qualification. At Blue Origin, we are dedicated to building an authentic workplace, so if you're excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with every desired qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Export Control Regulations

Applicants for employment at Blue Origin must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (i.e. current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S.as a refugee or granted asylum.

Background Check

  • Required for all positions: Blue's Standard Background Check

  • Required for Certain Job Profiles: Defense Biometric Identification System (DBIDS) background check if at any time the role requires one to be on a military installation

  • Required for Certain Job Profiles: Drivers who operate Commercial Motor Vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW), Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) or combination of power unit and trailer that meets or exceeds 10,001 lbs. and/or transports placardable amounts of hazardous materials by ground in any vehicle on a public road while in commerce, may be subject to additional Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations including: Driver Qualification Files, Medical Certification (obtained before onboarding), Road Test, Hours of Service, Drug and Alcohol Testing (CDL drivers only), vehicle inspection requirements, CDL requirements (if applicable) and hazardous materials transportation/shipping training.

  • Required for certain Job Profiles: Ability to obtain and maintain Merchant Mariner Credential, which includes pre-employment and random drug testing as well as DOT physical

Benefits

  • Benefits include: Medical, dental, vision, basic and supplemental life insurance, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability, 401(k) with a company match of up to 5%, and an Education Support Program.

  • Stock Options for all regular employees (working at least 20 hours/week)

  • Paid Time Off: Up to four (4) weeks per year based on weekly scheduled hours, and up to 14 company-paid holidays.

  • Dependent on role type and job level, employees may be eligible for benefits and bonuses based on the company's intent to reward individual contributions and enable them to share in the company's results, or other factors at the company's sole discretion. Bonus amounts and eligibility are not guaranteed and subject to change and cancellation. Please check with your recruiter for more details.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Blue Origin is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and is committed to attracting, retaining, and developing a highly qualified and dedicated work force. Blue Origin hires and promotes people on the basis of their qualifications, performance, and abilities. We support the establishment and maintenance of a workplace that fosters trust, equality, and teamwork. We provide all qualified applicants for employment and employees with equal opportunities for hire, promotion, and other terms and conditions of employment, regardless of their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin/ethnicity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic factors, military/veteran status, or any other status or characteristic protected by federal, state, and/or local law. Blue Origin will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the Washington Fair Chance Act, the California Fair Chance Act, the Los Angeles Fair Chance in Hiring Ordinance, and other applicable laws. For more information on "Know Your Rights," please see here.

Affirmative Action and Disability Accommodation

Applicants wishing to receive information on Blue Origin's Affirmative Action Plans, or applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in the application and/or interview process, please contact us atEEOCompliance@blueorigin.com. Please note this is a publicly managed inbox. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request.


What Blue Origin employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom


Blue Origin logo

About Blue Origin

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Blue Origin is a private aerospace manufacturing and suborbital spaceflight services company based in Kent, Washington, USA. Established in 2000 by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, the company operates in the cutting-edge aerospace industry aiming to build a future where millions of people can live and work in space. They develop a variety of technologies, with a focus on reusable rocket systems which significantly reduce the cost of space travel. Blue Origin's core mission is to make this vision come to life by incrementally building on its successes with an ultimate vision of dramatic cost reduction and increased reliance on reusable spacecraft.

Industry

Space research administration

Company size

1,001 - 5,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Kent, WA, US

Year founded

2000