Internship Mechanical Engineer Defense Jobs (NOW HIRING)

IMPORTANT ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

• This internship supports U.S. Department of Defense-funded programs. Applicants must be U.S. citizens and eligible to obtain a security clearance. Applicants who do not meet this requirement cannot be considered for this position.
• Applicants must remain actively enrolled in an undergraduate degree program for the duration of the internship. Individuals who have already graduated prior to the internship start date are not eligible for this position.

Please Note: Authorization to work in the United States (including F-1 OPT/CPT, H-1B, or other employment authorization) does not satisfy this requirement. Applicants must be U.S. citizens to be eligible for this internship. Applicants who do not meet these eligibility requirements cannot be considered for this internship.
Mechanical Engineering Internship - Fall 2026
SOFWERX is a venue operated under an agreement between the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) and DefenseWERX, designed to increase collaboration and innovation to solve the most difficult warfighter problems. SOFWERX is a forum for accelerating delivery of innovative capability, and facilitating capability refinement through exploration, experimentation, and assessment of promising technology. SOFWERX is in the heart of Ybor City, at a neutral, easily accessible facility.
The internship program is administered by USF Institute of Applied Engineering. Upon hire, you will be considered both a USF IAE Temporary Employee and a SOFWERX student intern.
Because this internship is partially funded by the U.S. Department of Defense and may involve access to Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), U.S. citizenship is required for eligibility.
Time commitment

• Hours of operation are 8:00am to 5:00pm Monday thru Friday.
• This position requires a minimum of 15 hours and a maximum of 20 hours per week during the Fall/Spring semesters and a minimum of 20 hours and a maximum of 29 hours per week during the Summer semester.
• This internship is in-person with limited remote work opportunities.

Opportunities

• Engage in employee events, such as team building
• Build resume and explore career options
• Apply skills and knowledge to the workplace
• Upon completion of the internship, a letter of recommendation can be provided upon request
• Opportunity for follow-on internship based on performance

Pay Rate
$18.50/hour
Responsibilities
Responsibilities

• Assist the SOFWERX team in mechanical design of various projects, working closely with a small team on multidisciplinary engineering problems.
• Assist with fabrication, assembly, and testing of mechanical systems and components.
• Support engineering evaluations, testing, and data collection activities.
• Assist with prototype integration efforts involving electrical and software engineering teams.
• Conduct technical research and market analysis on emerging technologies and engineering solutions.
• Document engineering findings, test results, and recommendations.

Qualifications
Requirements

• Must be a U.S. citizen.
• Must be eligible to obtain a U.S. security clearance due to Department of Defense program requirements.
• Must be actively pursuing a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering at a local accredited University
• Junior or Senior level, with a current GPA of 3.0 or above
• Must be comfortable operating general shop tools
• Must have experience 3D printing and 3D modeling with Solidworks
• Strong technical and organizational skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Must have the ability to work in a dynamic, fast paced, rapidly changing environment
• Must participate in weekly market research and submit minimum required entries for new capabilities, technologies, companies, organizations, etc. that could contribute to the innovative ideas needed to create solutions for the warfighter.

About Us
Working at USF
With approximately 16,000 employees, the University of South Florida is one of the largest employers in the Tampa Bay area. We are dedicated to cultivating a talented, engaged and driven workforce that strives to be bold. Employees excel in USF's rich academic environment, which fosters their development and advancement. In 2025, Forbes recognized USF as one of Florida's best large employers, ranked No. 1 among the state's 12 public universities. Our first-class benefits package includes medical, dental and life insurance plans, retirement plan options, employee and dependent tuition programs, generous leave, and hundreds of employee perks and discounts.
About USF
The University of South Florida is a top-ranked research university serving approximately 50,000 students from across the globe at campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee and USF Health. USF is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top 50 public university and the best value in Florida. U.S. News also ranks the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine as the No. 1 medical school in Florida and in the highest tier nationwide. USF is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), a group that includes only the top 3% of universities in the U.S. With an all-time high of $738 million in research funding in 2024 and as a top 20 public university for producing U.S. patents, USF uses innovation to transform lives and shape a better future. The university generates an annual economic impact of more than $6 billion. USF's Division I athletics teams compete in the American Athletic Conference. Learn more at www.usf.edu.
Compliance and Federal Notices
This position may be subject to a Level 1 or Level 2 criminal background check.
Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws:
The University of South Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law. The University maintains programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws.
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Applicants for USF employment are entitled to request reasonable accommodation(s) in the application process. A request is to be made at least five (5) working days prior to the time the accommodation(s) is needed. Visit the Central Human Resources ADA Accommodations webpage for more information on requesting an accommodation during the application/interview process.
Equal Employment Opportunity
The University of South Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law. The University maintains affirmative action programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws. This job description does not constitute an employment contract.