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Materials Engineer Intern Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Project Engineer Intern

Livermore, CA · On-site

$18.50 - $24.25/hr

As a Project Engineer Intern, you will work closely with our experienced engineers and project ... Maintain bill of materials as directed * Attend project meetings * Expected to gain knowledge and ...

Project Engineer Intern

Escondido, CA · On-site

$17.50 - $22.75/hr

As a Project Engineer Intern, you will work closely with our experienced engineers and project ... Maintain bill of materials as directed * Attend project meetings * Expected to gain knowledge and ...

... Application Engineering Intern interested in Semiconductor Testing. The internship involves ... materials. Required Qualifications: * Progress towards or completion of a BS or MS degree in ...

... Application Engineering Intern interested in Semiconductor Testing. The internship involves ... materials. Required Qualifications: * Progress towards or completion of a BS or MS degree in ...

Manufacturing Engineer Intern

Livermore, CA · On-site

$19 - $24.50/hr

We provide our customers with advanced materials, components, systems, and manufacturing solutions ... HOW YOU MAKE AN IMPACT The role of ME Engineer Intern is to partner with other Manufacturing ...

$17.75 - $23.25/hr

Job Summary The Project Engineer Intern will support Project Managers/Estimators in all aspects of ... Equipment and material management * Scheduling - scheduling and work plan development * Document ...

Project Engineer Intern

Sacramento, CA · On-site

$17.40 - $23.70/hr

Participate in material and equipment procurement processes to ensure timely delivery and project efficiency. * Collaborate closely with the BIM (Building Information Modeling) department, actively ...

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Materials Engineer Intern information

See California salary details

$10

$19

$29

How much do materials engineer intern jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 7, 2026, the average hourly pay for materials engineer intern in California is $19.06, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $15.91 and $20.62 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Materials Engineer Intern vs Materials Engineer?

AspectMaterials Engineer InternMaterials Engineer
Required CredentialsTypically pursuing a bachelor's degree in materials science or engineering; internship experience preferredBachelor's degree in materials science, engineering, or related field; professional licensure optional
Work EnvironmentSupportive, learning-focused environment within manufacturing, research labs, or R&D departmentsFull-time professional role in designing, testing, and analyzing materials in industrial settings
Employer & Industry UsageInternships offered by manufacturing firms, aerospace, automotive, and research institutionsFull-time positions in similar industries, often with more responsibility and project leadership

Materials Engineer Interns are students gaining practical experience, while Materials Engineers are full-time professionals responsible for developing and testing materials. Interns focus on learning and supporting projects, whereas Engineers lead design and analysis tasks in their field.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a materials engineer intern?

To thrive as a Materials Engineer Intern, you need a solid understanding of materials science fundamentals, laboratory techniques, and coursework in engineering or related fields. Familiarity with analytical tools like scanning electron microscopes (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and software such as MATLAB or AutoCAD is commonly expected. Curiosity, attention to detail, and strong teamwork and communication skills help interns contribute effectively to projects and collaborate with mentors. These capabilities are crucial for accurate experimentation, data analysis, and successful integration into engineering teams.

What does a materials engineer intern do?

A Materials Engineer Intern supports professional engineers in researching, developing, and testing materials used to create a wide range of products. Typical tasks include assisting with laboratory experiments, analyzing material properties, preparing reports, and helping to improve material performance or processes. Interns often work under supervision, gaining hands-on experience with materials such as metals, polymers, ceramics, and composites. This internship helps students or recent graduates apply theoretical knowledge to real-world engineering problems and prepares them for a full-time role in materials engineering.
What are the most commonly searched types of Materials Engineer jobs in California? The most popular types of Materials Engineer jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Materials Engineer Intern jobs in California? For Materials Engineer Intern jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What cities in California are hiring for Materials Engineer Intern jobs? Cities in California with the most Materials Engineer Intern job openings:
Infographic showing various Materials Engineer Intern job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 82% Full Time, 13% Part Time, 1% Temporary, 3% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 94% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $39,648 per year, or $19.1 per hour.

R&D Materials Engineer Intern

Neuralink

South San Francisco, CA

$35/hr

Internship

Posted 20 days ago


Job description

Team Description:

The Next Gen team at Neuralink is developing the next generation of brain-computer interfaces. We are laying the groundwork for intuitive, high-dimensional, and bidirectional interfaces between brains and machines, with the goal of helping people challenged by a variety of neurological disorders and conditions. Our team consists of scientists and engineers, working closely together to define the engineering requirements for these future products. 

Join Neuralink's Next-Gen team to help push the boundaries of what's possible in brain-computer interfaces.

Job Description and Responsibilities:

As an R&D Materials Engineer intern, you'll interact with technical teams across the company to develop new ideas, materials, and processes that drive our next generation of implants forward. You'll work closely with scientists and engineers to explore innovative concepts, perform rigorous benchtop testing, troubleshoot experimental setups, and analyze results. Successful candidates will be highly adaptable, able to deploy their core technical and creative skills to tackle a wide range of problems, and have a keen sense of urgency. You must thrive in an intense, mission-driven, and collaborative environment. Additionally, you will:

  • Contribute to the development of next-generation microelectrode materials, partnering with the microfabrication team to bring concepts from idea to hardware
  • Develop novel solutions for electrode-tissue interfaces to enhance electrode sensitivity and interface longevity
  • Perform materials characterization and surface chemistry experiments on candidate materials and implant components
  • Design and fabricate custom test fixtures to enable new experiments
  • Execute on established protocols and independently design new experiments as the project demands
  • Troubleshoot, iterate, and communicate findings clearly to the team

Required Qualifications:

  • Evidence of exceptional ability in Materials Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Chemistry, or a related field
  • 2+ years of academic or industry experience
  • Strong understanding of the scientific method and engineering first principles
  • Strong organizational skills and exceptional attention to detail
  • Experience with chemical handling and safe lab practices
  • Outstanding communication skills; thrives in an interdisciplinary environment

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Proficiency in SolidWorks or other CAD software
  • Familiarity and experience with surface characterization techniques (e.g., contact angle, FTIR, XPS, AFM)
  • Experience with microscopy
  • Experience with electrochemistry

Expected Compensation:

The anticipated hourly rate for this position is listed below.

California Hourly Flat Rate:
$35/Hr USD