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Mechanical Engineer Intern Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

$17.75 - $23.75/hr

MECHANICAL ENGINEER SKILLBRIDGE INTERN (PLANT OPERATIONS Location: Newport News, Virginia, United States Date: Jul 25, 2026 Req ID: 43131 Team: K21 TALENT ACQUISITION Entity: Newport News ...

$17.75 - $23.75/hr

MECHANICAL ENGINEER SKILLBRIDGE INTERN (PLANT OPERATIONS Location: Newport News, Virginia, United States Date: Jul 25, 2026 Req ID: 43131 Team: K21 TALENT ACQUISITION Entity: Newport News ...

... mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and ... registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT)1, or licensure as a ...

... mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and ... Professional registration or licensure -- Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer ...

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Mechanical Engineer Intern information

See Virginia salary details

$14

$21

$30

How much do mechanical engineer intern jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 10, 2026, the average hourly pay for mechanical engineer intern in Virginia is $21.70, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $17.88 and $24.09 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a mechanical engineer intern, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Mechanical Engineer Intern, you need a strong grasp of engineering principles, mathematics, and problem-solving skills, typically supported by progress toward a mechanical engineering degree. Familiarity with CAD software (such as SolidWorks or AutoCAD), simulation tools, and basic manufacturing processes is often required. Strong teamwork, willingness to learn, and effective communication skills help interns collaborate and absorb feedback in a professional environment. These abilities are crucial for contributing meaningfully to engineering projects and developing technical expertise for future roles.

What types of projects and responsibilities can a mechanical engineer intern expect during their internship?

As a Mechanical Engineer Intern, you'll typically assist with tasks such as CAD modeling, design analysis, prototype testing, and documentation of mechanical systems. Interns often collaborate closely with senior engineers and cross-functional teams, contributing to ongoing projects in product development or process improvement. While responsibilities can vary by company, you may also be involved in hands-on work in labs or workshops, attending team meetings, and learning to use industry-standard engineering tools. This exposure offers a valuable opportunity to develop both technical and teamwork skills in a real-world engineering environment.

What does a mechanical engineer intern do?

A Mechanical Engineer Intern assists professional engineers with the design, development, and testing of mechanical devices and systems. Their responsibilities often include creating CAD drawings, conducting research, performing calculations, and helping with prototyping or laboratory testing. Interns gain hands-on experience by supporting real engineering projects and working alongside experienced engineers. This position provides valuable exposure to engineering processes and workplace culture, making it a key step for students studying mechanical engineering.

What is the difference between Mechanical Engineer Intern vs Mechanical Design Engineer?

AspectMechanical Engineer InternMechanical Design Engineer
Required CredentialsEnrolled in or recent graduate of Mechanical Engineering programBachelor's or higher in Mechanical Engineering or related field
Work EnvironmentInternship setting, often in engineering departments or labsFull-time engineering office or design studio
Employer & Industry UsageInternships offered by manufacturing, automotive, aerospace companiesDesign-focused roles in similar industries

The main difference between a Mechanical Engineer Intern and a Mechanical Design Engineer is experience and responsibility level. Interns are typically students gaining practical experience, while Mechanical Design Engineers are full-time professionals responsible for designing and developing mechanical systems.

What are the most commonly searched types of Mechanical Engineer jobs in Virginia? The most popular types of Mechanical Engineer jobs in Virginia are:
What cities in Virginia are hiring for Mechanical Engineer Intern jobs? Cities in Virginia with the most Mechanical Engineer Intern job openings:
What are popular job titles related to Mechanical Engineer Intern jobs in VA? For Mechanical Engineer Intern jobs in VA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Infographic showing various Mechanical Engineer Intern job openings in Virginia as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 6% Internship, 65% Full Time, and 29% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $45,126 per year, or $21.7 per hour.

$106K/yr

Full-time

Posted 14 days ago


U.S. Department Of Defense rating

7.9

Company rating: 7.9 out of 10

Based on 537 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

28th of 49 rated military and defense


Job description

This vacancy announcement may be used to fill positions at various Department of the Navy Commands, including but not limited to the Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command.
Pay Ranges:
Washington DC: $121,785 - $158,322 Per Year
Honolulu and Pearl Harbor HI: $111,119 - $144,457 Per Year
Jacksonville FL: $106,437 - $138,370 Per Year
Norfolk VA: $108,019 - $140,426 Per Year
San Diego CA: $121,585 - $158,062 Per Year
Silverdale WA: $119,630 - $155,521 Per YearQualifications:Your resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience as a professional MECHANICAL ENGINEER at or equivalent to the GS-12 grade level or pay band in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector. Specialized experience must demonstrate the following: 1) Leading production of facilities mechanical engineering design packages, including design drawings, plans, specifications and design-build requests for proposal; 2) Reviewing facilities mechanical engineering design submittals to provide subject matter expert acceptance recommendations to officials; and 3) Providing facilities mechanical engineering design consultation services to officials during construction. NOTE: This experience must be fully supported by your resume.
Additional qualification information can be found from the following Office of Personnel Management website:
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=List-by-Occupational-Series AND https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/files/all-professional-engineering-positions-0800.pdf
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.
Applicants rated ineligible on this vacancy announcement need to reapply and update their application package to be considered on future vacancies filled through this announcement.
Applicants selected and hired through this vacancy announcement need to reapply to be considered on future vacancies filled through this announcement.
Referral lists will be issued on an as-needed basis as vacancies occur.
All eligibility, qualifications, and time-in-grade requirements must be met by the referral cut-off date.
Certain incentives (such as Recruitment, Relocation or Student Loan Repayment) may be authorized to eligible selectees.
A relocation incentive is generally a single payment intended to offset some of the relocation costs experienced by the selectee. A relocation incentive may be authorized.Education:Applicants must meet the following basic education requirements of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualifications Standards Manual:
Successful completion of a professional engineering degree. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor's degree (or higher) in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET); or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position.
OR
Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT), or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico. Absent other means of qualifying under this standard, those applicants who achieved such registration by means other than written test (e.g., State grandfather or eminence provisions) are eligible only for positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of their registration For more information about EI and EIT registration requirements, please visit the National Society of Professional Engineers website at: http://www.nspe.org
OR
Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination or any other written test required for professional registration by an engineering licensure board in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico The FE examination is not administered by the U. S. Office of Personnel Management. For more information, please visit: http://www.nspe.org/Licensure/HowtoGetLicensed/index.html.
OR
Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and in engineering that included the courses specified in the basic requirements under paragraph A (above). The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of an engineering program as described in paragraph A (above)
OR
Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in an appropriate scientific field, e.g., engineering technology, physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a bachelor's degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at least one year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. Ordinarily, there should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering-type experience, e.g., in interdisciplinary positions.
Employment Type: OTHER

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