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Mechanical Engineering Intern Jobs in Riverside, CA

... Mechanical Engineering or related discipline. Strong communication, presentation, interpersonal, and organizational skills. Intermediate skills in working with Microsoft Office. Updated resume is ...

As an intern you will assist engineers and engineering staff within a variety of project support roles. This internship is your chance to be part of a collaborative community where you can expand ...

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Mechanical Engineering Intern information

See Riverside, CA salary details

$15

$22

$31

How much do mechanical engineering intern jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 13, 2026, the average hourly pay for mechanical engineering intern in Riverside, CA is $22.83, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $18.80 and $25.34 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Mechanical Engineering Intern, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Mechanical Engineering Intern, you need a solid grasp of engineering fundamentals, problem-solving abilities, and coursework in mechanical design or analysis, often supported by progress toward a relevant engineering degree. Familiarity with CAD software (such as SolidWorks or AutoCAD), simulation tools, and basic lab equipment is typically required. Strong communication, teamwork, and a willingness to learn help interns adapt quickly and contribute effectively to projects. These skills and qualities are important to ensure interns can support engineering teams, apply theory to real-world challenges, and grow within the profession.

What Does a Mechanical Engineering Intern Do?

As a mechanical engineering intern, you prepare calculations and reports, gain experience with engineering systems, integrate tracking plans, and perform analysis of mechanical design choices. You may help test products, interact with various members of a project team, and create or modify CAD models. As an intern, your responsibilities are limited, and most employers consider gaining experience to be the most important part of your job. Many mechanical engineering interns focus on building professional relationships in the hope of landing a permanent job after graduating. You may need to develop your skills in engineering, CAD software, and prototyping during your internship.

What types of projects do Mechanical Engineering Interns typically work on, and how much hands-on experience can I expect?

As a Mechanical Engineering Intern, you'll often assist with a mix of design, analysis, and testing projects under the guidance of experienced engineers. Interns commonly use CAD software to create or modify designs, help with prototype assembly, perform basic calculations, and assist in conducting experiments or tests. You can expect significant hands-on experience, especially in labs or on the shop floor, learning how theoretical concepts are applied in real-world engineering tasks. Collaboration with cross-functional teams, such as manufacturing or quality assurance, is typical, providing valuable exposure to the entire product lifecycle.

What does a Mechanical Engineering Intern do?

A Mechanical Engineering Intern assists engineers in designing, developing, and testing mechanical devices and systems. They typically work on tasks such as creating CAD drawings, conducting research, performing calculations, and helping with prototype assembly or testing. Interns gain hands-on experience by supporting ongoing projects and collaborating with other engineers and technicians. This role provides valuable exposure to real-world engineering challenges and helps students apply their academic knowledge in a practical setting.
What are the most commonly searched types of Mechanical Engineering jobs in Riverside, CA? The most popular types of Mechanical Engineering jobs in Riverside, CA are:
What are popular job titles related to Mechanical Engineering Intern jobs in Riverside, CA? For Mechanical Engineering Intern jobs in Riverside, CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What cities near Riverside, CA are hiring for Mechanical Engineering Intern jobs? Cities near Riverside, CA with the most Mechanical Engineering Intern job openings:
Infographic showing various Mechanical Engineering Intern job openings in Riverside, CA as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 91% Full Time, 7% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $47,486 per year, or $22.8 per hour.

Electromechanical Design Engineering Intern (Fall 2026)

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies

Irvine, CA โ€ข On-site

$18 - $23.25/hr

Full-time, Internship

Re-posted 10 days ago


Job description

About Us
Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies is a joint venture between two industry leaders with a clear vision for automotive's next chapter. From operating systems to zonal controllers to cloud and connectivity solutions, we're addressing the challenges of electric vehicles through technology that will set the standards for software-defined vehicles around the world.
The road to the future is uncharted. By combining our expertise across connectivity, AI, security and more, we'll map a new way forward. Working together, we'll create a future that's more connected, more intelligent, more sustainable for everyone.
Role Summary
This is a fantastic opportunity to shape the Electro-Mechanical design of vehicle systems. As an Electromechanical Design Engineering Intern, you will be directly involved in the complete life cycle development of electronic hardware, from early Proof of Concept work to final component release, and initial manufacturing support.
About the Electromechanical Design Engineering Internship: We are looking for talented interns to join various teams within our Electromechanical Design Engineering department.
Program Details:
  • Timeline: Full-time, September 21 - December 18
  • Location: Palo Alto, CA, Champaign, IL or Irvine, CA

By submitting a single application to this posting, you will be considered for all of the following internship tracks:
  • Embedded Software Engineering Intern
  • Software Engineering Intern - Vehicle Lab
  • Electrical Design Engineering Intern

Responsibilities
  • Design & Development: Support and develop Proof of Concept work needed to ensure program success.
  • Component Design: Design and develop analog, digital, and mixed-signal circuits for hardware modules, including schematic capture and component selection.
  • Documentation & Release: Generate Internal Part Numbers for new part requests in the Arena PLM database. Ensure drawing releases and component release cycles are understood and followed.
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration: Engage with all cross-functional engineering and design teams (e.g., Studio, Architecture, Mechanical) to understand requirements and fully optimize solutions for overall performance, cost, and mass.
  • Debug & Validation: Debug and troubleshoot hardware issues at the board and system level. Work with internal teams and suppliers to maintain component and system-level DVPRs (Design Verification Plan and Report) and ensure test execution.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications:
  • Currently enrolled in a Bachelor's or Master's program at an accredited US university.
  • Proficient in Electrical Engineering fundamentals.

Preferred Qualifications
  • Actively pursuing a degree in Electrical Engineering, Electrical Design Engineering, Hardware Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, or a closely related technical field with the intent to return to school following completion of internship.
  • Understanding of electronics, packaging, and hardware.
  • Previous experience with vehicle-level component programs.
  • Understanding of the automotive hardware/software development process. Working knowledge of vehicle electrical systems.
  • Familiarity with PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) and component release cycles.
  • Familiarity with communication protocols such as PCIe, CAN, Ethernet, USB, I2C, SPI.
Total Rewards
Full-time positions include base salary, eligibility for an annual performance bonus, and eligibility for equity.
In addition to base salary, Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies offers benefits tailored to the local market. For more information on the benefits available for full-time employees, check out our Global Benefits Site.
External candidates can apply for this role through the Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies careers site (https://rivianvw.tech/#careers). If you are a current employee, please apply through our internal job board.
Equal Opportunity
Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information or characteristics, physical or mental disability, marital/domestic partner status, age, military/veteran status, medical condition, or any other characteristic protected by law. We are also committed to ensuring compliance with all applicable fair employment practice laws regarding citizenship and immigration status.
Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies is committed to ensuring that our hiring process is accessible for persons with disabilities. If you have a disability or limitation, such as those covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act, that requires accommodations to assist you in the search and application process, please email us at candidateaccommodations@rivian.com.
Candidate Data Privacy
Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies" may collect, use and disclose your personal information or personal data (within the meaning of the applicable data protection laws) when you apply for employment and/or participate in our recruitment processes ("Candidate Personal Data"). This data includes contact, demographic, communications, educational, professional, employment, social media/website, network/device, recruiting system usage/interaction, security and preference information. Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies may use your Candidate Personal Data for the purposes of (i) tracking interactions with our recruiting system; (ii) carrying out, analyzing and improving our application and recruitment process, including assessing you and your application and conducting employment, background and reference checks; (iii) establishing an employment relationship or entering into an employment contract with you; (iv) complying with our legal, regulatory and corporate governance obligations; (v) record keeping; (vi) ensuring network and information security and preventing fraud; and (vii) as otherwise required or permitted by applicable law.
Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies may share your Candidate Personal Data with (i) internal personnel who have a need to know such information in order to perform their duties, including individuals on our People Team, Finance, Legal, and the team(s) with the position(s) for which you are applying; (ii) Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies affiliates; and (iii) Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies' service providers, including providers of background checks, staffing services, and cloud services.
Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies may transfer or store internationally your Candidate Personal Data, including to or in the United States, Canada, and the European Union and in the cloud, and this data may be subject to the laws and accessible to the courts, law enforcement and national security authorities of such jurisdictions.
If you provide a mobile telephone number as part of your application or during the recruitment process, Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies may use that number to contact you via SMS text message for recruitment-related purposes, including scheduling, logistics, and status updates. Message and data rates may apply. You may opt out of SMS communications at any time by replying STOP to any text message you receive from us. Consent to receive SMS messages is not a condition of applying for or being considered for employment.
Please see our Candidate Data Privacy Notice (English) and Candidate Data Privacy Notice (Serbian) for more information.
Please note this job posting represents an open, active vacancy. Additionally, we are not currently accepting applications from third party application services.