12 Engineering Internships for High School Students in San Diego, California
1. Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) by the Department of Navy
Location: Various locations across the U.S
Stipend: $4,000 stipend (new participants); $4,500 stipend (returning participants)
Application Deadline: November 1
Program Dates: June - August (8 weeks)
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old, have completed Grade 9, and are U.S. citizens can apply.
The Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) gives you the chance to spend 8 weeks in the summer working alongside top scientists and engineers in Department of Navy (DoN) laboratories. You’ll dive into real Naval research, gain hands-on experience, and be mentored by experts in the field.
SEAP is highly competitive, offering around 300 placements in over 38 labs across the country. Many students who take part go on to build careers within the DoN. Selections are based on your academic performance, personal statement, recommendations, and research interests—so if you're eager to explore cutting-edge science and technology, this could be the perfect opportunity for you!
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,290 for the 10-week AI Scholars program | $5,400 for the 15-week AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase | $6,900 for both. Need-based financial aid is available for AI Scholars. You can apply here.
Application Deadline: On a rolling basis. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).
Program Dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Eligibility: Ambitious high school students located anywhere in the world. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python.
Veritas AI, founded and run by Harvard graduate students, offers programs for high school students who are passionate about artificial intelligence. Students who are looking to get started with AI, ML, and data science would benefit from the AI Scholars program. Through this 10-session boot camp, students are introduced to the fundamentals of AI & data science and get a chance to work on real-world projects.
Another option for more advanced students is the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase. Through this program, students get a chance to work 1:1 with mentors from top universities on a unique, individual project. A bonus of this program is that students have access to the in-house publication team to help them secure publications in high school research journals. You can also check out some examples of past projects here.
3. Sally Ride Science Academy at the University of California, San Diego
Location: University of California, San Diego, CA
Cost: Courses range from $175 to $450; Financial aid is available.
Application Deadline: May (tentatively, based on previous years)
Program Dates: June 7 - July 25
Eligibility: Open to all high school students
The Sally Ride Science Academy offers summer workshops in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) for students entering 3rd-12th grade. In these hands-on sessions, you’ll get to take on roles like space explorer, marine biologist, and computer programmer. Led by experienced instructors and scientists, each workshop emphasizes interactive learning, encouraging students to develop critical thinking skills through collaborative projects. The program aims to inspire young learners to pursue STEAM careers by allowing them to learn and interact with professionals in various fields.
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Cost: Starting at $2,490 (financial aid available)
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!
Ladder Internships is a selective start-up internship program for ambitious high school students! In the program, you work with a high-growth start-up on an internship. Start-ups that offer internships range across a variety of industries, from tech/deep tech and AI/ML to health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. You can explore all the options here on their application form. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average raising over a million dollars. In the program, interns work closely with their managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present their work to the company. Here is the application form.
The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long.
5. Heithoff-Brody High School Scholars Program at the Salk Institute
Location: Salk Institute, La Jolla, CA.
Cost/Stipend: Free; Paid
Application Deadline: March 5
Program Dates: June 16 - August 8
Eligibility:
Be a San Diego County resident and have completed your most recent semester at a public or private high school in the county.
Be at least 16 years old
Be available to work 30-40 hours per week from June 16 to August 8.
Have completed at least one year of high school chemistry and biology.
Have a minimum GPA of 2.75.
If under 18, you must be able to get a work permit from your school after being hired.
This is a paid, 8-week summer internship where you'll work alongside Salk scientists in a research lab, gaining hands-on experience. During this program, you will also learn practical laboratory techniques for various research projects. In addition to lab work, the program features seminars, workshops, biotech site visits, and other enrichment activities. At the end of the program, you'll present your research to your mentor, lab peers, and family.
6. Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP) High School Internships
Location: Various labs across the U.S.; Virtual options are available too.
Stipend: Varies depending on location and project
Application Deadline: Rolling. Applications open on December 4 and remain open throughout the year.
Dates: 6-10 weeks in May – August. Specific dates vary depending on location.
Eligibility: Those applying must be current high school students who are U.S. citizens or permanent legal residents. Additional eligibility requirements vary by location. Check details here.
The AEOP High School Internship Program offers an opportunity for students to engage in cutting-edge STEM research at some of the nation’s leading laboratories. Sponsored by the U.S. Army, this program pairs high school students with university scientists and Department of Defense experts, allowing you to work on real-world challenges in engineering, cybersecurity, environmental science, biotechnology, and more. As an intern, you'll have access to state-of-the-art lab equipment and be immersed in projects that contribute to national security and scientific innovation.
Location: Various NASA centers in the country. There are also options for remote participation, depending on the project.
Stipend: Interns may receive a stipend dependent on internship, academic level, and session length.
Application Deadline:
Summer 2025: February 28
Fall 2025: May 16
Program Dates:
Summer Session: 10 weeks, typically from late May or early June to August
Fall Session: 16 weeks, typically from late August or early September to mid-December
Eligibility:
Must be a full-time high school student with a GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale
Must be a U.S. citizen
NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) offers free internships in a variety of disciplines, from space science, aeronautics, engineering, technology, space microbiology, to outreach and communications. As an intern, you’ll work with experienced mentors on tasks like research, data analysis, and engineering projects. Internships are available in areas such as structural design, test equipment analysis, data science, and software development. Check here for available positions.
8. George Mason University’s Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Location: In-person and hybrid at George Mason University, Fairfax, VA (with virtual options available)
Cost: Free ($25 application fee required)
Application Deadline: February 2
Duration: June 18 - August 8
Eligibility:
Must be 15 years or older at the beginning of the program
ASSIP is an 8-week program where you'll gain hands-on experience with advanced technology and equipment. Each student will work closely with faculty researchers in various fields. Your mentor will decide the structure of your internship. The program will help improve your communication, creativity, and scientific writing skills, while also introducing you to different STEM careers. Your research papers might be published in scientific journals or presented at conferences.
Location: Remote
Cost: $850 + $40 application fee
Application Deadline: February 28
Program Dates: June 16 - 27
Eligibility:
High school students over the age of 14 at the start of the program
Students with a mathematical/computer science background or students with experience in the healthcare sector are given preference
Only students in the US may apply
Stanford’s AIMI Summer Health AI Bootcamp introduces high school students to machine learning in healthcare through a robust 2-week virtual program. You’ll explore cutting-edge topics such as the principles of ML, evaluation metrics, and challenges in healthcare-specific machine learning. The curriculum includes foundation models, generative AI, and applications of algorithms for diagnostics and predictive modeling.
The program features live lectures, group discussions, hands-on coding workshops, and career-oriented sessions with guest speakers from academia, industry, and government. Students work collaboratively to analyze healthcare datasets, gaining insights into how machine learning can transform patient care and medical research.
10. StandOut Connect
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,950. Some need-based scholarships are available
Application Deadline:
Early Application Deadline - January 5
Regular Application Deadline - February 2
Program Dates: March 9 - June 6
Eligibility: High school students who are 15 years or older by March 2025 are eligible to apply.
StandOut Connect, developed in collaboration with The University of Chicago’s Polsky Center for Innovation, is a dynamic three-month online program designed for high school students. Combining interactive workshops with remote internships, it offers a comprehensive learning experience.
In the first month, participants attend Sunday workshops and complete assignments covering essential skills such as résumé-building, storytelling for college and internship applications, and proficiency with tools like Excel and AI. Following an interview process, you are guaranteed an internship offer.
Over the next two months, you gain hands-on experience by working remotely with startups affiliated with top universities and accelerators. These internships are tailored to individual academic interests, spanning fields like STEM, finance, and business.
With a network of over 500 partner companies, StandOut Connect provides opportunities across diverse industries, including Science, Business, Marketing, Finance, Computer Science & AI, Video Game Design, and Engineering, amongst others. You will be matched with companies that align with your interests while ensuring the internship suits your education level.
11. NASA Pathways
Location: Virtual and in-person options available
Cost/Stipend: No cost. Interns receive a stipend.
Application Deadline: Applications open in February 2025 for Fall 2025 internships and are accepted on a rolling basis.
Program Dates: The program dates vary depending on the internship availability.
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old and have a cumulative GPA of 2.9 or higher on a 4.0 scale are eligible to apply.
NASA Pathways offers various internships, during which you will work closely with mentors to develop an Individual Development Plan. This plan will outline your assignments, training sessions, and learning opportunities, ensuring you’re on the right path to achieving your career objectives. NASA offers internships in various disciplines, primarily in engineering, science, and technology fields. Specific roles and skill sets will be posted before the application process begins, giving you the opportunity to apply for positions that align with your interests and academic background.
Your performance will be evaluated as you approach graduation. Upon completing your degree, you may even be considered for a full-time position at NASA, with no need for additional job applications.
12. Air Force Laboratory (AFRL) Scholars Program
Location: Various AFRL sites across the U.S.
Cost: No cost; Weekly stipends are provided based on the education level of the students and the GS pay scale. High school students receive a stipend of approximately $492.40 per week, though exact amounts can vary depending on location.
Program Dates: Summer 2025; exact dates vary depending on the AFRL site
Deadline: January 10
Eligibility: High school students at least 16 years of age at the time of application, are U.S. citizens with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Scholars Program offers high school students a chance to gain hands-on experience in advanced research, especially in STEM fields like artificial intelligence, robotics, and aerospace technology. As an intern, you will engage directly with AFRL scientists and engineers on groundbreaking initiatives, playing a key role in research that influences both national security and technological advancements. Your responsibilities may include working on AI-enhanced algorithms, investigating machine learning models, or even exploring autonomous systems, all while applying your academic expertise to tackle practical challenges.
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