12 Engineering Internships for High School Students in Texas
If you're a high school student in Texas interested in engineering, you should consider applying for an internship!
Internships can provide hands-on experience in the field you’re interested in and help you develop essential skills. They also offer the chance to connect with professionals, explore potential career paths, and demonstrate initiative—and these can help strengthen your college applications!
Engineering internships can help you explore problem-solving and innovation. Whether you're diving into cutting-edge technologies, shadowing engineers, or contributing to research projects, internships will give you real-world insight into the field of engineering. You’ll also learn to apply theoretical concepts from your STEM classes to practical scenarios!
In this blog, we’ve listed 12 engineering internships for high school students in Texas. Let’s dive in!
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2490
Eligibility: Open to high school students who have experience with AI/ML or have completed a Veritas AI program.
Application Deadline: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Program Dates: Multiple 8-week cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Veritas AI’s Internship Program, founded and managed by Harvard graduates, offers high school students the opportunity to collaborate with VC-backed startups on real-world AI/ML projects over 8 weeks. Mentors from top institutions like Harvard, Wharton, Google, Microsoft, and McKinsey & Company guide students through hands-on work.
This program is a great opportunity for AI/ML enthusiasts looking to expand their knowledge and network with professionals in the industry. You’ll interact with experts, work directly with company executives, and receive an endorsement upon completion of the internship.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Starting at $2,490 (financial aid available)
Eligibility: Students can work 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students.
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.
Ladder Internships is a virtual program that pairs high school students with high-growth startups across various industries, including computer science, technology, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. For the 8-week internship, you will work on a hands-on project that contributes to the mission of the startup or non-profit and will present your work at the end of the program.
In addition to your manager at the startup, you will be assigned a Ladder Coach who will serve as a second mentor. Both mentors will support your development of skills such as communication, time management, and more through group training sessions and one-on-one coaching.
3. DoN’s Science & Engineering Apprenticeship Program
Location: Varies depending on lab choice
Stipend: $4,000 (new participants) or $4,500 (for returning participants)
Eligibility: Current high school students who:
- Have completed at least their junior year
- Are 16 years old by the program's start date.
- Is a U.S. Citizen
Application deadline: Applications close on November 1.
Program date: 8 weeks in the summer
The Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) is an eight-week summer internship that places high school students in Department of Navy (DoN) laboratories. During the program, you will collaborate with researchers and engineers at Navy facilities on actual naval research projects. This hands-on experience will help you develop skills and knowledge across STEM fields, particularly in engineering.
SEAP is a competitive program, offering approximately 300 placements across more than 38 laboratories nationwide. Many participants go on to pursue careers within the DoN. Interns are selected based on their academic performance, personal statements, and recommendations.
4. Anson L. Clarks Scholars Program
Location: TexasTech University campus, Lubbock, Texas
Stipend: $750 upon completion of the program
Eligibility: at least 17 years old by the program start date, are set to graduate in this academic year or the next. U.S. citizens or permanent residents can apply.
Application Deadline: Applications close on February 15.
Program Dates: June 22 - August 7.
The Anson L. Clark Scholar Program is an intensive 7-week research experience. As a participant, you will conduct real-world research in fields like engineering while receiving one-on-one mentorship from top scholars.
The program offers the chance to expand your knowledge in your field of interest and network with faculty members in the university’s engineering department. It also includes discussions, seminars, and field visits. It is a highly competitive program with an acceptance rate of less than 3% and only 12 high school students selected each year.
5. NASA and UT Austin’s STEM Enhancement in Earth Sciences (SEES)
Location: Virtual and on-site at the University of Austin, TX
Cost/Stipend: None. Housing, meals, and local transportation will be provided. A limited number of travel scholarships to Texas are available.
Eligibility - Open to current high school students who are:
Sophomores or juniors (rising juniors and seniors)
U.S. citizens
At least 16 by the start of the program
Application Deadline: February 22.
Program Dates: June-July (virtual), July 6-19 (in-person)
STEM Enhancement in Earth Sciences (SEES) is a competitive summer internship program for high school students interested in pursuing STEM careers.
As an intern, you will choose an area of focus, such as astronomy, remote sensing, or space geodetic techniques, to help understand Earth systems, natural hazards, and climate science. You will interpret NASA satellite data while working under the guidance of scientists and engineers in your chosen field.
6. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Scholars Program
Location: Multiple locations. Check this page.
Stipend: $468.80 per week
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is highly encouraged.
Application Deadline: January 10.
Program Dates: Varies from project to project, but you can expect it to be during the summer months for 9 weeks.
The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Scholars Program offers a hands-on research experience for high school students. You’ll contribute to research projects while collaborating with AFRL scientists and engineers on advanced technology and innovation. You will also receive guidance from full-time AFRL scientists and engineers while touring AFRL laboratories.
You can expect to work on areas such as aerospace / mechanical design for morphing aircraft technology, complex electromagnetic structures, and metalens design and modeling (to name a few). You will work on research projects in areas such as biomedical engineering, aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, additive manufacturing, biochemistry, aerodynamic modeling, adaptive optics, photovoltaics, and more.
7. NASA Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) Internships
Location: Virtual and in-person across NASA facilities depending on the internship
Cost: No cost. Interns can receive a stipend based on session length and academic level.
Eligibility: Full-time high school students who are at least 16 years old with a minimum of 3.0 GPA and are US citizens
Application deadline: January (Fall session) | August (Spring session) | October (Summer session)
Program dates: Three cohorts - Fall (16-week program, from late August or early September to mid-December) | Spring (16-week program, from mid-January to early May) | Summer (10-week program, from late May or early June to August).
NASA Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) offers internships at its locations across the country in a range of subjects and disciplines, including space science, engineering, aeronautics, technology, and more.
These internships are opportunities for students to contribute to projects in areas such as 3D modeling, robotics, civil engineering, and aerospace engineering that are ongoing at the agency under the guidance of a NASA mentor. The program provides training, mentoring, and career development opportunities alongside the chance to work with the best science, engineering, financial, information technology, and business minds in the world.
You can check out a complete list of positions here - you may have to use the “Filter” option to see opportunities open to high school students in engineering.
8. Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP) High School Internships
Location: There are AEOP locations in almost every state. Students may select their preferred location. The program is intended for commuters. Transportation, meals, and housing are not provided. (Opportunities are available in New York City).
Cost/Stipend: No cost; Stipend is provided but varies from location to 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.
Application deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Check AEOP’s Summer opportunities here for the application dates.
Program Dates: This is a summer internship program, specific dates vary from location to location.
This program is a chance to work one-on-one with a university researcher or Department of Defense (DoD) scientist mentor on research projects. As an intern, you will be exposed to high-tech equipment and cutting-edge techniques in state-of-the-art laboratory facilities and have access to professional scientists and engineers. The Army-sponsored research that you will be a part of addresses the USA’s biggest challenges. The program aims to hone critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork skills to prepare you for a career in STEM.
If you’re interested in engineering, you can select research opportunities accordingly!
9. SHTEM: Summer Internships for High Schoolers at Stanford University
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Eligibility: Applicants must:
- Be current high school juniors or seniors (i.e. 11th or 12th grade at the time of application) OR full-time CC students (within first three years of CC)
- Be at least 14 by June (if you are a high school junior or senior).
- Be between the ages of 17 and 21 (inclusive) by June (if you are a full-time CC student).
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in February.
Program Dates: June 17 - August 9.
This program provides high school students early exposure to science research in an academic environment while also introducing students to the diversity of research topics pursued in engineering. You will explore diverse subjects remotely, spending most of the time conducting research from where you are located (if you are working on hardware projects, materials will be sent to you) while maintaining regular communication with your mentors and group members. You will be guided by Stanford's renowned faculty and industry experts who provide valuable insights into the evolving tech landscape.
Themes cover the science of information and communication, engineering, the arts, linguistics, psychology, biology, neuroscience, computer science, technology, philosophy, and design, among other areas.
10. Project SEED by American Chemical Society
Location: Varies based on lab choice. Opportunities are available in Texas. Check here.
Cost/Stipend: No cost; $4000 is awarded to the interns.
Eligibility: Applicants must:
- Be current high school sophomores, juniors, or seniors (and recent graduates).
- Have completed one course in high school chemistry.
Preference is given to students whose maximum family income does not exceed 300% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines based on family size.
Note: Project SEED has multiple methods of documenting eligibility that you can access here!
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in April.
Program Dates: 8-10 weeks, June to August
This program offers an opportunity for students keen on working in laboratories and conducting work in the field of chemistry and chemical engineering. Project SEED is a paid summer fellowship program for high school students. Once accepted, students commute daily to a research lab—real laboratories at universities and other sites, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture lab.
In particular, Project SEED focuses on supporting over 350 students from underrepresented communities, providing both internships and summer camps to help students with university applications. As an intern, you will work on an independent project at a research lab located in the nearest Project SEED location. You get to choose the type of project you’re interested in – from a wide range of choices. Depending on your project site, you might have the chance to go on field trips and campus tours, attend career panels, and more!
11. University of Houston Mohan Lab Summer Internship
Location: Houston, Texas.
Cost/Stipend: No cost; Information about a stipend is not mentioned.
Eligibility: Rising seniors (who have completed 11th grade of high school) are eligible to apply.
Application Deadline: March 31.
Program Dates: June 3 - July 26 (8 weeks)
Exceptional rising high school seniors with a keen interest in biomedical, bioengineering, and health-oriented professions are encouraged to apply for this competitive internship at the University of Houston’s MohanLab.
The program begins with 1-2 weeks of instruction on basic laboratory techniques.
During the subsequent weeks, you will have an opportunity to engage in bench research under the guidance of a scientist or graduate student. The option to continue research beyond the initial period is available, involving manuscript writing and data analysis. The program concludes with students presenting their research findings, with the potential for contributions to research publications depending on the project.
12. Texas High School Aerospace Scholars
Location: Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX and Online Experience
Cost/Stipend: No cost; Unpaid. (Upon successful completion of the online portion of the course, students will be awarded a 0.5 Science elective credit)
Eligibility: Applicants must be high school juniors who are U.S. citizens residing in Texas.
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in October.
Dates: This is a year-long program. November-February (Online course) | Late July: 4-Day Onsite Residential Experience. For other important dates, check here
Texas High School Aerospace Scholars is a STEM learning experience for Texas high school juniors to engage with NASA’s missions. HAS is a year-long commitment that starts in the fall with a four-month online learning experience related to space exploration, Earth science, technology, and aeronautics. High-achieving students will receive an invitation to a five-day gamified virtual summer experience (Moonshot) mentored by NASA scientists and engineers.
Online activities during the school year include interactive lessons on NASA activities related to space exploration, Earth science, technology, mathematics, and aeronautics. You’ll get to participate in design challenges, including 3D drawings, science and math quizzes, discussion posts, and technology writings. You’ll chat virtually with NASA engineers and scientists. If selected for the five-day gamified summer experience, you’ll get to participate in team projects and briefings directed by NASA engineers and scientists, hands-on design challenges, and engineering activities to plan a mission to the Moon and Mars.
If you’re looking to build a project/research paper in the field of AI & ML, consider applying to Veritas AI!
Veritas AI is founded by Harvard graduate students. Through the programs, you get a chance to work 1:1 with mentors from universities like Harvard, Stanford, MIT, and more to create unique, personalized projects. In the past year, we had over 1000 students learn AI & ML with us. You can apply here!
Image Source - NASA Logo