IAE Mechanical Engineering Internship - Fall 2026

University of South Florida; Tampa (FL); Hybrid; USD 24,796 - 27,552; Part time

Job summary

The University of South Florida offers a Mechanical Engineering Internship for Fall 2026, providing students a chance to work with the SOFWERX team on various projects. Interns will assist in mechanical design, fabrication, and testing, enhancing their resumes with valuable experience.

This position requires U.S. citizenship, enrollment in a Bachelor's program in Mechanical Engineering, and a minimum GPA of 3.0. The salary is $18.50 per hour with opportunities for professional growth and a recommendation letter upon completion.

Qualifications

• U.S. citizenship required due to DoD funding.
• Currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree at a local university.
• Junior or Senior level with GPA of 3.0 or above.
• Comfortable with general shop tools.
• Strong communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Assist the SOFWERX team in mechanical design.
• Support fabrication, assembly, and testing.
• Conduct technical research and market analysis.
• Document findings and recommendations.

Skills

General shop tools operation

3D printing

3D modeling with SolidWorks

Technical communication

Organizational skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Job description

Mechanical Engineering Internship – Fall 2026

SOFWERX is a venue operated under an agreement between the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) and DefenseWERX, designed to increase collaboration and innovation to solve difficult warfighter problems. The internship is administered by the USF Institute of Applied Engineering. Upon hire, you will be considered both a USF IAE Temporary Employee and a SOFWERX student intern.

Time Commitment

• Hours of operation: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday.
• Fall/Spring semesters: 15–20 hours per week.
• Summer semester: 20–29 hours per week.
• In-person internship with limited remote work opportunities.

Opportunities

• Engage in employee events, such as team building.
• Build resume and explore career options.
• Apply skills and knowledge to the workplace.
• Upon completion, a recommendation letter can be provided upon request.
• Potential follow‑on internship based on performance.

Pay Rate

$18.50 per hour.

Responsibilities

• Assist the SOFWERX team in mechanical design of various projects and collaborate with a multidisciplinary engineering team.
• Support fabrication, assembly, and testing of mechanical systems and components.
• Participate in engineering evaluations, testing, and data collection.
• Integrate prototypes in collaboration with electrical and software engineering teams.
• Conduct technical research and market analysis on emerging technologies and engineering solutions.
• Document engineering findings, test results, and recommendations.

Qualifications

• U.S. citizenship required (due to DoD funding and potential access to Controlled Unclassified Information).
• Currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering at a local accredited university.
• Junior or Senior level, current GPA of 3.0 or above.
• Comfortable operating general shop tools.
• Experience with 3D printing and 3D modeling using SolidWorks.
• Strong technical, organizational, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work in a dynamic, fast‑paced, rapidly changing environment.
• Participate in weekly market research and submit required entries on new capabilities, technologies, and organizations.

Compliance and Federal Notices

• This position may be subject to a Level 1 or Level 2 criminal background check.
• Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of South Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law. The University maintains affirmative‑action programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws. This job description does not constitute an employment contract.