Hardware Developer Engineer Intern (Mechanical) 2027 - San Jose, CA

IBM
IBM

Software Engineering, Other Engineering · Intern

San Jose, CA, USA

Posted on Oct 17, 2026
Introduction

At IBM, work is more than a job it's a calling: To build. To design. To code. To consult. To think along with clients and sell. To make markets. To invent. To collaborate. Not just to do something better, but to attempt things you've never thought possible. Are you ready to lead in this new era of technology and solve some of the world's most challenging problems? If so, lets talk.

Your role and responsibilities

As a Mechanical Engineer at IBM, you will help design and build the hardware platforms that power the AI era, advanced computing, and the quantum revolution. You’ll work alongside a multidisciplinary team developing the mechanical systems, structures, and technologies that enable IBM’s industry leading infrastructure including IBM zSystems, IBM Power Systems, IBM Storage, and IBM Quantum.

Our Mechanical Engineers transform ideas into robust, manufacturable, high‑performance hardware. You’ll use your creativity, analytical skills, and engineering judgment to bring next‑generation products from concept through validation and into customer environments. Typical responsibilities include:

* Mechanical design and development of components, assemblies, and system‑level structures

* Thermal design, analysis, and testing, including heat transfer modeling, airflow optimization, and cooling solutions

* Structural and vibration analysis, materials selection, and reliability engineering

* Finite element modeling (FEM/FEA) for mechanical, thermal, or multiphysics simulations

* Microelectronics and system‑level packaging, including integration of processors, memory, power delivery, and high‑density interconnects

* Technology integration across electrical, thermal, mechanical, and manufacturing domains

* System and component characterization, test planning, and validation

* Manufacturability and assembly optimization, including tolerance analysis and DFMA principles

* Cross‑functional collaboration with electrical, firmware, and product engineering teams

* Field and customer engineering support, including root cause analysis of mechanical or environmental issues

* Product quality, reliability, and specification development

You will contribute to every stage of the hardware lifecycle concept development, modeling, prototype evaluation, environmental testing, reliability assessment, and product release.

Required education
Bachelor's Degree
Preferred education
Master's Degree
Required technical and professional expertise

* Pursuing a Bachelor's Degree in: Mechanical Engineering or related majors.

* Prior (project or internship) experience in computer hardware or testing.

* Strong verbal and written communication skills.

* Passion for technology and engineering.

* Growth minded, trusted, team focused, courageous, resourceful, and outcome focused.

Preferred technical and professional experience

Preferred candidates with a Master’s Degree and/or at least three months of computer or electrical engineering experience in cable assemblies, harnesses, and interconnectivity are preferred.

ABOUT BUSINESS UNIT

IBM Systems helps IT leaders think differently about their infrastructure. IBM servers and storage are no longer inanimate - they can understand, reason, and learn so our clients can innovate while avoiding IT issues. Our systems power the world’s most important industries and our clients are the architects of the future. Join us to help build our leading-edge technology portfolio designed for cognitive business and optimized for cloud computing.

YOUR LIFE @ IBM

In a world where technology never stands still, we understand that, dedication to our clients success, innovation that matters, and trust and personal responsibility in all our relationships, lives in what we do as IBMers as we strive to be the catalyst that makes the world work better.

Being an IBMer means you’ll be able to learn and develop yourself and your career, you’ll be encouraged to be courageous and experiment everyday, all whilst having continuous trust and support in an environment where everyone can thrive whatever their personal or professional background.

Our IBMers are growth minded, always staying curious, open to feedback and learning new information and skills to constantly transform themselves and our company. They are trusted to provide on-going feedback to help other IBMers grow, as well as collaborate with colleagues keeping in mind a team focused approach to include different perspectives to drive exceptional outcomes for our customers. The courage our IBMers have to make critical decisions everyday is essential to IBM becoming the catalyst for progress, always embracing challenges with resources they have to hand, a can-do attitude and always striving for an outcome focused approach within everything that they do.

Are you ready to be an IBMer?

ABOUT IBM

IBM’s greatest invention is the IBMer. We believe that through the application of intelligence, reason and science, we can improve business, society and the human condition, bringing the power of an open hybrid cloud and AI strategy to life for our clients and partners around the world.

Restlessly reinventing since 1911, we are not only one of the largest corporate organizations in the world, we’re also one of the biggest technology and consulting employers, with many of the Fortune 500 companies relying on the IBM Cloud to run their business.

At IBM, we pride ourselves on being an early adopter of artificial intelligence, quantum computing and blockchain. Now it’s time for you to join us on our journey to being a responsible technology innovator and a force for good in the world.

IBM is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, pregnancy, disability, neurodivergence, age, or other characteristics protected by the applicable law. IBM is also committed to compliance with all fair employment practices regarding citizenship and immigration status.

OTHER RELEVANT JOB DETAILS

Supplemental 1 employees may be eligible for up to 8 paid holidays, minimum of 56 hours paid sick time and the IBM Employee Stock Purchase Plan. IBM offers paid family medical leave and disability benefits to eligible employees where required by applicable law.
This position was posted on the date cited in the key job details section and is anticipated to remain posted for 15 days from this date or less if not needed to fill the role.
We consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable law.

IBM will not be providing visa sponsorship for this position now or in the future. Therefore, in order to be considered for this position, you must have the ability to work without a need for current or future visa sponsorship.

The compensation range and benefits for this position are based on a full-time schedule for a full calendar year. The salary will vary depending on your job-related skills, experience and location. Pay increment and frequency of pay will be in accordance with employment classification and applicable laws. For part time roles, your compensation and benefits will be adjusted to reflect your hours. Benefits may be pro-rated for those who start working during the calendar year.