Engineering Management Internships Offer Valuable Hands On Experience and Contacts
A recent enhancement to the Engineering Management graduate degree at The University of Texas Cockrell School of Engineering is the option for fast track students to replace a projects class with an approved internship. These internships, that the students identify, not only expand their portfolio of skills and experience, but also their network of contacts.
Several students’ experiences from their Summer internships are shared below.
Internships and projects are built into the UT Engineering Management fast-track program curriculum, as a dynamic way to apply classroom learning in real-world leadership roles. Even better, these experiences qualify for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) authorization, giving international students a valuable pathway to gain U.S. industry exposure.
Project A, Project B, and the Internship Explained
All Engineering Management students complete two of the following applied learning courses.
Project A: Independent study exploring a specific engineering management topic, often tied to a real-world environment.
Project B: Practicum applying the coursework to solve an engineering management problem.
The Internship: A one-semester role within a company as an intern working in a derivative of engineering management. This is completed over the summer semester.
For many international students, the recommended combination is Project A and an internship, ensuring both academic depth and industry readiness. Finding internships is the responsibility of the student. If it is not possible to secure an internship, students can take Project A and Project B, allowing them to deepen their academic and professional expertise through research and projects.
Below are some of our current students who have completed internships over the summer semester. They showcase a diverse range of companies and roles, with the common ground that they are using the skills from the Engineering Management degree.
Hemanth Vedicharla: Commercial Strategy at REGENXBIO Inc.
"This internship was a truly rewarding experience, where I worked on projects at the intersection of healthcare, strategy, and data."
At REGENXBIO Inc., Hemanth tackled projects in hospital access analysis, payer trends, pricing strategies for gene therapies, and market opportunity assessments. He also presented his findings to C-level executives, gaining firsthand insight into high-level strategic decision-making in the biotech industry. Networking with peers from MIT, Duke, Johns Hopkins, and UPenn made for a rich academic experience.
Kaustubhi Mishra: Supply Chain Leadership at Mattel Inc.
"The company’s supportive culture enabled me to apply my Engineering Management learning effectively."
As a Global Process Improvement Intern, Kaustubhi led projects that impacted Mattel’s entire distribution center network. Courses in Project Management and Operations Management gave her the tools to manage cross-functional teams in a global supply chain environment.
Anjali Choudhary: Technical Product Management at FlairX
"This fast-paced, impact-driven environment sharpened both my technical and strategic skills."
At FlairX, an AI-powered interview intelligence startup, Anjali served as a Technical Product Manager Intern. She designed data-driven dashboards, automated workflows, and built AI-integrated interview templates for global organizations. Her internship demonstrates how Engineering Management students excel in tech startup ecosystems, where engineering and business strategy intersect.
Soumi Bose: Customer Education and Adoption at CDK Global
"I especially resonated with CDK’s ‘Own It’ value, which empowered me with true autonomy over my project."
Soumi led a Customer Education and Adoption initiative for CDK’s CRM product, transitioning from a hybrid cloud background into the automotive tech industry. By applying MEM coursework in people and project management, she successfully guided cross-functional collaboration to improve user adoption strategies.
Harshini Mangaleshkar: Fintech Innovation at American Express
"Amex’s strong culture of collaboration and ownership empowered me to lead cross-functional alignment across product, compliance, and engineering teams."
At American Express, Harshini worked as a Product Manager Intern, modernizing raw data reconciliation systems. She built an API strategy, automated workflows, and optimized reconciliation processes across the Global Merchant & Network Services division. Her internship highlighted how marketing, negotiation, and leadership skills from the Engineering Management degree translate directly into fintech innovation.
Whether through internships with large companies and innovative startups or independent and applied projects that challenge you to solve real engineering management problems, the Engineering Management degree prepares graduates to lead in industries worldwide.
By blending technical knowledge, business strategy, and leadership development, our students graduate with both the confidence and the skills to thrive in global management careers.
