About the role#
The Engine is looking for a Strategic Partnerships Intern to support the management and execution of partnerships within our Tough Tech ecosystem. This is a six-month, full-time, on-site position based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. You will work with corporate partners, investors, and founders to turn relationships into commercial opportunities for our community of companies. This role requires someone who is comfortable working at the intersection of science, technology, and business.
What you'll do#
- Manage ongoing engagement with corporate, investor, and ecosystem partners.
- Connect companies to commercial opportunities by facilitating introductions to prospective customers, pilot programs, and technical collaborators.
- Identify relevant investors for companies and coordinate investor introductions and programming.
- Prepare materials including company shortlists, briefing documents, presentations, and meeting updates.
- Conduct research on industries, technologies, investors, and corporate innovation priorities.
- Maintain operational records by tracking meetings, introductions, and follow-ups in our CRM.
- Coordinate partnership activations like workshops, Innovation Days, office hours, and founder programming.
- Collaborate with internal teams across programs, community, events, and leadership.
What you'll need#
- A Bachelor's degree is required. Recent graduates, graduate students, and MBA candidates are encouraged to apply.
- An academic or professional background in engineering, biology, chemistry, physics, business, or a related field.
- Ability to grasp complex technical concepts and explain their commercial relevance to nontechnical audiences.
- Strong interpersonal skills and comfort engaging with founders, investors, and corporate executives.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple projects and follow-up activities at once.
- Strong research, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
- Interest in emerging technologies, entrepreneurship, venture capital, or corporate innovation.
Preferred experience includes:
- Work in startups, venture capital, accelerators, or incubators.
- Experience in corporate innovation, strategy, or business development.
- Background in technology commercialization or university technology transfer.
- Experience in consulting, investment banking, or scientific research.
- Familiarity with Tough Tech sectors such as climate tech, biotech, robotics, or advanced materials.
- Proficiency with CRM platforms and relationship-management tools.
Location & details#
- Location: Cambridge, MA
- Modality: On-site
- Commitment: Full-time, six-month term
- Status: Paid internship
About The Engine
The Engine provides support for teams working on science and engineering projects. It offers access to specialized infrastructure such as laboratories and equipment. Based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the company was founded in 2017. It operates with a staff of 11 to 50 employees.
How to get in at The Engine
Applying early gives you a distinct advantage at The Engine because recruiters review applications before the volume becomes unmanageable. Intern Insider sends an instant alert the moment a role matching your target is published, so you can be among the first to apply. It is a simple way to stay ahead of the queue. You can also improve your response rates by reaching out to the recruiters behind these roles directly. Intern Insider surfaces the specific people managing hiring for The Engine, allowing you to ask relevant questions or request a referral. It is a more effective approach than sending your resume into a general inbox.
