Last updated: September 2026
Lear Corporation is the largest U.S.-based automotive supplier, generating $23.3 billion in revenue in FY2025 and operating 250+ locations across 35+ countries. Named one of Fortune's World's Most Admired Companies in 2024 and 2026, Lear won 2025 GM Supplier of the Year awards for both Seating and E-Systems and a 2026 Ford Supplier of the Year award for Sustainability. With approximately 164,300 employees and two core business segments, Seating and E-Systems (electrical distribution, connectors, EV components), Lear offers summer internships across engineering, finance, supply chain, IT, and HR at corporate headquarters in Southfield, Michigan, and manufacturing plants nationwide.
Quick Facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Where to apply | jobs.lear.com and lear.com/careers |
| Application window (2027–28) | Expected August-September 2027 (prior cycle close: October 6, 2026); reviewed in late fall |
| Rolling? | Partially. Applications collected through a window then batch-reviewed in late fall. Co-op positions are individually rolling. |
| Eligibility | Currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree from an accredited university; must be authorized to work in the US without sponsorship |
| Duration | Estimated 10-12 weeks (May/June through August); co-ops follow Kettering University alternating terms |
| Compensation | $19-$33/hr (Glassdoor, 37 salaries); median $25/hr; engineering at HQ typically $20-$24/hr |
| Locations | Southfield MI (HQ, primary); 20+ US plants across MI, IN, TX, AL, SC, OH, MO |
| # Programs | 8+ tracks: Engineering, Finance, Program Management, Operations, Supply Chain, HR, Quality, IT |
Key numbers: applications open around August-September with a documented October close date, batch review in late fall, and a $19-$33/hr pay range (median $25/hr). Campus recruiting accounts for 50% of intern hires. Apply before October and attend Lear's career fair booth for the best odds.
Externships are short, remote professional experience programs where you finish a real project with a real company. The Yinan Zhao Investing & Financial Modeling Externship and the Hydroficient IoT Cyber Defense Externship build exactly the financial analysis and electrical systems skills a Lear application needs. Explore all Externships.
What Is a Lear Corporation Internship?
A Lear Corporation internship is a paid summer placement at the world's largest U.S.-based automotive supplier, working on real projects across Seating (complete seat systems, structures, foam, leather covers via Eagle Ottawa) and E-Systems (terminals, connectors, junction boxes, high-power EV components). Lear's Summer Internship Program places students across engineering, finance, program management, operations, supply chain, HR, quality, and IT functions at both corporate headquarters in Southfield, Michigan, and manufacturing plants nationwide. The company also partners with Kettering University for a structured co-op program with alternating academic and work terms. Glassdoor rates the intern experience 4.5 out of 5 with 83% positive interview experiences. Indeed intern reviews describe the culture as "productive and relaxed" with engineers who are "very knowledgeable and willing to teach."
When Do Lear Corporation Internship Applications Open for 2027–2028?
Lear's Summer Internship Program follows a structured fall recruiting cycle. The company posts a centralized "Lear Summer Intern" requisition on jobs.lear.com each year, with a documented application close date around early October. Applications are then reviewed in late fall as a batch, and interview invitations follow after the review is complete. Campus recruiting is a major channel: 50% of Glassdoor-reported intern interviewees got in through campus fairs. Lear recruits at NSBE conferences and university career fairs, so attending these events significantly boosts your chances. For summer 2028, expect postings to appear around August-September 2027.
Lear's Summer 2027 internship requisition (Req 48157) was posted with an October 6, 2026 close date. If you have not applied yet, do so immediately at jobs.lear.com. For summer 2028, begin monitoring the careers page in August 2027.
Application window closes. The documented close date for summer 2027 was October 6, 2026. For summer 2028, expect a similar October deadline. Apply well before the close date. Due to high application volume, only selected candidates hear back.
Applications reviewed in late fall as a batch. The JD states candidates selected to move forward will be contacted after the review process is complete. Glassdoor reports an average of 17 days from application to hire for intern roles.
Interviews. Expect a friendly, structured process rated 2.2 out of 5 difficulty (Easy) on Glassdoor. Common formats include phone screens, group panels, and one-on-one meetings with hiring managers. Technical roles may include automotive domain questions.
Estimated 10 to 12 weeks, May/June through August, across engineering, finance, supply chain, IT, HR, quality, and operations. Placement at corporate HQ in Southfield, Michigan, or at manufacturing plants across the US.
How to read this page: our dates come from tracking previous recruiting cycles and daily posting data. Treat them as informed estimates based on historical patterns, not confirmed dates. The company's official careers page is always the most current source. If a role is posted there, go by that, even if this page suggests the window hasn't opened yet.
Why You Must Apply the Week Applications Open
Lear's structured batch-review process means your application sits in a pool until late fall, but the pool closes in October. Candidates who apply in August or September get their materials in before the volume peaks. Campus recruiting accounts for 50% of intern hires on Glassdoor, making career fair attendance nearly as important as the online application. The interview process is rated Easy (2.2 out of 5) with 83% positive experiences, meaning strong preparation puts you in excellent position. Lear employs 164,000 people across 250+ locations, but the summer intern class is not large, so each seat matters. The company's two business segments, Seating and E-Systems, cover fundamentally different skill sets. A candidate who can articulate why they want Seating (comfort engineering, materials science, foam and leather design) versus E-Systems (connectors, wiring harnesses, EV high-power components) signals depth that generic automotive applicants lack.
Which Lear Corporation Internship Programs Should You Target?
Lear structures early talent into two main pathways: Summer Internships (the primary pipeline) and Co-ops through the Kettering University partnership.
| Track | Focus | Duration | Key details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engineering Intern | Seating and E-Systems design, manufacturing engineering, product and quality engineering | 10-12 weeks | CAD (CATIA, NX, SolidWorks), GD&T, DFMEA/PFMEA; plant and corporate locations |
| Finance Intern | Financial analysis, reporting, budgeting, cost analysis for global operations | 10-12 weeks | Excel proficiency essential; Southfield HQ |
| Program Management Intern | Supporting launches, timelines, cross-functional coordination across engineering, manufacturing, and purchasing | 10-12 weeks | Project management, APQP/PPAP exposure |
| Supply Chain / Operations Intern | Logistics, procurement, production planning, lean manufacturing, process improvement | 10-12 weeks | Plant locations across US; Six Sigma exposure |
| Information Technology Intern | IT systems, data analysis, software development, cybersecurity | 10-12 weeks | E-Systems involves significant embedded software and electronics |
| Human Resources Intern | Talent management, HR operations, partnering with plant leadership | 10-12 weeks | Confirmed active posting: HR Intern - USC (Southfield) |
Lear also posts function-specific roles (e.g., HR Intern, Quality Intern) alongside the umbrella Summer Intern requisition. Apply to all relevant openings to maximize your chances.
What Are the Eligibility Requirements?
From the Lear Summer Intern JD (Req 48157) and Co-op Student JD:
• Enrollment: currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
• GPA: no published minimum GPA. Unlike many Fortune 500 internships, Lear does not state a GPA cutoff in reviewed job descriptions.
• Work authorization: candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship. International students requiring H-1B, OPT extension, TN, or other sponsorship are not eligible.
• Majors: track-specific. Engineering tracks seek ME, EE, CS, and related fields. Finance, supply chain, HR, and business majors are eligible for their respective tracks.
Does Lear Have a Hard GPA Cutoff?
No published minimum GPA was found in any reviewed Lear intern job description. This suggests Lear weights practical skills, campus involvement, and interview performance more heavily than transcript numbers. An Indeed intern reviewer's advice: "I really recommend the work if you are good at Excel." For engineering tracks, demonstrated CAD proficiency, manufacturing process knowledge, and relevant project work carry significant weight. The absence of a GPA cutoff makes Lear more accessible than many Tier 1 automotive supplier internships.
What Skills Does Lear Corporation Look For, and How Do You Build Them?
Lear sits at the intersection of automotive manufacturing and electrical systems engineering, and its intern hiring reflects that dual identity. Across the three reviewed job descriptions (Summer Intern umbrella, Co-op Student, HR Intern), Microsoft Office proficiency with Excel emphasis, data analysis, and communication skills appear universally. Engineering tracks demand CAD, GD&T, and materials knowledge, while the E-Systems division involves wiring harness design, connector engineering, and EV component development. The key takeaway: Excel is king for non-engineering tracks, and automotive domain knowledge separates strong candidates from generic applicants.
What Lear Corporation looks for in interns
Skills across 3 Lear Corporation intern & analyst job descriptions · 3 Lear Corporation intern/co-op JDs (Summer Intern, Co-op Student, HR Intern), projecting 2027-2028
Method: analysis of 3 Lear Corporation intern/co-op JDs from the 2026-2027 cycle. Small JD sample; engineering-specific skills (CAD, GD&T, DFMEA) are implied from Lear's business but not explicitly listed in the umbrella JD.
How Is Demand for Automotive Supplier Interns Moving Right Now?
Automotive supplier intern hiring right now: September 2026
Across US automotive supplier intern postings tracked this month · aggregate market data, all employers
September 2026 shows a Detroit-area automotive supplier market investing in electrification and software. Lear's dual Seating + E-Systems structure positions its interns at both the traditional and emerging ends of the industry.
Method: aggregate analysis of US automotive supplier intern postings, September 2026 baseline.
Build These Skills Before You Apply
And every skill in the chart maps to a remote Externship where you finish a real company project before the October deadline.
| Skill (from real JDs) | JD evidence | Externship that builds it |
|---|---|---|
| Financial analysis & cost modeling | Finance track: budgeting, cost analysis, financial reporting for global operations | Yinan Zhao Investing & Financial Modeling |
| Data analytics & process improvement | Supply Chain / Operations: logistics optimization, lean manufacturing, production planning | Breaking Games E-Commerce Data Analysis |
| Cybersecurity & IoT systems | E-Systems: embedded electronics, connectors, EV high-power components with increasing cybersecurity requirements | Hydroficient IoT Cyber Defense |
How close is the overlap? The Yinan Zhao deliverable covers financial modeling in Lear's Finance track vocabulary, the Breaking Games work trains data analysis and pattern recognition every supply chain role demands, and the Hydroficient project builds cybersecurity skills relevant to Lear's expanding E-Systems electronics portfolio.
What Is the Lear Corporation Application and Interview Process Like?
Lear's interview process is rated Easy (2.2/5 difficulty) on Glassdoor with 83% positive experiences. Campus recruiting is a major channel:
1. Monitor postings starting August 2027. Check jobs.lear.com and filter by "Intern" or "Student." The Summer 2027 req was posted mid-2026 with an October 6 close date.
2. Attend campus career fairs. 50% of Glassdoor-reported intern interviewees got in via campus recruiting. Lear recruits at NSBE conferences and university career fairs. Check Handshake for Lear postings at your school.
3. Apply before the October deadline. Submit your resume through Lear's Workday-based ATS. Apply to both the umbrella Summer Intern req AND any function-specific postings (e.g., HR Intern).
4. Wait for batch review. Applications are reviewed in late fall. Due to high volume, only selected candidates are contacted. Average app-to-hire is about 17 days once selected.
5. Interview (one to three rounds). Phone/HR screen covering motivation and fit, followed by technical or functional interviews. Group panels (25%), one-on-one (25%), and phone interviews (25%) are common formats. For engineering roles, expect automotive domain questions (materials, manufacturing processes). For all tracks, prepare STAR-format behavioral examples.
6. Receive your offer. The atmosphere is described as friendly and professional. Results typically communicated within one to four weeks after the interview.
For technical roles, review automotive manufacturing processes, materials science basics, and Tier 1 supplier terminology (OEM, APQP, PPAP). For non-engineering tracks, demonstrate advanced Excel skills. Our HireVue question guide with a free AI mock tool covers the behavioral-question format.
What Students on Reddit Say
Lear appears across engineering and automotive career threads. Community feedback highlights a friendly interview process, real responsibility for interns, and the importance of understanding the Tier 1 supplier ecosystem.
A candidate preparing for a Lear interview for an automotive seating role sought prep advice on Reddit, and the community confirmed Lear makes automotive seating and suggested reviewing manufacturing processes. The thread highlights that interviewers expect basic familiarity with automotive supplier operations.
Multiple engineering career threads list Lear Corporation alongside Magna and Brose as major Tier 1 suppliers that make parts for OEMs. Commenters recommend applying to supplier companies for automotive engineering careers, noting these firms offer more hands-on engineering exposure than OEMs.
An NSBE50 conference thread lists Lear Corporation as actively recruiting interns alongside Lockheed Martin, Medtronic, and other major employers. This confirms Lear's presence at diversity-focused recruiting events and that campus career fairs are a primary channel for intern hiring.
How Do You Stand Out at a 100-Year-Old Automotive Supplier?
Three moves, all executable before October. First, understand both Seating AND E-Systems. Lear has two business segments, and a candidate who focuses only on one misses the full picture. Explain how complete seat systems (structures, foam, covers, mechanisms) and electrical distribution systems (connectors, terminals, junction boxes, EV components) fit together in a vehicle. Mention specific Lear products like ConfigurE+ or FlexAir seating and the company's tagline "Making Every Drive Better." Second, leverage campus recruiting. 50% of intern hires come through campus channels on Glassdoor. Lear recruits at NSBE conferences and university career fairs. Attend the booth, make a direct impression, and follow up. Third, lead with Excel for non-engineering tracks. An Indeed intern reviewer states: "I really recommend the work if you are good at Excel." For finance, supply chain, and HR tracks, demonstrate pivot tables, VLOOKUP, and data visualization skills. For engineering, brush up on CAD, GD&T, and automotive manufacturing terminology (OEM, Tier 1, APQP, PPAP).
What Other Companies Should You Consider?
Lear's peer set spans Detroit-area Tier 1 automotive suppliers, all competing for the same engineering and business intern talent.
- Aptivglobal automotive tech supplier; advanced safety/ADAS, electrical distribution; directly competes with Lear E-Systems; median intern pay $29/hr (Glassdoor)Guide →
- BorgWarnerautomotive technology focused on propulsion (turbochargers, eDrive, thermal); overlaps in electrification/EV components; Auburn Hills, MIGuide →
- Magna Internationallargest auto-parts manufacturer in North America (~$42.8B revenue); Magna Seating directly competes with Lear SeatingCareers site
- Adientworld's largest automotive seating supplier by volume; Lear's most direct competitor in seating; spun off from Johnson Controls in 2016Careers site
Our engineering internships summer 2027 guide maps the full landscape of automotive and manufacturing opportunities, timeline by timeline.
FAQ
Does Lear Corporation offer internships in the US?
Yes. Lear runs a structured Summer Internship Program across multiple US locations including corporate headquarters in Southfield, Michigan, and manufacturing plants nationwide. Internships are available in engineering, finance, program management, operations, supply chain, human resources, quality, and information technology.
When should I apply for a Summer 2028 Lear internship?
Monitor jobs.lear.com starting in August 2027. The prior cycle posted around mid-2026 with an October deadline. Applications are reviewed in late fall as a batch, and only selected candidates are contacted. Apply as early as possible within the window to ensure your resume is reviewed.
How much do Lear interns get paid?
Lear does not publish official intern pay rates. Community data from Glassdoor with 37 salaries shows a median of $25 per hour with a range of $19 to $33 per hour. Engineering interns at corporate headquarters in Southfield typically report $20 to $24 per hour. Benefits include health insurance starting on day one.
Does Lear sponsor visas for interns?
No. Both the Summer Intern and Co-op Student job descriptions state candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship. This means international students requiring H-1B, OPT extension, or other employer-sponsored visas are not eligible for Lear internships.
What is the Lear intern interview process like?
The interview process is rated Easy at 2.2 out of 5 on Glassdoor with 83% of candidates reporting a positive experience. Common formats include group panel interviews, one-on-one meetings, and phone screens. Technical roles may include automotive and coding questions. Average time from application to hire is about 17 days.
What majors does Lear look for in interns?
For engineering tracks, Lear seeks mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, IT, and related majors. The umbrella Summer Intern req accepts any Bachelor's student from an accredited university. Finance, supply chain, HR, and business majors are eligible for their respective function-specific tracks.
Where are Lear internships located?
Most corporate internships are based at Lear headquarters in Southfield, Michigan near Detroit. Plant-based internships are available across Michigan, Indiana, Texas, Alabama, South Carolina, Ohio, and Missouri. The JD states placement at various Lear locations, plant and corporate.
Do Lear internships lead to full-time offers?
Lear positions its internship program as a pipeline for professional development and industry exposure but does not publish an official conversion rate. Co-op students who complete multiple rotations through the Kettering partnership have a natural pathway to full-time engineering roles upon graduation.
Lear's Summer Internship Program puts you inside the largest U.S. automotive supplier with 100+ years of heritage. Spend the runway building proof: a remote Externship turns interest in automotive engineering or finance into a finished project a fall application can point at.
About the Author
Bifei Wang has spent 17 years focused on human flow and the growth of young professionals, spanning international education, career training and coaching, and recruitment process outsourcing. Over 7 years at Extern, he has had one-on-one sessions with thousands of students exploring careers in consulting, finance, tech, marketing, and data, giving him a firsthand view of how the job market has shifted for early-career professionals and what it actually takes to break in.
