Controls Engineering Intern

First Quality•McElhattan, PA

About The Position

This internship helps specify, design, and implement complex controls systems and software programming for production equipment and associated machinery. The intern will develop skills in PLC logic and HMI programming, networking, troubleshooting electromechanical machinery, professional communication, and high-speed manufacturing, while gaining exposure to advanced technology. The role supports Project and Process Engineers and Maintenance and Production personnel in designing, installing, interfacing, and starting up equipment and process controls. Work includes selecting electrical components, preparing electrical designs, assessing and modifying software, resolving problems, and making complex program changes to DCS, PLC, HMI, and servo-controller systems. The intern will also support equipment performance improvements, machine data collection and analysis, plant-network integration, data historian maintenance, equipment documentation, and knowledge sharing and training. The work environment may involve exposure to dust and marked changes in temperature or humidity. The position involves occasional bending, kneeling, squatting, crawling, climbing, reaching, and lifting, as well as frequent lifting or carrying of 30 pounds and occasional lifting or carrying of up to 100 pounds, potentially with a second person. It also requires constant hand use and grasping and ongoing housekeeping to organize the work area. First Quality provides at least annual data privacy and security training to employees whose role may bring them into contact with sensitive data. First Quality is an Equal Opportunity employer.

Requirements

Currently enrolled in an Electro-Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Automation Engineering, Robotics Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or related degree program.
Personal computer skills, including controls programming software and basic email, word processing, spreadsheet, and project management applications.
Strong communication skills.
Strong analytical and critical-thinking skills, including the ability to identify machine problems and potential causes and devise and perform tests to find root causes.
Programming experience with one or more programming languages.
Ability to work well with others at any experience level across teams.

Nice To Haves

Creativity in identifying alternative solutions and selecting among them.
Experience or skills in PLC logic and HMI display programming, networking, and troubleshooting electromechanical machinery.

Responsibilities

Observe OSHA and company safety rules and use proper safety equipment at all times.
Identify potentially dangerous electrical hazards and take immediate corrective action.
Support Project and Process Engineers and Maintenance and Production personnel in designing, installing, interfacing, and starting up new equipment and process controls.
Support electrical component selection, electrical designs, software assessments and modifications, and problem identification and resolution.
Assess, identify, schematically design, and make complex program modifications in DCS, PLC logic, HMI programs, and servo-controller logic to improve equipment and system performance.
Perform quality checks to ensure correct software development.
Diagnose problems using laptop computers interfaced to PLCs, HMIs, and servo systems, along with electrical schematics, meters, oscilloscopes, and other available resources.
Coordinate machine data collection and archiving and assist with data analysis.
Interface production and lab equipment to the plant network and maintain and improve the data historian system.
Identify opportunities to improve production performance and initiate and oversee projects to achieve improvements.
Organize OEM equipment documentation, internally produced documents, and troubleshooting guides.
Share knowledge and techniques with team members and assist with training new personnel.
Communicate with process engineers, the product design group, maintenance staff, production staff, Information Technology, and Controls Technicians to support machine operation, network integration, and equipment communication.
Analyze equipment and program testing data, event logs, operator and coworker feedback, and historian data to identify trends, anomalies, inefficiencies, and potential causes of downtime.
Devise and perform tests to identify root causes of problems and determine actions to prevent future downtime.
Identify alternative solutions and initiate standards and practices that improve the effectiveness of machine controls and the controls group.