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. Interns gain experience with PLC and HMI programming, networking, troubleshooting electromechanical machinery, high-speed manufacturing, and current technology, while developing professional communication skills. The role supports Project and Process Engineers, Maintenance, and Production personnel in designing, installing, interfacing, and starting up equipment and process controls. It also involves modifying control programs, diagnosing equipment problems, supporting machine data collection and analysis, improving production performance, organizing equipment documentation, and sharing knowledge with team members.

Requirements

Currently enrolled in Electro-Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Automation Engineering, Robotics Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a 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 skills and critical-thinking ability to identify machine problems and potential causes.
Programming experience with one or more programming languages.
Ability to work well with people at any experience level across teams within First Quality.

Nice To Haves

Creativity in identifying alternative solutions and choosing among them.
Ability to initiate standards and practices that improve the effectiveness of machine controls and the controls group.

Responsibilities

Observe OSHA and company safety rules, use proper safety equipment, 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 equipment and process controls.
Assist with electrical component selection and design, software assessments and modifications, and identification and resolution of problems.
Assess, identify, schematically design, and modify DCS, PLC, HMI, and servo-controller programs to improve equipment and system performance.
Perform quality checks to ensure correct software development.
Diagnose problems using computers interfaced with PLCs, HMIs, and servo systems, along with electrical schematics, meters, oscilloscopes, and other available resources.
Coordinate machine data collection and archiving and assist in analyzing the data.
Interface production and laboratory equipment with 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, company-produced documents, and troubleshooting guides.
Share knowledge and techniques with team members and assist with training new personnel.
Communicate with process engineers, product design, maintenance, production staff, Information Technology, and Controls Technicians about equipment, machine operation, problems, networks, and new equipment information.
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.
Devises and performs tests to identify root causes of problems and determine actions to prevent future downtime.