Engineering Intern, Finishing Process Improvement

James Hardie•Pulaski, VA

9d•$20 - $25•Onsite

About The Position

As a James Hardie intern, you will gain hands-on experience in your chosen field while contributing to meaningful projects that drive business results. Our 12-week paid internship program is designed to provide real-world industry exposure, strengthen your professional and technical skills, and help prepare you for a successful career. Throughout the program, you will collaborate with experienced professionals, build valuable relationships across the organization, and take on work that makes a measurable impact. You will also have access to mentoring opportunities and professional development resources to support your growth and career aspirations. Internship Objective Build practical skills in data analysis, Lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, and standard work while contributing to manufacturing performance. The intern will learn the Finishing and Heritage lines end to end, gather and analyze operational data, conduct time studies, identify waste, and develop or update standard operating procedures and work instructions. By the end of the internship, the intern will: Learn the Finishing and Heritage lines end to end and build productive relationships with operators. Support departmental performance through accurate data gathering, analysis, time studies, and waste-elimination activities. Draft two to three new standard operating procedures or work instructions and update four to five existing documents

Requirements

Currently enrolled in a bachelor's degree program in a relevant discipline at an accredited university, with an anticipated graduation between December 2027 and May 2029 (rising senior or rising junior).
Strong academic performance with a minimum GPA of 3.0.
Available to work full-time for 12 weeks during summer 2027.
Reliable transportation to and from the work location.
Authorization to work in the United States.

Nice To Haves

Pursuing a degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Operations, or a related field.
Strong safety mindset.
Data-analysis skills and attention to detail.
Foundational knowledge of Lean manufacturing methods such as 5S and kaizen and problem-solving frameworks such as 5 Whys, root-cause analysis, and fishbone diagrams.
Effective communication skills and ability to adapt in a fast-paced, changing industrial environment.

Responsibilities

Learn the Finishing and Heritage lines from end to end.
Shadow operators to understand the work, build trust, and incorporate the voice of the operator.
Comply with all safety policies and demonstrate a strong safety mindset.
Support the Finishing and Heritage Continuous Improvement Engineer in assigned activities.
Gather and analyze data, conduct time studies, and identify waste-elimination opportunities.
Apply foundational Lean and problem-solving methods to improvement work.
Draft two to three standard operating procedures or work instructions.
Update four to five existing standard operating procedures or work instructions.
Communicate effectively with audiences ranging from line operators to plant leadership.