Industrial Engineer- Intern

Zekelman Industries • Rochelle, IL

112d

About The Position

As an Industrial Engineer Intern at Wheatland Tube (a division of Zekelman Industries), you will contribute to key process improvement projects that drive efficiency and profitability in a fast-paced manufacturing environment. You’ll work alongside operations, quality, and finance teams to analyze production data, perform time studies, and identify opportunities to reduce waste and optimize plant processes. You will report to the Department Manager, Maintenance and gain real-world exposure to engineering tools and strategies used to measure, test, and improve manufacturing systems. This is a full-time, on-site internship located at our Rochelle, IL facility. The official Zekelman internship program runs from May 26, 2026, through August 14, 2026. This role is perfect for someone who enjoys solving problems, analyzing data, and contributing to continuous improvement on the plant floor.

Requirements

• Pursuing a bachelor’s or master’s degree in a related engineering field (Industrial, Mechanical, Chemical, Materials Science or Systems preferred)
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Detail-oriented and highly organized with strong analytical abilities
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Collaborative team player with the ability to coordinate with multiple departments
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion
• Available to travel for the Internship Summit, hosted at a Zekelman Industries location
• Authorized to work in the United States, including those on F-1 CPT/OPT or J-1 visas

Responsibilities

• Analyze prime net yield data to identify trends and maximize production profitability
• Collaborate with production, quality, and finance teams to investigate root causes of yield loss and implement corrective actions
• Prepare and manage Excel documents to support data tracking and reporting
• Propose and develop process improvement techniques aimed at reducing waste and increasing efficiency
• Conduct time studies across different production stages to support the development of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
• Measure process outputs to determine equipment capacity and identify potential bottlenecks
• Maintain accurate daily records of observations, data, and findings
• Collect and analyze data using statistical tools to evaluate current process performance
• Assist in testing and validating process improvement experiments
• Summarize findings and present actionable recommendations to site leadership
• Promote healthy and safe work practices in compliance with Zekelman policy and regulatory standards
• Perform other duties as assigned

Benefits

• PAID internship experience with meaningful work
• Hands-on engineering experience in a high-volume manufacturing setting
• Opportunities to analyze and improve real production systems
• Access to company-wide networking events, team-building activities, and learning sessions
• Regular coaching and feedback to support personal and professional growth
• Participation in a company-wide Intern Summit
• Competitive compensation and excellent benefits, including low-cost, high-quality medical and dental benefits
• Tuition assistance program
• Bonus plan
• 401(k) plan with a generous company match and immediate vesting

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees