Mechanical Design Intern

IDEX Corporation•Linthicum, MD

3d•Onsite

About The Position

US Valve is seeking a motivated, curious Engineering Intern to support the development of product application tools for our check valve product line. This role is designed for a student who wants hands-on experience applying engineering fundamentals to real-world products. The intern will contribute to a foundational project aimed at developing the data and models required to build a future valve sizing and application tool. This includes evaluating how check valves behave under different operating conditions, such as flow rates, installation orientations, and internal mechanical forces. This is a part-time, project-based internship focused on learning, exploration, and building practical engineering intuition. The intern will be expected to take ownership of defined workstreams, document findings, and present results to the Engineering team and Senior Leadership at the conclusion of the internship.

Requirements

Current college student, with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or above, who is enrolled and in good standing at a Maryland higher education institution.
Graduated (within 12 months) from a Maryland higher education institution.
Maryland resident, with a 2 or 4-year degree, who has been honorably discharged from the U.S. Armed Forces, the National Guard, or a Reserve component of the Armed Forces within the last 18 months.
Ability to manage multiple tasks and projects to meet deadlines.
High School diploma or equivalent.

Nice To Haves

SolidWorks experience preferred
Curiosity and a desire to understand how mechanical systems work
Willingness to take ownership of ambiguous problems and break them into manageable pieces
Ability to apply basic engineering principles (statics, forces, geometry, etc.) to real-world situations
Comfort asking questions, testing ideas, and refining approaches
Clear communication of technical concepts, even when solutions are not perfect

Responsibilities

Support the development of engineering models and datasets that describe check valve performance by developing simplified, first-principles models to understand effects of gravity and installation orientation on valve behavior, relationship between valve position and effective flow area, and influence of spring force on opening and closing characteristics.
Translate valve geometry into mathematical or simplified analytical models.
Create visualizations (graphs, curves, spreadsheets) to describe relationships between variables.
Document assumptions, limitations, and areas requiring further validation.
Organize findings into structured datasets to support future development of a valve sizing tool.
Create and edit modeling files, including parts, assemblies, and drawings.
Assist with prototype assembly, testing, or data collection as needed.
Support root cause investigations or product validation efforts.
Participate in team meetings, design reviews, and problem-solving discussions.
Provide general project support across Engineering initiatives.