Mechanical Engineer Intern

Lithium Americas•Winnemucca, NV

5d•Onsite

About The Position

Lithium Americas is seeking a Mechanical Engineer Intern to join their Maintenance Team at Thacker Pass. This internship offers hands-on experience with mechanical systems and equipment in an industrial processing environment. The intern will support mechanical engineering activities related to plant equipment, commissioning, maintenance, reliability, and operational readiness. They will have opportunities to work alongside engineering, operations, maintenance, and construction teams, gaining exposure to the commissioning and startup of a large-scale lithium processing facility. The role is based at the Thacker Pass production facility office and reports to the Mechanical Engineer. Occasional travel to other LAC offices, project sites, or vendor locations may be required.

Requirements

Currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related engineering discipline.
Completion of at least sophomore-level engineering coursework by the internship start date.
Basic understanding of mechanical engineering principles, including thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, heat transfer, mechanics, and mechanical systems.
Ability to read and interpret basic engineering drawings and technical documentation.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, organizational, and communication skills.
Ability and willingness to learn in both office and field environments.
Ability to work safely in an industrial plant and active construction environment.
Ability to work collaboratively with engineering, operations, maintenance, construction, and other cross-functional teams.
Personal commitment to Lithium Americas’ Purpose, Vision, and Values.

Responsibilities

Promote Lithium Nevada’s safety-first culture through compliance with OSHA and MSHA requirements and Lithium Nevada’s site-specific safety programs. Perform all assigned activities with a safety-first mindset, support employee Stop Work Authority, and identify and report potential safety hazards and observations.
Assist mechanical engineers with engineering support for plant equipment and mechanical systems, including pumps, piping, valves, tanks, heat exchangers, compressors, conveyors, and other rotating and fixed equipment.
Support equipment inspections, field walkdowns, troubleshooting, and identification of mechanical issues.
Assist with commissioning, startup, and operational readiness activities for mechanical equipment and systems.
Collect, organize, and analyze equipment and operating data to help identify performance, reliability, and maintenance opportunities.
Assist with basic engineering calculations related to fluid flow, heat transfer, equipment sizing, mechanical systems, and equipment performance.
Support the review and development of engineering drawings and technical documentation, including P&IDs, equipment specifications, datasheets, vendor drawings, and operating procedures.
Assist with equipment documentation, technical reports, and maintenance or reliability records.
Participate in Management of Change (MOC), root cause analysis, and other engineering or reliability improvement activities as appropriate.
Work with vendors, contractors, operations, maintenance, and other engineering disciplines to support equipment installation, testing, troubleshooting, and commissioning.
Observe and follow all safety, environmental, and quality policies and procedures.
Build and maintain trusted relationships across teams while supporting a culture that reflects Lithium Americas’ Purpose, Vision, and Values.
Perform other duties as assigned.