Mechanical Engineering Intern

Lakeshirts • Detroit Lakes, MN

5d • $20 • Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking a motivated 3rd or 4th year student to join our team as our Mechanical Engineering Intern for an exciting summer project. This internship will be associated with a single design project that will be deployed at our Garment Dyeing Facility. This internship will provide hands-on exposure to a real-world engineering application in a fast-paced manufacturing environment. This will not be a general engineering experience, but a project-based and results-based experience. The intern will work closely with leaders and cross-functional stakeholders in the project while gaining practical experience in mechanical systems, product quality, and operational efficiency. The ideal candidate must be a fast learner, a bold self-starter, and ready to work on the shop floor. This is an on-site position based in Detroit Lakes, MN. Hybrid hours will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8a-4:30p, up to 40 hours per week Duration: Summer 2026 Join us and be a part of a company that values teamwork, innovation, and making work enjoyable every day! The starting wage range for this position is $20/hour. Project Description Our garment dyeing facility produces over 300,000 custom dyed garments each month to support our screenprinting and embroidery decorating operations. Garment dyeing generally utilizes one of two processes - Pigment or Reactive and Lakeshirts uses both methods to produce different looks. This project is centered on the Reactive Dye process which chemically bonds the dye agents to material fibers. This chemical reaction is created in a pH and temperature-controlled bath and requires salt and alkali additions to promote dye-fiber bonding. The purpose of this project is to design-to-scale a system that substitutes sodium sulfate brine for sodium chloride brine in the reactive process with an end goal of reducing chlorides released into the wastewater system. The State of Minnesota has adopted federals standards for chloride reduction in wastewater and the local municipality and treatment facility are challenged with meeting the new standard by 2033. Proof of concept testing has yielded successful results, meaning that color matching results between the two salts has proven successful with minor formula changes.

Requirements

• Currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Chemical Engineering and has completed Junior year
• Basic understanding of mechanical design, fluid transfer and control systems
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
• Basic CAD proficiency (Sketchup or other)
• Ability to work both independently and within a team

Nice To Haves

• Previous work experience in agricultural, construction or manufacturing environments.

Responsibilities

• Participate in ongoing proof of concept testing and evaluation
• Assist with test skid modifications, testing, and validation activities
• Document the current production process and flow - layout, piping diagrams, utility requirements, process variables, control points, components, etc.
• Redesign system to accommodate different material handling requirements for sodium sulfate.
• Collect and analyze performance data from equipment and processes
• Help maintain technical documentation and drawings
• Collaborate with manufacturing, quality, and maintenance teams
• Conduct/lead routine project status reviews

Benefits

• At our HQ in Detroit Lakes, enjoy hot breakfast, lunch, and snacks from our subsidized cafeteria
• Bring your furry friend to work, because we believe dogs just make everything better
• Whether it's jeans, tees, and flip flops- we believe comfort fuels creativity, and we offer an employee merchandise discount to keep you & your family well-stocked
• Because we understand the importance of work-life balance
• We make work fun; we believe in teamwork, giving back to our communities and doing what we love with great people, and always rocking a t-shirt, a hat, and some cool socks

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees