Mechanical Engineering Intern

Continental • Auburn, IN

2h • Onsite

About The Position

The Mechanical Engineering Intern will support engineering, maintenance, and production teams in a hands‑on manufacturing environment focused on rubber compounding and finishing operations. This role offers exposure to industrial equipment, process improvement initiatives, reliability engineering, and safety‑focused problem‑solving within a fast‑paced plant setting.

Requirements

• Must be currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or related field.
• Basic understanding of mechanical systems, fluid power, materials, and machine design.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills with attention to detail.
• Familiarity with CAD software (SolidWorks, AutoCAD, or similar).
• Ability to work both independently and within a team in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong communication skills and willingness to engage with operators and technicians on the plant floor.
• This role requires onsite presence in the Auburn, Indiana plant 100% of the time. Relocation will not be offered for this position.

Nice To Haves

• Exposure to manufacturing or industrial environments through prior internships.
• Knowledge of lean manufacturing, 5S, TPM, or other process improvement methodologies.
• Experience with data analysis tools (Excel, Minitab, Power BI).
• Understanding of rubber processing equipment or polymer-related coursework is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Assist engineers with troubleshooting and optimizing mechanical systems, including mixers, extruders, presses, mills, conveyors, and auxiliary equipment.
• Support continuous improvement efforts such as reducing downtime, increasing throughput, and improving equipment reliability.
• Conduct time studies, data collection, and basic mechanical analysis to support process optimization.
• Participate in preventive and predictive maintenance activities, including documentation updates and equipment condition assessments.
• Help develop or revise work instructions, equipment specifications, and engineering documentation (drawings, schematics, BOMs).
• Support root‑cause investigations of equipment failures or process issues using structured problem‑solving tools.
• Collaborate with production, quality, maintenance, and safety teams on cross‑functional projects.
• Assist with installation, testing, and validation of new equipment or process modifications.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Intern