Rotational Engineering Program Associate - 2026

Rheem•Fort Smith, AR

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

Welcome to our 2026 US Air Division Rotational Engineering Program ! Rheem wants to ensure continuity of a pipeline of well-rounded and experienced engineers to support growth initiatives for the division and enterprise. Our program offers a rotational engineer position where participants will gain extensive company and industry insights through hands-on assignments learning product development and launch processes. Our Rotational Engineering Program is designed for recent graduates to: Familiarize themselves with the different engineering functions at Rheem. Build a comprehensive view of the development, testing, and manufacturing of products. Develop professionally while contributing to the organization. During the program, candidates will be placed in 4 different engineering department roles for 6 months each: Operations, Product/R&D Engineering, Quality Assurance, and Product/R&D Testing. Rotations will allow selected employees to experience new, challenging assignments while having the opportunity expedite knowledge of the business, develop innovative solutions to real business challenges the company is facing, and build a professional network. Rotational Engineers must successfully complete the 24-month program before final position placement. Position placement will be based upon available openings and employee preference. The program is set to begin June 2026. This position will serve our US Air Division , located in Fort Smith, Arkansas. The hired candidates must be located in Fort Smith, Arkansas and will have a combination of on-site and work from home opportunity, based on which section of the rotation they are in for that period of time.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, obtained by May 2026.
It is highly preferred that candidate has obtained Bachelor’s degree within the past two years.
3.0 GPA or higher (out of 4.0 scale)
Must have US citizenship or permanent residency with authorization to work.

Nice To Haves

Recently obtained Master’s degree in Engineering.
It is highly preferred that candidate has obtained Master’s degree within past two years.
Working experience in engineering space (i.e. internship or other) of product design/manufacturing environment
Experience with HVACR products

Responsibilities

Learn manufacturing processes in depth and how they are all related.
Learn the cause-and-effect relationship with manufacturing and other functions of the business to drive success in future positions.
Gain knowledge of the Rheem Production System (RPS), which is based upon the philosophies of the Toyota Production System.
Ability to design operator workstations that maximize efficiency.
Work one-on-one with other engineers designing new processes and improving existing processes.
Gain an intimate knowledge of HVAC&R products, principles and science.
Ability to directly apply knowledge gained during undergraduate school: basics of design, noise and vibration, fluid flow, thermodynamics, heat transfer, controls, electric circuits, and machines, etc.
Gain experience and knowledge with product development from generation through design and development, testing and final product release to production and post release product technical support.
Understand the fundamentals of being a well-rounded engineer by learning essential aspects of the Engineering function including design, drawing, documentation, experimentation, creating bill of materials, releasing drawings, ensuring manufacturability, engaging suppliers of key components and integrating purchased parts into the design, ensuring quality is built into all stages of development, ensuring all regulatory and certification agency requirements, and working with all other business functions including Sourcing, Manufacturing, Tooling, Quality Assurance, Product Management, Sales and Service.
Hands-on laboratory experience by working with experienced technicians in building prototypes in the model shop, conducting experiments, analyzing results, and integrating them into product design.
Planning, Quality Control, and Quality Improvement
Learn the 8D problem solving and validation methodology.
Co – Lead a significant Quality Improvement Project with Quality or R&D Engineer
Lead a significant Quality Improvement Project (problem or initiative)
Complete training on the Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) in Reliance and learn to review PPAPs effectively.
Develop/Improve a key process in Quality (Business Process / Operations)
Conduct comprehensive project research to aid in the development of advanced airflow testing methodologies, encompassing testing automation, CFD analysis for airflow, physical testing, and optimization testing.
Acquire an understanding of the fundamental functions of testing equipment and processes essential for the manufacture of HVAC/R equipment and system components.
Conduct experiments and analyze the results, actively contributing to the iterative development process.
Collaborate with Project engineers in integrating experimental findings into product design, enhancing product performance and quality.
Learn and assist in optimizing airflow across all products.
Understand the technical processes for collecting airflow data.
Work with Vendors to automate airflow testing systems from operations to coefficient production.