Summer 2027 Intern - Hardcoats Application Development

Momentive•Waterford, MI

6d•Onsite

About The Position

As a Hardcoats Application Development Intern at Momentive's Waterford, NY site, you will support the development and optimization of advanced hard coating technologies used in automotive and industrial applications. Working closely with R&D, quality, and manufacturing teams, you will conduct laboratory experiments, perform coating and materials testing, analyze performance data, and contribute to process improvement initiatives. You will gain hands-on experience with application technologies, materials characterization, and product development while helping drive innovative solutions for customers. Students pursuing degrees in Materials Science, Chemistry, Polymer Engineering, or related fields, particularly those with coursework in coatings, materials characterization, statistical analysis, or continuous improvement, will be well-positioned to excel in this role.

Requirements

Currently pursuing a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD in Materials Science, Chemistry, Polymer Engineering, or related field.
Comfortable working in a wet lab environment and with coating test methods
Teamwork and communication skills.
Strong analytical skills and attention to detail.
Familiarity with statistical data analysis and data management platforms (e.g., Excel, SharePoint).
The candidate must be actively enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program at the time of application and for at least one semester following the conclusion of the internship.
The candidate is expected to be available 40 hours a week for a period of 10-12 weeks between the months of May and August.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience in coating processes, polymer characterization, or data analysis is preferred and would be a strong asset.

Responsibilities

Operate and optimize the Ultrasonic Spray Application Machine to apply Hardcoats materials on different substrates; Set-up recipes for different materials in our portfolio.
Create/Update the SOP.
Support the Weatherometer Data Analysis & automatization process
White-belt (Process mapping and waste identification; continuous improvement; and Awareness of efficiency, quality, and variability reduction).
Conduct wet chemistry experiments (e.g., Flow Coating, Spray Coating and Dip Coating) and physical property testing (e.g., hardness, abrasion resistance and coating thickness)
Document and standardize experimental data for internal databases
Collaborate with cross-functional teams in R&D, quality, and manufacturing
Maintain a clean and organized lab environment, ensuring compliance with safety protocols and equipment calibration schedules
Contribute to technical reports and presentations summarizing findings and recommendations for process improvements