Summer Research Program Intern 2027, Fabrication Engineering - Digital Architecture (Group 07-72)

MIT Lincoln Laboratory • Lexington, MA

2d • $44

About The Position

The Fabrication Engineering Group seeks a motivated summer intern to support initiatives involving digital architecture, manufacturing data integration, and engineering dashboard development. The intern will work with engineers, technicians, and project stakeholders to improve the accessibility, visualization, and usability of fabrication-related data. The role is suited to students interested in digital engineering, data systems, manufacturing informatics, software development, user-centered dashboard design, or industrial engineering. The intern will gain exposure to fabrication operations, engineering workflows, data governance, and secure development practices in a research and development environment.

Depending on project assignment and internship duration, deliverables may include a documented assessment of a fabrication-related reporting or data workflow; a prototype or enhanced dashboard using approved organizational tools; defined metrics, data sources, assumptions, and refresh procedures; documented data-cleaning, transformation, or reporting scripts; and a technical summary, user guide, or final presentation with findings and recommended next steps.

The position may involve work in office, laboratory, fabrication, or controlled-access environments. The intern must follow organizational requirements for protecting sensitive, proprietary, controlled, or personally identifiable information; using approved systems, software, storage, and communication channels; role-based access and least privilege; cybersecurity, acceptable use, records management, and configuration control; and facility safety. The selected candidate is subject to a pre-employment background investigation, must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret-level DoD security clearance, and must be a U.S. citizen.

The Summer Research Program provides hands-on research, mentorship, and professional development through workshops, tech talks, and networking events. Internships are typically 10–12 weeks, with flexible start and end dates, typically May through early August. Housing support is available for eligible non-local interns, including access to discounted university housing in Boston and a one-time taxable relocation payment. Complimentary daily shuttle transportation is provided from Boston-based housing to and from the Lab.

Hourly compensation depends on the highest academic year or degree completed before the internship begins, ranging from $25.00 per hour for completion of freshman year to $43.50 per hour for an MS plus three years of graduate study. U.S. citizenship is required.

Requirements

• Currently enrolled in an accredited undergraduate or graduate program in engineering, computer science, data science, information systems, industrial engineering, manufacturing engineering, design, or a related discipline.
• Completed at least one year of post-secondary coursework by the start of the internship.
• Demonstrated ability to organize information, analyze problems, and communicate findings clearly.
• Familiarity with at least one programming, scripting, analytics, or visualization environment, such as Python, SQL, JavaScript, MATLAB, Power BI, Tableau, Grafana, Excel, or similar approved tools.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to follow established procedures for safety, information protection, and controlled work environments.
• Must be a U.S. citizen.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret-level DoD security clearance.
• Must undergo a pre-employment background investigation.

Nice To Haves

• Experience developing dashboards or data visualizations for technical, operational, or research applications.
• Familiarity with relational databases, APIs, CSV, JSON, or XML data formats, and data-quality practices.
• Experience with version control tools such as Git.
• Knowledge of manufacturing processes, fabrication operations, quality systems, or laboratory environments.
• Exposure to cloud, on-premises, or hybrid data architectures.
• Experience creating process maps, system architecture diagrams, or technical documentation.
• Familiarity with Agile project practices, user interviews, or iterative prototype development.
• Demonstrated attention to cybersecurity, access control, and responsible handling of sensitive information.
• Interest or experience in digital architecture and systems integration, manufacturing data systems or industrial digitalization, dashboard design and business intelligence tools, data visualization and user experience design, data engineering and databases, digital thread or model-based engineering, smart manufacturing, process improvement, or operational analytics.

Responsibilities

• Document current fabrication engineering data flows, systems, interfaces, and reporting processes.
• Support development or enhancement of digital dashboards for manufacturing, quality, schedule, equipment, inventory, or project data.
• Help design dashboard layouts, metrics, and data visualizations with engineers and end users.
• Develop or refine scripts, queries, data transformations, or automated reporting workflows using approved tools and platforms.
• Assist with data collection, cleaning, validation, and organization from fabrication-related systems and approved data sources.
• Participate in requirements-gathering sessions with technical staff to identify operational metrics and reporting needs.
• Create technical documentation, data dictionaries, workflow diagrams, user guides, and presentation materials.
• Support prototype development for digital architecture concepts, including data pipelines, system integrations, role-based reporting, or digital-thread capabilities.
• Research relevant technologies, dashboard practices, manufacturing data standards, and digital engineering approaches.
• Test dashboard functions and data outputs, identify discrepancies, and communicate findings to the project team.
• Participate in project meetings, technical reviews, and assigned training activities.
• Follow applicable safety, cybersecurity, data-handling, export-control, and site-access requirements.

Benefits

• Hands-on research experience and dedicated mentorship.
• Professional development opportunities, including workshops, tech talks, and networking events.
• Housing support for eligible non-local interns, including access to discounted university housing in Boston.
• One-time taxable relocation payment for eligible non-local interns.
• Complimentary daily shuttle transportation from Boston-based housing to and from the Lab.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: No Education Listed