Manufacturing Engineering Intern

Position Summary

The Manufacturing Engineering Intern supports the modernization and continuous improvement of aerospace manufacturing operations by developing manufacturing standards, improving point‑of‑use (POU) tooling and materials, optimizing production flow, and supporting new product and process introduction.

This role is hands‑on and shop‑floor focused. The intern will work directly with Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, Production Control, and Operations to improve safety, quality, delivery, and productivity in a regulated aerospace environment. This is not a shadowing role; the intern is expected to deliver measurable operational improvements.

• Manufacturing Standards & Documentation
  • Develop and update standard work, manufacturing work instructions, visual standards, and process flow diagrams
  • Ensure documentation aligns with current production practices, engineering requirements, and quality system expectations (AS9100 environment)
• Point‑of‑Use (POU) Tooling & Materials
  • Analyze workstation layouts and material presentation
  • Design and propose POU tooling, shadow boards, racks, and fixtures
  • Support implementation of ergonomic improvements, motion and reach reduction, and tool and material standardization
• Process Improvement & Flow Optimization
  • Support lean initiatives including 5S, Kaizen events, and waste and motion reduction
  • May develop spaghetti diagrams, value stream/process flow maps, basic layout concepts, and assist in optimizing equipment placement, workstation balance, and space utilization
• Tooling, Fixtures & Equipment Support
  • Assist in design, build coordination, and test and validation of manufacturing fixtures and assembly aids
  • Support engineering change and improvement activities related to tooling and equipment
• New Product & Process Introduction (NPI / NPI‑like activity)
  • Support development of R88 new or modified products and processes into production
  • Assist in capturing lessons learned, early build issues, process risks, and capacity (time and materials)
• Quality, Safety & Ergonomics
  • Participate in root cause and corrective action activities, defect investigations, and support improvements to workstation safety, ergonomics, and handling and protection of parts
• Manufacturing Data & Analysis
  • Collect and analyze cycle time, queue time, downtime, rework and yield data
  • Develop simple analysis and visual summaries to support bottleneck identification, flow improvement, and staffing and workload balancing

By the end of the internship, the intern is expected to deliver:

• At least one complete manufacturing standard / standard work package
• At least one implemented POU tooling or material presentation improvement
• At least one documented workflow or layout improvement supported by data
• A short final improvement report including
  • Problem statement
  • Baseline metrics
  • Implemented countermeasures
  • Measured or projected impact

The Intern will gain direct exposure to:

• Aerospace manufacturing operations
• Regulated production systems and documentation
• Cross‑functional execution between Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, Production Control, and Operations
• Enterprise ERP / MES‑driven production environments
• Structured problem‑solving and continuous improvement methods

Currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in:

• Mechanical Engineering
• Manufacturing Engineering
• Industrial Engineering
• Electrical Engineering (Junior or Senior standing preferred)

• Working knowledge of CAD tools (Solid Works, AutoCAD or equivalent)
• Ability to create technical drawings, basic layouts, and process documentation
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Word

• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills
• Clear written and verbal communication
• Ability to work directly on a production floor with operators, leads, and engineers
• Comfortable working in a fast‑paced, high‑accountability manufacturing environment

• Majority of time will be spent on the shop floor and in production support areas
• Personal protective equipment and safety requirements apply
• The role requires regular interaction with production personnel and engineering teams

This internship provides real ownership of manufacturing improvement projects inside an aerospace production environment undergoing active modernization. The intern will not only learn manufacturing engineering fundamentals, but will also directly contribute to production performance improvement, manufacturing standards development, workstation and material flow optimization, and product and process readiness for future programs. It is an execution‑focused internship designed to build practical manufacturing engineering experience.