R&D Engineer Intern Job

Saved job description

Armstrong World Industries (AWI) is looking for motivated candidates for our Summer Engineering Internship, based at our Corporate Campus in Lancaster, PA. We welcome Chemical, Mechanical, and Electrical Engineering students.

What's in it for you?

As an R&D Engineering Intern, you'll use your technical skills to learn how Armstrong products, raw materials, manufacturing processes, and test requirements work in depth.

The opportunity to begin your career with the most innovative and forward-thinking building products company in the industry

The opportunity to help transform the design and building of spaces, so that occupants, owners, operators, and communities can thrive, today and into the future

You'll own real projects with measurable business impact, such as raw material substitutions, cost savings, product performance improvements, and process optimization

R&D Engineering Interns will:

Complete one or more assigned engineering projects during the internship, from planning through final recommendation

Contribute to several ongoing R&D projects that support new product development, cost reduction, and continuous improvement

Support the Project Management Life Cycle, including:

Preparing project specifications and requirements

Coordinating project schedules and using Project Management tools

Executing projects, closing them out, and supporting sustainability initiatives

Design experiments, collect and analyze data, and present findings and recommendations to R&D leadership and business partners

Plan and run lab-scale, pilot-scale, and plant trials

See the inside of large-scale manufacturing facilities, equipment, and safe working practices

Discipline-specific opportunities may include:

Chemical Engineering

Evaluating and qualifying alternative raw materials (for example mineral fillers, binders, additives, and facing or backing materials) for cost savings and supply security

Developing slurry and formulation work, including rheology, solids content, and dispersion behavior

Studying product performance attributes such as water repellency, moisture/sag resistance, acoustics, and durability

Characterizing materials and processes, and correlating lab results with production outcomes

Mechanical Engineering

Designing, modifying, and specifying process equipment and fixtures

Improving material handling, forming, cutting, sanding, and finishing operations

Thermal and fluid analysis for drying, combustion, and pneumatic conveying systems

Using 3D CAD modeling, tolerance analysis, and design-for-manufacturing reviews

Electrical Engineering

Supporting process controls, PLC/HMI programming, and instrumentation on pilot and production equipment

Specifying sensors and data acquisition for test rigs and process monitoring

Applying automation, machine vision, and AI/data analytics for quality inspection and process optimization

Working with motors, drives, power distribution, and energy-reduction opportunities

What will make you successful

Outside-of-the-box thinking, with a structured, data-driven way of solving problems

Curiosity about how materials, equipment, and controls interact in a manufacturing process

Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills, and a team-oriented mindset

Ability to build and nurture relationships with other functions within AWI, including plant personnel

Comfort working hands-on in lab, pilot, and plant environments

Ability to turn technical results into clear business recommendations, both written and presented

Proficiency with Microsoft Office products, particularly Excel, Word, and PowerPoint

Excellent time management and the ability to manage several priorities and meet deadlines

A track record of leadership through work, school, or extracurricular activities

Required Qualifications

Currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in Chemical, Mechanical, or Electrical Engineering at an ABET-accredited program, and no more than 24 months from graduation

Minimum 3.0 GPA (cumulative and within major)

What Makes You Stand Out

A previous internship or co-op in a manufacturing or R&D environment

Coursework or project experience in Design of Experiments (DOE) and statistical analysis (for example Minitab)

Experience with Lean, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement methods

Chemical: Lab experience with material characterization, formulation, slurries, or coatings

Mechanical: Autodesk 3D modeling (Inventor/Fusion) and Autodesk simulation experience

Electrical: Experience with PLCs (for example Allen-Bradley/Rockwell), sensors and instrumentation, data acquisition, machine vision, automation, and AI/ML tools