Operational Technology Automation Engineer Intern
About The Position
Challenge Mfg. Company’s Internship Program allows students to obtain real world work experience through technical and software exposure. This exposure is granted through individual projects, hands-on tasks on the plant floor, and much more. Challenge Mfg. Company prides itself on giving students a head start on experience in the Automotive Industry to enhance their future. We are currently looking for a Operational Technology Automation Engineering Intern to join our team! What You'll Do: The intern will work closely with controls, manufacturing, and maintenance engineers to model press behavior, acquire and visualize real-time machine data, and develop a scalable digital twin architecture that supports future predictive maintenance and performance optimization initiatives. - Assist in the development of a digital twin for 800+ ton mechanical stamping presses - Learn and work with Rockwell Automation PLCs (Allen-Bradley ControlLogix / CompactLogix) - Identify, map, and validate PLC I/O and data tags related to press operation - Configure and utilize OPC UA for secure, structured data communication between PLCs and higher-level systems - Support data integration into Ignition SCADA for visualization, trending, and analysis - Develop logic-based and data-driven models of press motion, tonnage, cycle timing, and operational states - Create dashboards or visual tools to represent real-time and historical press performance - Assist in analyzing machine data to identify abnormal conditions and improvement opportunities - Document system architecture, data flow, and digital twin design standards - Participate in cross-functional engineering reviews and project updates
Requirements
- Must be pursuing a four-year Bachelor’s degree related to Mechanical Engineering from a accredited college or university
- Must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 to be considered for the Internship program
- Must have superior verbal and written communication skills
- Strong organizational skills and ability to multi-task in global manufacturing environment
- Authorized to work in the U.S.
- Must be physically capable of performing the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.
Responsibilities
- Assist in the development of a digital twin for 800+ ton mechanical stamping presses
- Learn and work with Rockwell Automation PLCs (Allen-Bradley ControlLogix / CompactLogix)
- Identify, map, and validate PLC I/O and data tags related to press operation
- Configure and utilize OPC UA for secure, structured data communication between PLCs and higher-level systems
- Support data integration into Ignition SCADA for visualization, trending, and analysis
- Develop logic-based and data-driven models of press motion, tonnage, cycle timing, and operational states
- Create dashboards or visual tools to represent real-time and historical press performance
- Assist in analyzing machine data to identify abnormal conditions and improvement opportunities
- Document system architecture, data flow, and digital twin design standards
- Participate in cross-functional engineering reviews and project updates
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What This Job Offers
Career Level
Intern
