Research and Development Engineering Intern

Powell • Houston, TX

1d

About The Position

At Powell, we’re committed to enhancing lives by delivering reliable power distribution systems across diverse markets, from industrial to renewables. As a global leader, we prioritize our Core Values—Customer First, Respect for Employees, Continuous Improvement, and a “Can-Do” Attitude—to provide innovative, cost-effective solutions that power communities worldwide. Join us to be part of a team dedicated to solving real-world challenges and shaping the future of energy.
Internship Overview
Powell’s 10-week paid internship program offers college students hands-on experience, professional training, and the opportunity to make an impact through a meaningful project aligned with your field of study. As a Research and Development Engineering Intern, you’ll focus on designing and optimizing indicators for high-speed mechanisms, gaining valuable skills in a dynamic, collaborative environment.
Project Focus
Intern Project: Capacitor health monitoring solution for our products
Expected Deliverables:
Concept
Leakage current, capacitance, and ESR calculations
HALT testing
Module / Bench Testing report
Test logs
Modeling of health curves
Test reports
How does this project benefit Powell or your functional area?
Capacitors are generally not certified for some of our applications. The developed technology will estimate the health of deployed capacitors through online condition monitoring, enhancing product reliability by enabling predictive maintenance. This approach will reduce MTTA and MTTS figures for the switchgear through proactive maintenance strategies. Along with these improvements, it may also make our switchgear more desirable for Naval and military applications.

Requirements

• Pursuing a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, Power Engineering, or a related field from an accredited institution.
• Rising Junior or Senior continuing studies in Fall 2027.
• Minimum 3.0 GPA and strong academic standing.
• Team player with strong communication, multitasking, and interpersonal skills.
• Self-starter with a dependable, can-do attitude.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with CAD (e.g., SolidWorks, AutoCAD) or Finite Element Analysis (FEA).

Benefits

• Competitive pay for a 10-week summer internship.
• Exposure to a collaborative team environment and meaningful projects.
• Opportunities to interact with Powell’s leadership team.
• Fun social events and community involvement activities.
• Powell offers comprehensive health insurance for you and your family, 401k savings, annual bonus potential, generous paid time off, professional development opportunities, company-sponsored wellness programs, and a collaborative work environment.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Intern