2027 Summer Intern - Manufacturing Controls Engineer

General Motors; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 30,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

General Motors is offering a Controls Engineer Intern position to support maintenance and operations of specialist equipment. The role emphasizes electrical root-cause analysis, problem solving, and leadership to provide technical direction in a manufacturing setting.

You will work on safety, ergonomics, and housekeeping while gaining hands-on experience with PLCs, robotics, and HMIs. Responsibilities include leading electrical projects, attending plant meetings, and developing budgets and

Qualifications

• Pursuit of a bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Electrical Engineering Technology, or Controls Engineering.
• Graduating between August 2027 and June 2029.
• Able to work full-time, 40 hours per week.
• Willing to work in a plant environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead electrical projects, improvements, repairs, and replacements.
• Represent engineering in plant meetings to support goals.
• Develop cost estimates, forecasts, and plans for minor projects.
• Apply statistical methods for plant system improvements.
• Develop planning timetables and project schedules.
• Coordinate changes to improve assembly process conditions.
• Program manufacturing tech (PLC, robotics, HMI).
• Analyze product/process/technology for better methods.
• Assist in tool/equipment design or process improvements.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

PLC

Robotics

HMI

Job description

Job Description

What You’ll Do:

Our plants are the groundwork for GM and a hotbed of innovation. We are looking for controls engineer interns to assist maintenance personnel in operation and maintenance of specialist equipment. As a Controls Engineer Intern, you will be accountable for controls engineering and electrical support for industrial manufacturing equipment. These tasks teach you electrical root causing analysis and problem solving as well as leadership skills to provide technical support and direction to support personnel/skilled trades within the organization. Quality and safety are extremely meaningful to us, so enforcing safe work practices is the highest priority and implementing objectives for ergonomics, health/safety, and housekeeping, which means that you would have to investigate system and equipment problems and provide technical input in problem resolution.

Responsibilities:

• Leads electrical projects including new or operations improvements, and periodic repair and replacement
• Participates in functional area plant meetings and related activities to represent engineering and to assist in reaching the plant's performance goals
• Develops cost estimates, investment forecasts, business cases, appropriation requests and plans for minor project activity
• Utilizes statistical methods for continuous improvement on plant systems
• Develops and monitors planning timetables and projects schedules
• Coordinates and communicates the development of changes to improve conditions for the assembly process
• Programming of manufacturing technology (PLC, robotics, HMI)
• Analyzes product, process and technology to determine the best methods of manufacture
• Assist in the design and building of tools and equipment or recommends improvements to existing processes

Required Qualifications:

• Pursuit of a bachelor's degree in one of the following areas: Electrical Engineering/Electrical Engineering Technology, or Controls Engineering
• Must be graduating between August 2027 and June 2029
• Able to work full‑time, 40 hours per week
• Must be willing to work in a plant environment

Preferred Qualifications:

• Outstanding interpersonal and relationship management skills with the ability to effectively collaborate with varying levels of the organization
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to distill complex subjects to a wider audience
• Emerging partnership and collaboration skills and ability to learn from and share knowledge with co‑workers in a fast‑paced environment
• Evidence of strong character with integrity, honesty, accountability and trust
• Consistently demonstrates innovative thinking that is customer‑centric
• Excellent project management skills and the proven ability to manage multiple projects at any given time.

Specific physical requirements of the position include the ability to:

• Walk and stand for prolonged periods of time.
• Read standardized work instructions, operate machines and tools, and perform quality inspections.
• Promptly detect and respond to safety instructions, alarms, and signals.
• Wear personal protective equipment, for example: safety glasses, gloves, hats, ear plugs, and safety shoes.
• Work in a loud manufacturing environment that is not climate controlled (conditions can be hot or cold).
• Frequently and repetitively bend, twist, kneel, crouch, and reach to perform work.
• Lift or carry materials weighing up to 15 pounds and periodically carry or lift materials weighing up to 40 lbs.
• Occasionally sit, climb (including ladders and lifts) and drive vehicles and equipment.

Work Arrangement:

Onsite: This role is categorized as onsite. This means the successful candidate is expected to report to their assigned facility on a full‑time basis. Each successful candidate will be offered an onsite role at a specific location. Candidate location preferences are considered but cannot be guaranteed.

Job Location:

We have opportunities available in the locations below for this role. Please indicate in your application which of these locations you are interested in. Arlington, TX Bay City, MI Bedford, IN Bowling Green, KY Defiance, OH Detroit, MI Fairfax, KS Flint, MI Grand Rapids, MI Lansing, MI Marion, IN Orion, MI Parma, OH Pontiac, MI Romulus, MI Saginaw, MI Spring Hill, TN Toledo, OH Wentzville, MO

GM will provide a one‑time lump sum taxable stipend payment to eligible students selected for the 2027 Student Program – to help facilitate administration of relocation benefits, please apply using the permanent address you would move from.

Start dates for this internship role are May 24th and June 14th of 2027.

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