2027 Summer Undergraduate Project Management Intern/Co-op (R20393)

MKS Inc.; Irvine (CA); Hybrid; USD 26,000 - 38,000; Part time

Job summary

MKS Instruments invites an engineering-, physics-, or business-focused student to join as a Project Management Intern in Irvine, CA. You will assist in tracking scope, schedule, cost, and deliverables while collaborating with engineering, project management, and other internal teams.

You'll help develop and maintain plans, schedules, and reports, raise risks, and support mitigation efforts. The role emphasizes teamwork, data-driven updates, and continuous improvement in PDP processes with up to

Qualifications

• Pursuing a BS in Engineering, Physics, Business, or related field.
• 0–2 years of internship or academic experience.
• Basic understanding of project management principles or product development lifecycle.
• Familiarity with project management tools such as MS Project, Jira, Smartsheet, or similar.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving abilities.
• Effective written and verbal communication and team collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Support PDP projects by tracking scope, schedule, cost, and deliverables.
• Collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders to gather updates and maintain alignment.
• Develop and maintain project plans, schedules, and status reports.
• Identify risks, issues, and dependencies and assist mitigation planning.
• Participate in project meetings, document notes, and follow up on actions.
• Support continuous improvement of project management processes, tools, and reporting.
• Travel up to 10%.

Skills

Organizational skills

Analytical skills

Problem-solving skills

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Project management basics

Education

B.S. in Engineering/Physics/Business

Tools

MS Project

Jira

Smartsheet

Job description

"A Day in Your Life at MKS

As a Project Management Intern at MKS Instruments, you will partner with Engineering, Project Management, and cross-functional internal teams to support the planning and execution of Product Development Process (PDP) projects. In this role, you will report to the Director, Engineering Project Management.

You Will Make An Impact By

• Supporting PDP projects by assisting in tracking scope, schedule, cost, and deliverables
• Collaborating with cross-functional stakeholders to gather project updates and maintain alignment
• Assisting in development and maintenance of project plans, schedules, and status reports
• Helping identify risks, issues, and dependencies while supporting mitigation planning
• Participating in project meetings, documenting notes, and following up on action items
• Supporting continuous improvement initiatives related to project management processes, tools, and reporting
• Travel Requirements: Up to 10% of travel is required

Skills You Bring

• Currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Engineering, Physics, Business, or related field
• 0–2 years of relevant academic or internship experience
• Basic understanding of project management principles or product development lifecycle
• Familiarity with project management tools (e.g., MS Project, Jira, Smartsheet, or similar)
• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills
• Effective communication skills and ability to work in a team environment

Preferred Skills

• Exposure to hardware product development, manufacturing, or R&D environments
• Familiarity with Agile or stage-gate PDP methodologies
• Experience with data analysis, Excel, or dashboard reporting tools

Physical Demands And Working Conditions

• Physical Demand 1: Prolonged periods of sitting and working on a computer
• Physical Demand 2: Ability to participate in meetings and collaborative work sessions
• Working Condition 1: Hybrid work environment (onsite and remote)
• Working Condition 2: Occasional travel to support project or business needs