Animatronic Intern (Spring 2027 ) - Mechanical Engineering, Controls, and QC

LF Studios; Madeira (OH); On-site; USD 21,000 - 30,000; Part time

Job summary

LF Studios, based in Ohio, designs and builds animatronics for major theme parks worldwide, and seeks Spring 2026 interns across mechanical design, controls, QC, and drafting.

Interns will own development through full lifecycle, use SolidWorks with DFM, collaborate with modeling, controls and fabrication teams, perform analyses, create drawings, participate in reviews, and help inspect parts on the floor.

Responsibilities

• Own the development of animatronics through full lifecycle (design to installation).
• Design animatronics in SolidWorks applying DFM.
• Coordinate efforts with modeling, controls, and fabrication teams.
• Perform hand calculations, bearing calculations, RBDs, and FEA.
• Produce ASTM drawing packages.
• Participate in design workshops and reviews.
• Present work to internal project teams.
• Troubleshoot assembly and performance issues on the floor.
• Maintain mechanical/armature documentation throughout the project.
• Design and assemble control boxes (electrical).
• Test and adjust animatronic systems.
• Inspect parts and assemblies.

Skills

Mechanical design

Drafting

Tools

SolidWorks

Job description

About the Job:

LF Studios specializes in designing and building animatronics for major theme parks worldwide. Our job is to tell stories, making people laugh, and creating lasting memories for the world's leading attractions, exhibits, branded spaces and IP based products.

The Engineering/Design Team at LF Studios is actively searching for Spring 2026 interns. We’re looking for a broad spectrum of talent, including mechanical design + engineering, controls, quality control and inspection, and drafting.

In this role, you will:

• Own the development of animatronics through the full lifecycle including design, analysis, procurement, quality control (QC), assembly, testing, and installation.
• Use SolidWorks to design animatronics using DFM (design for manufacturing).
• Coordinate engineering effort with digital modeling, controls, and fabrication teams.
• Analyze the animatronics through hand calculations, bearing calculations, RBDs (Rigid Body Dynamic Simulations), and FEA (Finite Element Analysis).
• Produce drawing packages following ASTM standards.
• Participate in design workshops and reviews.
• Present company design and fabrication work to internal project teams.
• Troubleshoot assembly and performance problems on the production floor.
• Coordinate effort to create and maintain all mechanical and armature documentation throughout the project.
• Electrical design and assembly of control boxes.
• Test and adjust of animatronic systems.
• Inspection of parts, machined components, and assemblies.