Development Program: Operations Engineering

Eaton Corporation; Sumter (SC); On-site; USD 70,000 - 94,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Signing bonus

Job summary

Eaton Corporation is inviting applications for its two-year Operations Engineer rotational program in the United States. Participants will rotate through manufacturing and engineering roles at Sumter, SC or Cleveland, TN, with relocation support and exposure to customers, sales teams, and cross-functional partners.

The program emphasizes leadership development, hands-on manufacturing experience, and exposure to Industry 4.0 initiatives, with opportunities to lead projects and contribute to

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering with graduation date before July 2027.
• Minimum GPA 2.8+.
• At least one internship or 3 months co-op experience at time of application.
• Relocation to US locations will be provided if needed.

Responsibilities

• Participate in a two-year rotational program across E-Operations functions.
• Gain exposure to engineering, manufacturing, and customer-facing activities.
• Relocation assistance to Sumter, SC or Cleveland, TN locations.
• Interact with customers, sales teams, and internal teams to support product launches.

Skills

Strong communication

Leadership

Problem solving

Teamwork

Presentation skills

Continuous improvement

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

GPA 2.8+

1 internship or 3 months co-op experience

Tools

AutoCAD

Autodesk Inventor

Bid Manager

ENOVIA

DMM

VISTA

Job description

We make what matters work.You want to make an impact in the world. At Eaton, we’re solving some of the toughest challenges on the planet. Our Early Career Programs open up an exciting world of opportunities for you to make a difference on a global scale. Your assignments are more than tasks and busy work; they're your chance to drive innovation in intelligent power management and shape the future of our company. You'll team up with seasoned leaders, gaining diverse experiences that'll drive you forward to define and reach your career goals.

What sets our Early Career Programs apart:

• Personalized Program Experience: We’re committed to energizing your career and empowering your impact. No two participants share the same experience or set of responsibilities.
• Global Perspectives: Relocating to an endorsed Eaton site is a required part of the adventure, enhancing your learning and maximizing program benefits.
• Role Exploration: You'll explore various roles early on. These experiences allow you to build your functional expertise and leadership capabilities to maximize your potential for future roles.
• Strategic Networking: Collaborate with senior leaders with mentorship programs woven into your experience.

The expected annual salary for this role is $82,000 a year. This position offers a one-time $6,000 signing bonus. Please note the salary information shown above is a general guideline only. Salaries are based upon candidate skills, experience, and qualifications, as well as market and business considerations.

What you’ll do:

Eaton’s CPA business within the Electrical Sector is currently seeking Operations Engineers to join our team. This is a two-year rotational program designed to develop future operational leaders within our Electrical Sector. These rotations can be base in one of our manufacturing locations in either Sumter, SC or Cleveland, TN and offers relocation assistance.

Operations Engineers in the rotational program will gain exposure to the Engineering function as well and at their assignment locations (Eaton manufacturing locations). Assignments will give the participants exposure to manufacturing and test functions, Eaton Field Sales, end customers, and manager of people experiences.

Participants will get exposure to a variety of Eaton products including Safety Switches, Panelboards, and Switchboards. The program is designed to give you different experiences based on the rotation path that you are interested in pursuing.

• Order Management: Accurately process switchboard orders and prepare manufacturing documentation using tools such as Bid Manager, AutoCAD, and Plant Order Manager.
• Design & Engineering: Develop and route custom fabricated parts using AutoCAD and 3D modeling tools; support design reviews and implementation across teams and facilities.
• Customer Engagement: Interface with customers, sales teams, and support channels through training, plant visits, and events to enhance product understanding.
• Product Development: Collaborate with Product Line Engineering (PLE) teams to improve designs, manage prototype builds, and support lean manufacturing initiatives.
• Technical Documentation: Translate complex customer specifications into standard designs and schematics; manage mechanical/electrical interfaces and approval drawings.
• Training & Support: Provide technical training across departments and assist engineers in troubleshooting and application development.
• Quality Assurance: Partner with the Quality team to resolve testing issues, develop procedures, and ensure post-shipment support.
• Safety & Inclusion: Adhere to safety protocols including 5S and promote a culture of inclusion and respect for diverse perspectives.
• Project Leadership: Lead capital projects, support strategic objectives, and facilitate new product launches.
• Innovation & Process Improvement: Design tooling and fixtures, integrate Industry 4.0 technologies, and execute cost-out and lean initiatives.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work across departments and facilities to provide technical expertise and resolve safety-related concerns.

Rotations – Geographic Flexibility Required:

• Mechanical Customer Order Engineer > Manufacturing Engineer > Production Supervisor
• Electrical Customer Order Engineer > Product Line Engineer > Test Supervisor
• OPEX Engineer > Quality Engineer > Production Supervisor

Qualifications:

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in engineering from an accredited institution, with a graduation date before July 2027.
• Minimum overall cumulative GPA of 2.8+ (please don't round).
• Minimum of one internship or co-op experience or an equivalent of 3 months of relevant experience completed at the time of this application.
• Eaton will not consider applicants for employment immigration sponsorship or support for this position. This means that Eaton will not support any CPT, OPT, or STEM OPT plans, F-1 to H-1B, H-1B cap registration, O-1, E-3, TN status, I-485 job portability, etc.
• Must be geographically flexible to relocate within the United States.
• Relocation assistance will be provided for candidates that reside outside a 50-mile radius of Cleveland, TN or Sumter, SC.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated leadership experience within campus and/or community.
• 2 or more relevant internship or co-op experiences.
• Skilled in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint), AutoCAD, Autodesk Inventor, and Eaton systems including VISTA, Bid Manager, AS-400, ENOVIA, and DMM.
• Strong technical knowledge of switchboards, power distribution systems (LV/MV Switchgear, Panelboards, MCCs), and demonstrated proficiency in PLC programming and electrical principles.
• Proven ability in verbal and written communication, organizational efficiency, and computer literacy.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret and apply technical requirements in switchboard design and implementation using AutoCAD and 3D modeling tools.

Skills:

Position Criteria:

• Transportation to and from the worksite and for incidental business travel is the responsibility of the participant; however, expenses for required and approved business travel (not including the worksite) will be reimbursed.
• The role may include travel (up to 25%) within a local region as determined by the assignment manager.
• The rotational program provides the opportunity for formal presentations where participants showcase their success stories to leaders of the organization and receive feedback on their performance.

Skills Development:

• Problem Solving
• Strong Oral and Written Communication
• Ability to Lead
• Cognitive Reasoning
• Hands-on Manufacturing Experience
• Mechanical Aptitude
• Continuous Improvement
• Ability to Engage Others
• Presentation Skills
• Coaching and Mentoring
• Teamwork

All positions may require participation in video and in-person interviews as part of the hiring process. All candidates will be evaluated based on job-related competencies, and all candidates’ privacy rights and data security will be protected in accordance with applicable laws.

We are committed to ensuring equal employment opportunities for all job applicants and employees. Employment decisions are based upon job-related reasons regardless of an applicant's race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, marital status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by law.

Eaton believes in second chance employment. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction history will be considered regardless of their arrest or conviction history, consistent with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, the California Fair Chance Act and other local laws.

You do not need to disclose your conviction history or participate in a background check until a conditional job offer is made to you. After making a conditional offer and running a background check, if Eaton is concerned about conviction that is directly related to the job, you will be given the chance to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide mitigating evidence, or challenge the accuracy of the background report.

To request a disability-related reasonable accommodation to assist you in your job search, application, or interview process, please call us at 1-800-836-6345 to discuss your specific need. Only accommodation requests will be accepted by this phone number.

We know that good benefit programs are important to employees and their families. Eaton provides various Health and Welfare benefits as well as Retirement benefits, and several programs that provide for paid and unpaid time away from work. Click here for more detail: Eaton Benefits Overview. Please note that specific programs and options available to an employee may depend on eligibility factors such as geographic location, date of hire, and the applicability of collective bargaining agreements.