Hands-On Automation & Controls Internship

Steel Dynamics; Columbus (MS); On-site; USD 22,000 - 33,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Furnished Housing Free of Cost

401(k) & Company Match

Employee Discounts

Employee Assistance Program

Intern Extravaganza

Competitive Pay

Job summary

Steel Dynamics in Columbus, MS is offering an Automation/Controls Engineering Internship for students pursuing EE/CE/Automation. The role blends office engineering with hands-on floor work, giving you the chance to apply PLC/HMI concepts on real equipment alongside experienced mentors.

Responsibilities include programming, testing, documentation, and collaboration with operators, electricians, and maintenance teams to implement automation improvements, while following safety policies and

Qualifications

• Currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Automation/Controls Engineering, or a related field.
• Basic understanding of programming principles and troubleshooting methodologies.
• Strong interest in industrial automation, controls engineering, and manufacturing technology.
• Ability to work effectively in a team-oriented industrial environment.

Responsibilities

• Follow all safety policies, participate in risk assessments, and support lockout/tagout (LOTO) verification under supervision.
• Assist with PLC and HMI programming, testing, troubleshooting, and documentation for industrial automation systems.
• Support automation projects through programming, software development, and control system modifications under the guidance of engineering mentors.
• Develop and maintain control system documentation, including electrical schematics, network diagrams, operating procedures, and technical reports.
• Assist with automation hardware selection, specification, and implementation for equipment upgrades and new projects.
• Support troubleshooting efforts involving PLCs, HMIs, industrial networks, instrumentation, drives, and control system hardware.
• Work with Siemens automation platforms, including STEP 7 and TIA Portal.
• Support HMI and visualization updates and develop dashboards or reports.
• Assist with industrial networking activities and device communications troubleshooting.
• Participate in planned outages, equipment upgrades, start-up, and commissioning activities by executing test plans and verifying system functionality.
• Create and maintain software, database, and configuration backups while following change management procedures.
• Collaborate with operators, electricians, mechanics, maintenance personnel, IT, and production teams to implement automation improvements.
• Document troubleshooting activities, standard work procedures, and project outcomes to support knowledge transfer and long-term system reliability.

Skills

Programming principles

Troubleshooting methodologies

Teamwork in industrial environment

Industrial automation interest

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Automation/Controls Engineering, or related field

Tools

Siemens STEP 7

TIA Portal

PLC programming

HMI programming

Job description

Steel Dynamics in Columbus, MS is offering an Automation/Controls Engineering Internship for students pursuing EE/CE/Automation. The role blends office engineering with hands-on floor work, giving you the chance to apply PLC/HMI concepts on real equipment alongside experienced mentors.

Responsibilities include programming, testing, documentation, and collaboration with operators, electricians, and maintenance teams to implement automation improvements, while following safety policies and