Manufacturing Engineer Intern - Grand Rapids Site

Acron Aviation; Grand Rapids (MI); On-site; USD 25,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

Acron Aviation in Grand Rapids, MI is seeking motivated Manufacturing Engineering Interns for a May–August onsite internship. You will work with senior engineers on real projects that mirror entry-level Manufacturing Engineer roles and gain hands-on experience in aerospace manufacturing.

You will contribute to process documentation, data analysis, lean initiatives, and continuous improvement; participate in time studies, layout planning, and performance reporting.

Qualifications

• Currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related technical discipline.
• Must have completed freshman year and be returning to school after the internship.
• Basic proficiency with Microsoft Excel and other Microsoft Office applications.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, communication, and teamwork skills.
• Ability to work onsite in a manufacturing environment.
• Interest in manufacturing, engineering, process improvement, or operations.

Responsibilities

• Support Manufacturing Engineering projects that improve safety, quality, delivery, cost, inventory, and productivity.
• Assist with creating and maintaining manufacturing routings, work instructions, and process documentation.
• Support workstation, production cell, and facility layout activities to improve workflow, safety, and ergonomics.
• Participate in time studies, workflow analysis, and capacity assessments.
• Collect, organize, and analyze manufacturing performance data to support engineering decisions.
• Support Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement initiatives within the operation.
• Participate in kaizen events, problem-solving activities, and process improvement projects.
• Help identify waste, variation, rework, and process bottlenecks.
• Support troubleshooting activities, root cause investigations, and corrective action implementation.
• Assist with maintaining manufacturing documentation and engineering records.
• Support process validation, quality improvement activities, and audit readiness efforts.
• Create reports, dashboards, and visual controls using engineering and business systems.
• Present project results, lessons learned, and recommendations to engineering and operations teams.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Problem-solving

Communication

Teamwork

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related technical discipline

Tools

CAD (AutoCAD/SolidWorks)

ERP systems (SAP)

Power BI

Job description

Acron Aviation is seeking motivated and innovative Manufacturing Engineering Interns to join our engineering teams in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

This full-time, onsite internship is anticipated to run May through August and provides an opportunity to apply classroom knowledge in a professional engineering environment. You will work alongside experienced manufacturing engineers and contribute to assignments representative of work performed by entry-level Manufacturing Engineers.

Depending on the assigned location, team, and product line, you may gain experience in manufacturing process development, production support, Lean and Continuous Improvement initiatives, process optimization, data analysis, root cause problem solving, quality systems, and technical documentation.

Intern assignments will be aligned with current business and project needs while providing exposure to real-world aerospace manufacturing operations and engineering practices. You will contribute to projects that improve safety, quality, delivery, cost, inventory, and overall operational performance while gaining hands‑on experience in a highly regulated aerospace manufacturing environment.

What You Will Do

• Support Manufacturing Engineering projects that improve safety, quality, delivery, cost, inventory, and productivity.
• Assist with creating and maintaining manufacturing routings, work instructions, and process documentation.
• Support workstation, production cell, and facility layout activities to improve workflow, safety, and ergonomics.
• Participate in time studies, workflow analysis, and capacity assessments.
• Collect, organize, and analyze manufacturing performance data to support engineering decisions.
• Support Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement initiatives within the operation.
• Participate in kaizen events, problem‑solving activities, and process improvement projects.
• Help identify waste, variation, rework, and process bottlenecks.
• Support troubleshooting activities, root cause investigations, and corrective action implementation.
• Assist with maintaining manufacturing documentation and engineering records.
• Support process validation, quality improvement activities, and audit readiness efforts.
• Create reports, dashboards, and visual controls using engineering and business systems.
• Present project results, lessons learned, and recommendations to engineering and operations teams.

Required Qualifications

• Currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Must have completed freshman year and be returning to school following the internship.
• Basic proficiency with Microsoft Excel and other Microsoft Office applications.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, communication, and teamwork skills.
• Ability to work onsite in a manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated interest in manufacturing, engineering, process improvement, or operations.
• This position may require access to information, technology, software, or hardware that is subject to U.S. export control laws and regulations. To comply with these requirements, applicants must qualify as a US Person.

Preferred Qualifications

• Exposure to Lean Manufacturing, Continuous Improvement, or structured problem‑solving methodologies.
• Experience with CAD software such as AutoCAD, SolidWorks, or similar tools.
• Familiarity with manufacturing, fabrication, assembly, testing, laboratory work, or project‑based engineering coursework.
• Experience analyzing data through coursework, engineering projects, research, clubs, co‑ops, or previous internships.
• Exposure to ERP systems, Power BI, SAP, or related manufacturing and business applications.
• Experience participating in engineering projects, design teams, technical competitions, or student organizations.
• Interest in aerospace manufacturing, operations, and production engineering.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Acron Aviation is proud to be an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. We are committed to treating all employees and applicants with respect and dignity and to maintaining a workplace free from unlawful discrimination. All applicants will be considered for employment regardless of race, color, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or other related medical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, or any other legally protected characteristic.

Additional Information:

Acron Aviation maintains a drug-free workplace and conducts pre-employment substance abuse testing and background checks, where allowed by law. Acron Aviation is an E-Verify employer