Quality Engineer Intern - Summer 2027

Vermeer Corporation; Pella (IA); On-site; USD 25,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Vermeer Corporation is seeking a Quality Engineer Intern to support production-process improvements and operational excellence. You will monitor, analyze, and solve quality issues, preparing for a full-time engineering role after graduation.

Responsibilities include RCCA support, control plan execution, and collaboration with suppliers. The internship offers hands-on experience with SPC, DMAIC, and quality tools in a manufacturing setting onsite.

Qualifications

• High school diploma required; currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering.
• Familiarity with quality tools and techniques (APQP, Core Tools, SPC, CPK).
• Exposure to DMAIC, FMEA, and 8D problem solving is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Review quality performance for goods and suppliers; communicate trends to leadership.
• Support RCCA and problem-solving activities; help implement solutions to reduce defects.
• Assist in executing control plans and manufacturing processes for compliance and effectiveness; partner on improvements.
• Collaborate with suppliers to verify quality improvements.
• Participate in process capability studies and SPC using Minitab or similar tools.
• Support QMS processes and participate in quality improvement projects.

Skills

Team collaboration

Problem solving

Analytical thinking

Education

Pursuing Bachelor’s in Engineering

Tools

Minitab

Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing (GD&T)

Job description

Who We Are

Vermeer equips customers doing important work around the world. We are global, driven by innovation and growing. The equipment we make manages natural resources, connects people and feeds and fuels communities. We live out a caring culture, we demonstrate agility, we keep a focus on customers and are stewards of our resources. These beliefs drive our culture, determine how we treat others and steer our business.

Who We Are

Vermeer equips customers doing important work around the world. We are global, driven by innovation and growing. The equipment we make manages natural resources, connects people and feeds and fuels communities. We live out a caring culture, we demonstrate agility, we keep a focus on customers and are stewards of our resources. These beliefs drive our culture, determine how we treat others and steer our business.

Work Shift

1 - First Shift

Job Summary

Are you energized by solving problems and improving how things are made? As a Quality Engineer Intern at Vermeer, you’ll support real-world projects that enhance production processes and drive operational excellence. This internship offers hands‑on experience in monitoring, analyzing, problem solving, and improving product performance—preparing you for a full‑time engineering role upon graduation.

What You’ll Do

• Review and analyze internal and external quality performance for whole goods, upstream production, plant quality, and/or supplier quality; communicate trends and findings to manufacturing leadership.
• Support Root Cause and Corrective Action (RCCA) and problem‑solving activities for assigned issues; help implement solutions to reduce quality issues and defects.
• Assist in executing and auditing control plans and manufacturing processes for compliance and effectiveness; partner with manufacturing engineering to implement mistake‑proofing and process improvements.
• Collaborate with suppliers to problem‑solve and verify quality improvements.
• Participate in process capability studies and continuous improvement activities with process engineering, including Statistical Process Control (SPC) methods such as Process Capability Index (CPK) and control charts using statistical software such as Minitab (or similar).
• Support critical Quality Management System (QMS) processes and participate in quality improvement projects and teams.

What We’re Looking For

• High School diploma required. Current student pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering.
• Awareness of quality tools and techniques, such as Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP), Core Tools, SPC methods, and CPK, with exposure to statistical software such as Minitab (or similar).
• Awareness of lean manufacturing principles and using Lean Sigma/Six Sigma methodology to improve quality, including Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control (DMAIC).
• Experience with troubleshooting and root cause analysis; exposure to Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) and Eight Disciplines (8D) problem solving preferred.
• Ability to work in a team environment, operate assembly and measurement tools and devices, and read prints and Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T).

Travel

• No travel is expected of this position.

Work Location

ONSITE: A team member’s day‑to‑day work is best done on a Vermeer campus. If work content can be occasionally completed at an offsite location, discuss potential arrangements with your manager.

Equal Opportunity Employer

At Vermeer Corporation, we believe in the value of your unique identity, background, and experiences. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status or any other status protected by the law. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation due to a disability at any stage of the employment application process should contact Team Member Solutions at [phone] or at [e-mail].

Interested? We’d love to get to know you.