Supply Chain & Manufacturing Spring Intern - Manufacturing (Austin)

Protagonist Management LLC; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 25,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

Exowatt in Austin, TX is seeking a Supply Chain & Manufacturing Intern for the Spring 2027 term. You will help develop assembly processes, work with metal and ceramic fabrication methods, and improve line efficiency while collaborating across engineering and manufacturing teams on cost, quality and lead-time considerations.

You will gain hands-on experience on the factory floor and with suppliers, supporting projects from concept to execution while preparing a presentation for leadership in

Qualifications

• Currently pursuing a degree in manufacturing, mechanical or industrial engineering, supply chain or related field.
• Available to work on site at our Austin, TX facility from January 12 to April 16, 2027.
• Hands-on, problem-solving mindset with interest in manufacturing process development.

Responsibilities

• Develop assembly processes and work instructions for P3 modules.
• Work with metal, glass and ceramic fabrication methods on the factory floor.
• Improve production line by identifying bottlenecks and testing fixes.
• Support supplier negotiations with quotes, cost analyses and supplier evaluation.
• Own a project from start to finish and present results to leadership in April.

Skills

Manufacturing process

Problem solving

Supplier negotiations

Factory environment

Education

Engineering student

On-site availability

Tools

CAD

SolidWorks/Onshape/Fusion 360

Job description

Exowatt is revolutionizing the energy landscape for the AI era with our groundbreaking P3 system that captures solar energy, stores it as heat, and generates electricity on demand. Founded in 2023 and backed by leading investors including Andreessen Horowitz, Sam Altman, and Felicis, we're committed to providing clean, modular, and scalable power that meets the rapidly growing demands of AI infrastructure. Our mission is to make sustainable renewable energy always available and almost free, enabling technological advancement while protecting our planet.

We're looking for a Supply Chain & Manufacturing Intern – Manufacturing to join our team in Austin for the Spring 2027 term, January 12 to April 16, 2027. You'll work directly with our Supply Chain & Manufacturing team on the processes that bring P3 modules to life. Your work will span the factory floor and the supply base: developing how P3 modules are assembled, and helping negotiate with the suppliers who keep materials flowing. You'll see end to end how a hardware company scales from early units to volume production.

This role is in-person at our Austin facility.

What You'll Do

• Develop assembly processes. Help define, document and improve repeatable processes for building P3 modules, including work instructions, assembly sequences, cycle times and quality checks.
• Work with real materials. Get hands‑on with the metal, glass and ceramic fabrication methods and equipment used across P3, and help refine our production capabilities as we scale.
• Improve the line. Find bottlenecks, propose and test fixes, and help design simple jigs, fixtures and tooling with our engineers and technicians.
• Support supplier negotiations. Request and compare quotes, build cost analyses, and help evaluate suppliers of materials and components on cost, quality, capacity and lead time.
• Own a project. Take one manufacturing or sourcing problem from start to finish and present your results to Supply Chain & Manufacturing leadership in April.

What You'll Bring

• Currently pursuing a degree in manufacturing, mechanical or industrial engineering, supply chain or a related field.
• Available to work on site at our Austin, TX facility from January 12 to April 16, 2027.
• Interest in manufacturing process and assembly development, with a hands‑on, problem‑solving mindset.
• Familiarity with metal, glass or ceramic fabrication methods and equipment, through coursework, projects or hands‑on experience.
• Exposure to, or strong interest in, supplier negotiations and cost analysis.
• Comfort working in an active factory environment and following safety procedures, including wearing PPE.

Nice to have

• Hands‑on fabrication experience, such as welding, machining, sheet metal, glass or ceramics work, from a job, makerspace or student team (e.g. Formula SAE, Solar Car or Baja SAE).
• CAD experience (SolidWorks, Onshape, Fusion 360 or similar) and the ability to read engineering drawings and GD&T.
• Coursework or experience in lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, process mapping or time studies.
• Experience writing work instructions, standard operating procedures or process documentation.
• Familiarity with cost modeling, bills of materials or ERP and inventory systems.
• A previous internship or co‑op in manufacturing, operations, procurement or a hardware company.
• Interest in energy, solar or high‑temperature materials.