Technical Product Benchmarking Intern

Turck, Inc.; Minneapolis (MN); On-site; USD 27,552 - 34,440; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Career growth opportunities

Collaborative work environment

Networking opportunities

Job summary

A global manufacturing firm in Minneapolis is seeking a Technical Product Benchmarking Intern. The role involves conducting a comprehensive benchmarking study of Fieldbus Technology products, blending hardware evaluation with market research. Candidates should be pursuing a relevant bachelor's degree and possess strong analytical skills. This internship offers exposure to industrial networking technologies and collaboration with cross-functional teams, providing valuable insights to support product strategy.

Qualifications

• Currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in a relevant field.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills are required.
• Interest in industrial networking and automation hardware.

Responsibilities

• Lead a comprehensive technical and commercial benchmarking study of Fieldbus Technology products.
• Set up, configure, and commission Fieldbus hardware.
• Build a detailed intelligence matrix comparing competitive products.

Skills

Analytical skills

Problem-solving

Technical documentation interpretation

Interest in industrial networking

Hands-on with hardware

Education

Currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering or Computer Science

Job description

Technical Product Benchmarking Intern - Minneapolis, MN

March 13, 2026

Salary Range:$20.00 To $25.00 Hourly

Internship Period:June 1, 2026 - August 21, 2026

TURCK has a reputation for high quality sensors, distributed I/O, and connectivity solutions. Responding to the expanding needs of our customers, TURCK’s offering has grown to include identification, safety barriers, isolators, machine safety, industrial controls, and system solutions. We dedicate ourselves to finding the optimal engineered solution for every application, no matter the challenge. With manufacturing sites in Germany, Switzerland, the USA, Mexico, and China -- all using the most up to date processes -- TURCK makes sure that you get what you need, when you need it, wherever you may be.

At TURCK, we are a growing, global team. In addition to great perks and challenging work assignments, we invest in our people with enriching career growth opportunities. We believe in a friendly and collaborative environment with open lines of communication.

What You'll Do

The Technical Product Benchmarking Intern will lead a comprehensive technical and commercial benchmarking study of Fieldbus Technology products. This role blends hands-on hardware evaluation with competitive market research, resulting in a detailed intelligence matrix that compares performance, integration effort, and commercial positioning. The insights generated will directly support TURCK’s product strategy, strengthen competitive knowledge, and provide valuable data to our sales partners.

This internship provides a unique opportunity to gain deep exposure to industrial networking technologies, hardware setup, troubleshooting, device configuration, and competitive product analysis.

Technical & Competitive Benchmarking

• Work with assigned 3–5 competitor Fieldbus product offerings for direct comparison.
• Complete a structured audit of competitor data sheets, installation guides, configuration software, and product documentation.
• Evaluate and document pricing levels, lead times, and commercial positioning for products.

HandsOn Hardware Evaluation

• Set up, configure, and commission Fieldbus hardware in a lab environment.
• Perform protocol interoperability testing across a range of industrial automation devices.
• Conduct diagnostic and maintenance scenario testing to assess real-world usability.
• Capture and compare feature sets, configuration workflows, and performance behaviors.

Comparative Analysis & Reporting

• Build a detailed intelligence matrix to compare strengths, weaknesses, and differentiators across competitive products.
• Identify capability gaps and potential opportunities for product improvement or repositioning.
• Summarize findings into actionable recommendations for Product Management and Sales.

Cross Functional Collaboration

• Work with Product Management, Product Engineering, Applications and Marketing, and teams to validate findings and ensure alignment with product strategy.
• Participate in discussions related to features, pricing, and market positioning.
• Support expansion of the competitive audit to Division 1 sensor products when appropriate.

Others

• Other responsibilities as needed.

What You'll Bring

Required:

• Currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering or Computer Science
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to interpret technical documentation and product specifications.
• Interest in industrial networking, Fieldbus protocols, or automation hardware.
• Comfortable working hands-on with hardware, configuration tools, and troubleshooting tasks.
• Ability to work independently with minimal direction.

Preferred:

• Familiarity with Fieldbus, Ethernet based industrial protocols, or controls/automation systems.
• Experience interpreting competitive technical information.
• Ability to present technical findings clearly to nontechnical stakeholders.

Internship Program Experience

• In addition to project-specific responsibilities, the intern will:
• Participate in a cross-functional intern cohort project.
• Present both their department-specific project and cohort project results to leadership.
• Attend development sessions and networking opportunities throughout the summer.

What You Will Gain

• Deep technical exposure to field-proven industrial networking technologies.
• Handson experience commissioning and troubleshooting automation hardware.
• Real-world experience performing competitive and market analysis.
• A strong understanding of how Product Management uses data to shape product strategy.
• Experience working cross-functionally with Marketing, Product Management and Quality.

It is the policy of TURCK to provide equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.