Mechanical Engineering Co-Op

About the Role

Our Mechanical Engineering Co‑Op will support advanced concept development, product innovation, and new product development initiatives within the Innovation & Expansion team. This position provides hands‑on experience in engineering design, laboratory testing, data analysis, prototype development, and customer‑focused product research. The co‑op will work alongside experienced engineers to evaluate emerging technologies, develop innovative product concepts, and validate designs through testing and experimentation.

The intent of this position is to provide meaningful engineering experience while developing the skills needed to support future roles in advanced product development, innovation engineering, and product testing.

Responsibilities

• Assist with development of advanced concepts, feasibility studies, and proof‑of‑concept prototypes for new products.
• Create CAD models, drawings, and engineering documentation to support concept development, prototype design, and product refinement.
• Build, assemble, and evaluate prototypes to assess fit, form, function, and performance objectives.
• Assist engineers in evaluating adjacent technologies, product architectures, and expansion opportunities.
• Support competitive product evaluations, benchmarking studies, and failure‑analysis investigations.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Product Management, Manufacturing, Quality, and Industrial Design teams.
• Support laboratory testing activities for product performance, durability, safety, and feasibility evaluations.
• Assist in developing and executing engineering test plans and documenting test procedures and results.
• Support design verification activities and correlate test results with engineering analyses.
• Collect, analyze, and present engineering data through reports, presentations, and recommendations.
• Assist with instrumentation, data acquisition systems, and development of laboratory methods and test fixtures.
• Document findings, recommendations, and lessons learned from engineering investigations and testing activities.
• Support pilot builds, development builds, and other engineering projects as assigned.

Qualifications

• Authorization to work in the United States.
• Undergraduate student pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering.
• Cumulative GPA of 3.3 or above preferred.
• Interest in product innovation, new product development, and emerging technologies.
• Basic understanding of engineering testing principles and experimental methods.
• Ability to interpret and analyze technical data.
• Experience with CAD software such as SolidWorks or equivalent.
• Familiarity with laboratory equipment, instrumentation, or data acquisition systems (preferred).
• Relevant experience through coursework, projects, internships, research, robotics, or engineering competitions is a plus.
• Interest in prototype development, rapid experimentation, and hands‑on engineering work.
• For mechanical candidates: interest in thermal systems, fluid systems, product design, or mechanical testing.

Skills

• Strong analytical and problem‑solving abilities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to technical accuracy.
• Ability to work independently while contributing effectively in a team environment.
• Curiosity, creativity, and a desire to learn new technologies and engineering methods.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple assignments.
• Interest in understanding customer needs and translating them into engineering solutions.

Schedule

This is a six‑month, full‑time co‑op term spanning January – July 2027. The position requires 100% onsite work at the Sun Prairie, WI location and will result in academic credit based on each student’s university co‑op policies.