R&D Engineering Intern

Primary Responsibility

Summer 2027 start date. The R&D Engineering Intern will work under the guidance of the engineering team and is responsible for design and development of innovative solutions for the Switching Devices product line. This position contributes to the overall success of the product line with involvement in pre‑launch project research through manufacturing launch, participation in technology developments within the innovation pipeline, and leadership of sustainability projects. Functional responsibility includes design, testing, and certification of switching‑device assemblies and components with respect to performance, reliability, DFMA, and cost optimization of the final product. The intern will work closely with the Engineering Manager, Program Manager, Engineering and MOL Supervisors, Design Engineers, Product Line Marketing Manager, Operations team members, Supply Chain Management, and Manufacturing personnel to develop products per the Pro‑Launch process.

Essential Functions

• Perform CAD solid modeling, design simulation, product specifications, drawing packages, Bill of Material (BOM) and Change Order (CO) creation, systems development, product testing and design validation.
• Design parts and assemblies including sheet metal, plastics, mechanisms, electrical and wiring, and/or packaging.
• Participate in new product development/introduction, innovation, idea creation and implementation, prototype assembly and testing, DFMA assessments, and other design‑to‑industrialization activities.
• Participate in project management and engage with multi‑disciplined teams to achieve goals using PROLaunch and other project management tools.
• Participate in Voice of the Customer (VOC) product and market requirements research.
• Maintain and upgrade existing products through Maintenance of Line (MOL) plus VAVE activity support.
• Provide assistance with 3rd‑party certifications such as UL, CSA, ISTA, and other regulatory agencies.
• Ensure timely completion to project commitment dates.
• Perform all operations using the highest safety and hygiene standards, electrical practices and established procedures; maintain a clean, orderly, and safe workplace.
• Work from written or verbal information, sketches, and drawings to perform design tests necessary to prove engineering designs, modifications, and improvements.
• Assist technical personnel in recommending changes to dimensions, fits, tolerances, finishes, configuration, material and processes of parts and assemblies to enhance the likelihood of passing design tests.
• Assist in preparing equipment for design tests – support the equipment, make electrical connections to test equipment, attach thermal couples, apply insulation techniques, etc.
• Complete test reports and all data entry using a computer, printer, and photographs.
• Assist witness tests for UL, CSA, and other certifying organizations.
• Analyze design test results (e.g., temperature rise data) and make structural change recommendations to improve results, if necessary.
• Work with engineering sketches and oral instructions to set up and perform design tests.
• Provide prompt responses to design test requests to support production and customer ship dates.
• Identify special or unusual conditions of design test failure modes, recommend design fixes to engineering, and assist engineering in developmental work.
• Become familiar with industry standards (IEEE, ANSI, NEMA, IEC, UL, & CSA) as necessary to perform required equipment design tests.
• Travel to high‑power labs such as Belmont Labs (Belmont, NC) or KEMA Labs (Chalfont, PA) to assist engineering in performing design tests.
• Obtain all necessary information to perform job assignments from engineers and manager; work with little supervision as the primary contact for coordination of improvements.
• Research, analyze, and help specify purchases and equipment required for Design Lab projects with assistance from engineers and manager.
• Under direction from engineers, modify or create technical drawings, material specifications, work instructions, and relevant safety documentation.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications

• Pursuing a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Electrical Engineering, or Engineering Technology from an accredited institution.
• Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.8 or higher.
• Willingness to relocate to the Cleveland, TN site for the internship (relocation assistance provided for candidates residing outside a 50‑mile radius).
• Eaton will not consider applicants for employment immigration sponsorship or support for this position (no CPT, OPT, STEM‑OPT, H‑1B, etc.).

Preferred Qualifications

• Minimum of one internship or co‑op experience, or the equivalent of three months of relevant experience.
• Understanding of phase‑gate project management tools and techniques.
• Experience working in a global business environment and with remote teams.
• Knowledge of ERP systems.
• Voice of the Customer (VOC) experience.
• Solid modeling experience and ability to develop detailed 2D drawings with tolerance controls, plus management of engineering documents via the Change Order process.
• Experience performing various engineering tests and analyzing results.
• Ability to contribute to team‑driven product development projects with a high level of personal accountability and excellent communication skills.
• Adherence to Zero Incident Safety culture and processes.

Pay

• Sophomore: $22.15 per hour
• Junior: $24.92 per hour
• Senior: $27.69 per hour