Associate Controls Engineer Internships
Associate controls engineer internships give university students, recent graduates, and early-career switchers hands-on project experience working alongside working engineers, and, at many employers, a path toward a full-time offer. Openings are concentrated across Automotive, Electronics & Hardware, and Banking & Financial Services, with Tesla, General Motors, and Olin Corporation among the employers posting roles now.
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Showing 4 of 43+ Associate Controls Engineer Internships
Date: Nov 9, 2026
Location: Chillicothe, OH, US, 45601-8829
Company: PACCAR
PACCAR is a Fortune 500 company established in 1905. PACCAR Inc is recognized as a global leader in the commercial vehicle, financial, and customer service fields with internationally recognized brands such as Kenworth, Peterbilt, and DAF trucks. PACCAR is a global technology leader in the design, manufacture and customer support of high-quality light-, medium-, and heavy-duty trucks under the Kenworth, Peterbilt and DAF nameplates. PACCAR also designs and manufactures advanced diesel engines, provides financial services and information technology, and distributes truck parts related to its principal business.
Whether you want to design the transportation technology of tomorrow, support the staff functions of a dynamic, international leader, or build our excellent products and services — you can develop the career you desire with PACCAR. Get started!
Kenworth Truck Company
Kenworth Truck Company is the manufacturer of The World’s Best® heavy and medium duty trucks. Kenworth is an industry leader in providing fuel-saving technology solutions that help increase fuel efficiency and reduce emissions. The company’s dedication to the green fleet includes aerodynamic trucks, compressed and liquefied natural gas trucks, and medium duty diesel-electric hybrids.
SUMMARY
Interns assist the company with tasks set out by various teams, such as research, data capturing and working closely with different team members to learn more about the company.
- Assist the maintenance technicians with troubleshooting and maintaining controls and automated production equipment, including robotic equipment.
- Maintains necessary records and documentation, preparing management reports as assigned.
- Work with Accounting and Purchasing to resolve the supplier payment system.
- Ensures compliance with environmental procedures, ensures compliance with NEC, NFPA, and OSHA regulations and recommendations.
- Fulfilling tasks set out by supervision from several departments.
- Attending meetings and taking minutes.
- Performing research at a supervisor’s request.
- Attendance is an essential function of all positions.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
- Actively enrolled in an engineering program or similar discipline
- Knowledge of city, state, and federal electrical knowledge required. Knowledge of mechanical and safety codes preferred.
- Experience with Rockwell programming software including: RSLogix, 5000, RSLogix5, RSLogix500, RSView32, Panelbuilder32, Factory/Talk View Studio, and DriverExplorer, or Drive Executive.
- Experience with robotic programming. Hands on experience with equipment controls.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
MUST MEET PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE POSITION WITH OR WITHOUT ACCOMMODATIONS.
TESTS TO DETERMINE QUALIFICATIONS MAY BE GIVEN TO CANDIDATES.
Physical Requirements
- Must meet physical requirements of the position with or without accommodations.
Additional Job Board Information
If you would like more information about what makes PACCAR an excellent place to work, please visit the PACCAR Career Site.
PACCAR is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veteran/Disability.
Job Segment: Controls Engineer, Entry Level Engineer, Intern, Developer, Electrical, Engineering, Entry Level, Technology
Date: Nov 9, 2026
Location: Chillicothe, OH, US, 45601-8829
Company: PACCAR
PACCAR is a Fortune 500 company established in 1905. PACCAR Inc is recognized as a global leader in the commercial vehicle, financial, and customer service fields with internationally recognized brands such as Kenworth, Peterbilt, and DAF trucks. PACCAR is a global technology leader in the design, manufacture and customer support of high-quality light-, medium-, and heavy-duty trucks under the Kenworth, Peterbilt and DAF nameplates. PACCAR also designs and manufactures advanced diesel engines, provides financial services and information technology, and distributes truck parts related to its principal business.
Whether you want to design the transportation technology of tomorrow, support the staff functions of a dynamic, international leader, or build our excellent products and services — you can develop the career you desire with PACCAR. Get started!
Kenworth Truck Company
Kenworth Truck Company is the manufacturer of The World’s Best® heavy and medium duty trucks. Kenworth is an industry leader in providing fuel-saving technology solutions that help increase fuel efficiency and reduce emissions. The company’s dedication to the green fleet includes aerodynamic trucks, compressed and liquefied natural gas trucks, and medium duty diesel-electric hybrids.
SUMMARY
Interns assist the company with tasks set out by various teams, such as research, data capturing and working closely with different team members to learn more about the company.
- Assist the maintenance technicians with troubleshooting and maintaining controls and automated production equipment, including robotic equipment.
- Maintains necessary records and documentation, preparing management reports as assigned.
- Work with Accounting and Purchasing to resolve the supplier payment system.
- Ensures compliance with environmental procedures, ensures compliance with NEC, NFPA, and OSHA regulations and recommendations.
- Fulfilling tasks set out by supervision from several departments.
- Attending meetings and taking minutes.
- Performing research at a supervisor’s request.
- Attendance is an essential function of all positions.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
- Actively enrolled in an engineering program or similar discipline
- Knowledge of city, state, and federal electrical knowledge required. Knowledge of mechanical and safety codes preferred.
- Experience with Rockwell programming software including: RSLogix, 5000, RSLogix5, RSLogix500, RSView32, Panelbuilder32, Factory/Talk View Studio, and DriverExplorer, or Drive Executive.
- Experience with robotic programming. Hands on experience with equipment controls.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
MUST MEET PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE POSITION WITH OR WITHOUT ACCOMMODATIONS.
TESTS TO DETERMINE QUALIFICATIONS MAY BE GIVEN TO CANDIDATES.
Physical Requirements
- Must meet physical requirements of the position with or without accommodations.
Additional Job Board Information
If you would like more information about what makes PACCAR an excellent place to work, please visit the PACCAR Career Site.
PACCAR is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veteran/Disability.
Job Segment: Controls Engineer, Entry Level Engineer, Intern, Developer, Electrical, Engineering, Entry Level, Technology
Associate Controls Engineer Internship Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Automotive
- Electronics & Hardware
- Banking & Financial Services
- Food & Beverage
Tips for Your Associate Controls Engineer Internship Search
Apply earlier than you think necessary
Large manufacturers and automation companies open summer internship recruiting the preceding fall and close cohorts months before the start date. Smaller firms and co-op programs post closer to their start dates. Check listings consistently from early fall onward so you don't miss the first wave at structured programs.
Build a project portfolio before you apply
Hiring teams for associate controls engineer internships expect limited work history and look for documented evidence of hands-on ability instead. Compile two or three projects, each showing the PLC platform, SCADA tool, CAD software, or simulation environment you used, with files or screenshots reviewers can actually open and assess.
Work your campus network and apply directly at the same time
Campus career fairs surface structured programs tied to your university, and professors or career center staff often know which engineering employers recruit from your school before roles post publicly. Applying directly to companies running smaller cohorts alongside campus activity widens the pool you reach and increases your chances of landing a role.
Practice your technical screen out loud
Associate controls engineer intern interviews typically include a technical screen covering controls theory, circuit fundamentals, or systems problem-solving, depending on the employer. Practice working through problems verbally, explaining your reasoning as you go, since interviewers weigh how you approach a problem as much as whether you reach the right answer.
Target structured rotational and university programs early
Larger engineering and industrial automation companies run cohort or rotational intern programs specifically built to train people new to controls work. These programs recruit earlier than standard roles and fill fast. Identify the ones that fit your background and apply in the first wave rather than waiting until your preferred deadline.
Set your work-type filter before you start
On-site roles are 67% of the associate controls engineer internships listed here. Decide what you can realistically commit to before you start sorting through openings, then filter by location and work type on Migrate Mate so you spend your time on roles you can actually accept.
Associate Controls Engineer Internships: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get an associate controls engineer internship?
Lead with coursework and personal projects rather than work history, since hiring teams expect limited experience at the intern level. Build a portfolio of documented controls or automation projects, including schematics, PLC ladder logic samples, or simulation files, so recruiters have something concrete to assess. Pair direct applications with campus career fairs, where recruiters often move faster for students they meet in person.
Can an associate controls engineer internship turn into a full-time job?
Many employers extend return offers to strong interns, but conversion is never guaranteed. What actually drives it for associate controls engineer interns is consistent performance on real project work, available headcount on the team, and understanding when return-offer decisions are made so you can ask the right questions early. Treat the internship as a long audition and avoid counting on conversion before you have an offer in hand.
When should I apply for associate controls engineer internships?
Earlier than most students expect. Large manufacturers, automation firms, and engineering consultancies recruit summer interns the preceding fall, often wrapping up offers before the new year. Smaller companies and co-op programs post closer to their actual start dates, so openings appear year-round. Checking listings regularly and applying as soon as a role opens gives you the strongest chance.
Are associate controls engineer internships paid?
Most professional associate controls engineer internships in the U.S. are paid. Compensation varies by company size, industry, and location. Where an employer discloses pay, the listing shows it. Unpaid arrangements are uncommon in engineering fields but do occasionally appear at smaller firms or through academic credit arrangements, so read each listing carefully.
What should an associate controls engineer internship resume include?
Lead with projects, not work history. Include two or three complete, documented projects that name the tools and platforms you used, such as PLCs, SCADA systems, MATLAB, or CAD software, and link to any files, simulations, or design portfolios reviewers can open. Add relevant coursework in controls, instrumentation, or systems engineering. Keep it to one page.
Are there remote associate controls engineer internships?
Yes. Remote and hybrid roles make up 33% of the associate controls engineer internship listings here, with the rest on-site. Remote cohorts tend to fill fast because they attract applicants from across the country, so apply early and filter by work type to see them before they close.
Can international students get associate controls engineer internships?
Yes. F-1 students can intern through CPT while enrolled or through OPT work authorization after finishing a degree, and the employer does not have to file anything for either, so many companies are open to international interns. Confirm your eligibility and timing with your university's international student office before accepting an offer.
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