Automation and Controls Engineer Internships
Automation and controls engineer internships give university students, recent graduates, and early-career switchers hands-on project experience with real industrial systems, mentorship from working engineers, and, at many employers, a path toward a full-time offer. Openings are concentrated in {{top_industries_phrase}}, with Hargrove Controls + Automation, ATI, and Hatch among the employers posting roles now.
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Charter Manufacturing is a fourth-generation family-owned business where our will to grow drives us to do it better. Join the team and become part of our family!
Charter Steel is a leading American supplier of carbon and alloy steel bar, rod and wire products, and the largest steel coil processor in North America. As a fully integrated steelmaker with locations in Ohio and Wisconsin, Charter Steel offers a full range of grade and size coiled products and vast technical service experience. Charter Steel is a member of the Charter Manufacturing family of companies.
About the Automation & Controls Engineer Internship:
Gain hands-on experience supporting automation and controls projects while learning the steelmaking process, developing HMI (Human Machine Interface) software, and troubleshooting automated systems. You'll collaborate with engineers to test and improve control systems, contribute to future design enhancements, and build valuable project management and technical communication skills.
- Schedule: Part-time (15-20 hours/week) during the academic year and full-time (40 hours/week) during the summer.
- Location: Saukville, WI
- Start Date: January 2027
- Duration: Year-round internship
What we're looking for:
- Enrollment in a four-year degree program in Electrical/Controls Engineering or a related field with current status of at least a Sophomore level.
- Cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office software: Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills.
- Strong interpersonal and relationship building skills.
- Ability to succeed in a team environment.
- Ability to handle multiple tasks.
Preferred experience:
- Training in PLC languages.
- Experience with AutoCAD, Microsoft SQL, Wonderware InTouch.
What you'll focus on:
- Design, develop, and execute projects within a Human Machine Interface (HMI) environment.
- Support real-time manufacturing through control system programming and automation.
- Design, research, and enhance operator graphical user interfaces (GUIs) to improve production workflow.
- Learn and integrate new manufacturing technologies, including safety lasers, proximity switches, robotics, and PLCs, into HMI systems.
- Collaborate with engineers and operations teams to troubleshoot, test, and continuously improve automation and control systems.
What Sets Our Internship Program Apart: Work on meaningful projects while receiving mentorship, professional development, and networking opportunities that help launch your career. Our paid internship program also includes signature experiences like Charter's Intern Kickoff Day, volunteer opportunities, professional development workshops, and the Intern Summer Showcase.
#LI-AF1
#LI-Onsite
#CharterSteel
Internship positions are not benefits-eligible.Charter Manufacturing is a fourth-generation family-owned business where our will to grow drives us to do it better. Join the team and become part of our family!
Charter Steel is a leading American supplier of carbon and alloy steel bar, rod and wire products, and the largest steel coil processor in North America. As a fully integrated steelmaker with locations in Ohio and Wisconsin, Charter Steel offers a full range of grade and size coiled products and vast technical service experience. Charter Steel is a member of the Charter Manufacturing family of companies.
About the Automation & Controls Engineer Internship:
Gain hands-on experience supporting automation and controls projects while learning the steelmaking process, developing HMI (Human Machine Interface) software, and troubleshooting automated systems. You'll collaborate with engineers to test and improve control systems, contribute to future design enhancements, and build valuable project management and technical communication skills.
- Schedule: Part-time (15-20 hours/week) during the academic year and full-time (40 hours/week) during the summer.
- Location: Saukville, WI
- Start Date: January 2027
- Duration: Year-round internship
What we're looking for:
- Enrollment in a four-year degree program in Electrical/Controls Engineering or a related field with current status of at least a Sophomore level.
- Cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office software: Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills.
- Strong interpersonal and relationship building skills.
- Ability to succeed in a team environment.
- Ability to handle multiple tasks.
Preferred experience:
- Training in PLC languages.
- Experience with AutoCAD, Microsoft SQL, Wonderware InTouch.
What you'll focus on:
- Design, develop, and execute projects within a Human Machine Interface (HMI) environment.
- Support real-time manufacturing through control system programming and automation.
- Design, research, and enhance operator graphical user interfaces (GUIs) to improve production workflow.
- Learn and integrate new manufacturing technologies, including safety lasers, proximity switches, robotics, and PLCs, into HMI systems.
- Collaborate with engineers and operations teams to troubleshoot, test, and continuously improve automation and control systems.
What Sets Our Internship Program Apart: Work on meaningful projects while receiving mentorship, professional development, and networking opportunities that help launch your career. Our paid internship program also includes signature experiences like Charter's Intern Kickoff Day, volunteer opportunities, professional development workshops, and the Intern Summer Showcase.
#LI-AF1
#LI-Onsite
#CharterSteel
Internship positions are not benefits-eligible.Automation and Controls Engineer Internship Market
Who's Hiring
Tips for Your Automation and Controls Engineer Internship Search
Apply earlier than you think necessary
Large manufacturers and industrial automation companies recruit summer interns the preceding fall, closing cohorts before most students start looking. Smaller firms and co-op programs post closer to start dates, so openings appear year-round. Starting your search early gives you access to both structured cohorts and rolling openings.
Build a project portfolio before you apply
Hiring teams for automation and controls engineer interns expect limited work history and assess candidates on tangible project evidence instead. Document two or three completed projects, name the specific tools you used, such as PLCs, SCADA systems, or instrumentation setups, and link to code repositories, schematics, or design files wherever possible.
Work your campus network alongside direct applications
Campus career fairs surface structured programs tied to your university, and professors or career center staff often know which employers recruit from your school before roles post publicly. Applying directly to companies running smaller cohorts at the same time widens the pool you reach and catches openings that never appear at campus events.
Practice your technical screen out loud before applying
Automation and controls engineer intern interviews typically include a technical screen covering controls theory, circuit analysis, or PLC programming scenarios. Practice solving problems aloud and explaining your reasoning step by step, since interviewers weigh how you think through a problem as much as whether you reach the right answer.
Target structured rotational and university programs early
Many large industrial and manufacturing companies run formal rotational or university internship programs designed to train people new to automation and controls engineering. These programs recruit early and fill fast, so identify the ones that match your background and submit your application in the first wave of their recruiting cycle.
Set your work-type filter before you start searching
On-site roles are 100% of the automation and controls engineer internships listed here, since hands-on equipment work often requires a physical presence. Decide what you can realistically commit to before you start sorting through listings, then filter by location and work type on Migrate Mate so you only spend time on roles you can actually take.
Automation and Controls Engineer Internships: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get an automation and 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 showing the tools you used, such as PLC programs, SCADA configurations, or circuit designs, so recruiters have something concrete to assess. Combine direct applications with campus career fairs, where recruiters often move faster for students they meet in person.
Can an automation and controls engineer internship turn into a full-time job?
Many employers extend return offers to strong interns, but conversion is never guaranteed. What drives it for automation and controls engineer interns is consistent performance on real project work, available headcount on the team, and acting on the return-offer conversation before the internship ends. Position for one by treating every assignment seriously, without counting on it as a certainty.
When should I apply for automation and controls engineer internships?
Earlier than most expect. Large manufacturers and industrial automation companies recruit summer interns the preceding fall, often wrapping up offers before winter break. Smaller companies and co-op programs post closer to their actual start dates, so openings appear year-round. Checking listings regularly means you catch both the early structured cohorts and the later rolling openings.
Are automation and controls engineer internships paid?
Most professional automation and controls engineer internships in the United States are paid. Compensation varies by company size, industry, and location, and listings show it where the employer chooses to disclose it. Unpaid arrangements are uncommon in engineering fields but do occasionally appear at smaller firms or in nonprofit settings.
What should an automation and controls engineer internship resume include?
Lead with two or three complete, documented projects rather than work history, naming the tools used, such as ladder logic, HMI software, or instrumentation platforms, and linking to any available code repositories, schematics, or design files. Add relevant coursework in controls theory, electrical systems, or PLCs, and keep the entire document to one page.
Are there remote automation and controls engineer internships?
Yes. Remote and hybrid roles make up 0% of the automation and controls engineer internship listings here, with the rest on-site. Because controls and automation work often involves physical equipment, fully remote roles tend to focus on simulation, software configuration, or data analysis tasks. Remote cohorts fill fast, so apply early and filter by work type to see them.
Can international students get automation and 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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