Process Control Specialist Internships
Process control specialist internships give university students, recent graduates, and early-career switchers hands-on project experience in live industrial environments, mentorship from working process engineers, and, at many employers, a path toward a full-time offer. Openings are concentrated in Automotive and Manufacturing, with Cleveland-Cliffs, United States Steel, and Cameron LNG among the employers posting roles now.
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Showing 5 of 15+ Process Control Specialist Internships
The Process Engineering Intern will participate in Process Development Activities under the mentorship of Process Control Team Lead.
Transportation Worker Identification Credentials (TWIC) will be required.
Responsibilities:
Process Control performance data gatheringDynamic Process Simulation Exercises
Technical Presentations
Qualifications:
Education:
- Must have completed 60 hours of college credit by May 2023 with a concentration in Chemical Engineering (B.Sc. or M.Sc.) is required.
- GPA of 3.0 or above is required.
Experience:
- Process Simulation Practice and any other relevant work experience is preferred but not required.
Skills/ Knowledge/ Abilities:
Knowledge of UniSIM
Process operation Natural Gas Treatment
MS-Office programs, especially Word and Excel
Work Schedule:
40 hours a week
Physical Requirements:
- Must be able to stand, walk, climb, run, sit, kneel, twist, bend, pull, push, carry, lift, reach overhead and drive. Most activities involve movement of either the upper and lower body extremities or both and the joints associated with these areas of the body.
- Must be able to climb stairs and ladders that ranges from 4 ft to 200 ft.
- Must be able to wear safety equipment such as safety harness, respirator and other protective equipment as needed to perform job.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions as defined per Company policy.
The Process Engineering Intern will participate in Process Development Activities under the mentorship of Process Control Team Lead.
Transportation Worker Identification Credentials (TWIC) will be required.
Responsibilities:
Process Control performance data gatheringDynamic Process Simulation Exercises
Technical Presentations
Qualifications:
Education:
- Must have completed 60 hours of college credit by May 2023 with a concentration in Chemical Engineering (B.Sc. or M.Sc.) is required.
- GPA of 3.0 or above is required.
Experience:
- Process Simulation Practice and any other relevant work experience is preferred but not required.
Skills/ Knowledge/ Abilities:
Knowledge of UniSIM
Process operation Natural Gas Treatment
MS-Office programs, especially Word and Excel
Work Schedule:
40 hours a week
Physical Requirements:
- Must be able to stand, walk, climb, run, sit, kneel, twist, bend, pull, push, carry, lift, reach overhead and drive. Most activities involve movement of either the upper and lower body extremities or both and the joints associated with these areas of the body.
- Must be able to climb stairs and ladders that ranges from 4 ft to 200 ft.
- Must be able to wear safety equipment such as safety harness, respirator and other protective equipment as needed to perform job.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions as defined per Company policy.
Process Control Specialist Internship Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Automotive
- Manufacturing
Tips for Your Process Control Specialist Internship Search
Apply earlier than your peers expect
Large manufacturers, chemical companies, and utilities recruit summer process control interns during the preceding fall semester, often closing cohorts before spring semester begins. Smaller employers and co-op programs post closer to start dates, so check listings throughout the year and submit applications as soon as a role opens.
Build a project portfolio before you apply
Hiring teams for process control specialist interns evaluate candidates on documented technical work, not job history. Assemble two or three projects that show PLC programming, control loop tuning, SCADA configuration, or process simulation work, with the tools named and the files or writeups accessible. A shareable link or PDF carries more weight than a list of coursework alone.
Work your campus network alongside direct applications
Campus career fairs surface structured internship programs tied to your university, and professors or career center staff often know which employers recruit from your school before roles post publicly. Apply directly to companies running smaller cohorts at the same time, since many process control internships never reach campus recruiting channels and fill through direct applications only.
Practice your technical screen out loud before applying
Process control specialist intern screens typically include a technical or engineering fundamentals round covering control theory, instrumentation, or process dynamics. Practice solving problems out loud 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 cohort programs early
Larger employers in chemical processing, oil and gas, utilities, and advanced manufacturing run cohort-based internship programs designed to train people new to process control. These programs recruit early and fill in the first application wave. Identify the ones that align with your engineering background and submit before the fall recruiting window closes.
Set your work-type filter before you start
On-site roles are 100% of the process control specialist internships listed here. Process control work is predominantly facility-based, so decide what you can commit to before you start reviewing openings. Filter by location and work type first so you are not sorting through roles you cannot relocate for or that require on-site access you don't have.
Process Control Specialist Internships: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a process control specialist internship?
Lead with coursework and personal projects rather than work history, since hiring teams expect limited experience at the intern level. A documented project portfolio showing control system designs, PLC logic, or process simulation work gives recruiters something concrete to assess. Apply directly to open roles and attend campus career fairs, where recruiters often make faster decisions for students they meet in person.
Can a process control specialist internship turn into a full-time job?
Many employers extend return offers to strong interns, but conversion is never guaranteed. What drives it for process control specialist 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. Position yourself well, but keep applying to other opportunities rather than counting on one offer.
When should I apply for process control specialist internships?
Earlier than most students expect. Large employers in manufacturing, energy, and chemicals recruit summer interns during the preceding fall semester, sometimes as early as September. Smaller companies and co-op programs post closer to start dates, so openings appear year-round. Checking listings regularly means you catch both the early structured cohorts and the later rolling openings.
Are process control specialist internships paid?
Most professional process control specialist 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 internships exist but are uncommon in engineering and industrial settings, where intern work is technical and directly productive.
What should a process control specialist internship resume include?
Lead with projects, not work history. Include two or three complete, documented projects that name the tools used and where to see the work, such as a PLC ladder logic sample, a SCADA configuration writeup, or a process simulation file you can share. Add relevant coursework in control systems, instrumentation, or chemical and electrical engineering. Keep the whole document to one page.
Are there remote process control specialist internships?
Yes. Remote and hybrid roles make up 0% of the process control specialist internship listings here, with the rest on-site. Remote cohorts tend to fill quickly, so apply early once you spot one that fits. Use the work-type filter to separate remote, hybrid, and on-site listings so you are only reviewing roles you can actually accept.
Can international students get process control specialist 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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