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Summer Internship - Automation Engineering

Sportech Elk River, Minnesota, United States

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Salary: $21 / hour

Posted Feb 10, 2026Apply by Mar 12, 2026

Role & seniority: Automation Engineering Intern (undergraduate, junior or senior standing)

Stack/tools: automated manufacturing environment; robotics; PLCs; sensors; data collection; system testing; LEAN automation; Microsoft Office (Excel)

Top 3 responsibilities

  • Support development and improvement of automated manufacturing processes (PLC programming assistance, robotic path validation, sensor integration, data collection, testing)

  • Gather operator and design feedback to improve manufacturability, focusing on automation opportunities, error-proofing, and cycle-time reduction

  • Collaborate cross-functionally to identify automation enhancements, assist with line layouts, and help create work instructions and troubleshooting guidelines

Must-have skills

  • Enrolled in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Mechatronics, Automation, Robotics or related engineering program

  • Junior or Senior standing; minimum GPA 3.0

  • Strong organization, teamwork, and communication; ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines

  • Proficiency with Microsoft Excel; comfortable collaborating with internal teams and external partners; demonstrated integrity

Nice-to-haves

  • Exposure to PLCs, robotics, sensors, data-driven process improvement, and LEAN automation initiatives

  • Experience with automated fixtures/tooling development and root-cause analysis

Location & work type: Elk River, MN; Internship (paid, full/part-time opportunities depending on offer)

Full Description

Description

Sportech is a rapidly growing company in Elk River, MN. We are looking for talented people who wish to join a values-based company that desires to help our people and customers win. We design, manufacture, and assemble cab components and systems for the powersports, golf and turf, industrial and agricultural end markets. Our design and engineering capabilities allow us to provide complex components and assemblies to our original equipment manufacturer customers. We are always on the gas and seeking dynamic, enthusiastic, and motivated individuals to join our extraordinary team.

Sportech offers Interns a 401k plan with up to a 4% employer match and paid company holidays. Further benefits information is provided as part of the offer process for any offer extended by Sportech to a potential future employee. Pay varies by position and is based on multiple factors including labor market data and, depending on position, may include education, work experience, and/or certifications.

Job Summary

Sportech offers qualified engineering students a real-world experience working in an innovative program designed to enhance academic experience, professional growth, and personal development. Students will be actively involved in concurrent engineering with Sportech’s customers and suppliers with fundamental exposure to an array of applications. As an Automation Engineering intern, you will support the development, implementation, and optimization of automated manufacturing processes. You’ll gain hands-on experience with robotics, PLCs, sensors, and other automation technologies used throughout our production environment.

Essential Job Functions

Work directly with Automation and Manufacturing Engineers to support the development and improvement of automated manufacturing processes, including PLC programming assistance, robotic path validation, sensor integration, data collection, and system testing Gather feedback from production operators and design teams to improve manufacturability, focusing on opportunities for automation, error-proofing, and cycletime reduction Analyze and propose updates to automated line layouts Assist with the design and build of automated fixtures or tooling Collaborate crossfunctionally (Production, Quality, Maintenance, and Engineering) to identify and propose automation enhancements that improve material flow and reduce manual handling Support creation of automated system work instructions, including operator interaction steps, safety requirements, and troubleshooting guidelines Partner with production teams to evaluate automation-related issues, participate in rootcause analysis, and implement improvements that increase uptime and process efficiency Participate in continuous improvement and LEAN automation initiatives, such as waste reduction, process standardization, errorproofing (pokayoke), and automation readiness assessments

Requirements

A participant must be currently enrolled in an accredited Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Manufacturing Technology, Mechatronics Engineering, Automation Engineering, Robotics Engineering or related field program Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines. Effective communication and interpersonal skills; comfortable working with various internal teams and external partners. Ability to work collaboratively and take direction from experienced team members. Demonstrated integrity and high ethical standards. Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools (Excel required). Participant must hold Junior or Senior standing. Participant must have a minimum overall GPA of 3.0.

Salary Description

$21 per hour

Seniority level Internship Employment type Internship Job function Engineering and Information Technology Industries Manufacturing

Automation EngineeringPLC ProgrammingRoboticsSensor IntegrationData CollectionSystem TestingManufacturing ProcessesCross-Functional CollaborationContinuous ImprovementLEAN InitiativesError-ProofingRoot-Cause AnalysisCommunication SkillsOrganizational SkillsTeam CollaborationMicrosoft Officemulti-locationreview:company

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