Automation Engineer Intern

*** If you are viewing this opportunity outside of our website and are interested in applying or if you would like to see a list of all our open BTD positions, please go to: www.btdmfg.com***

Company Overview:

BTD is a fast growing metalworking company. We provide custom metalwork services for some of the world’s top brands. Our 1100+ employees work from four facilities throughout the Midwest and Southeast. We invest in our people, our equipment, and our facilities to offer our clients the best value possible. We are also a wholly-owned subsidiary of Otter Tail Corporation, a publicly traded company on NASDAQ.

Summary:  Support the Engineering Supervisor in all activities pertaining to a project. The scope of this job will include planning, budgeting, designing, implementing, and overseeing all activity pertaining to a named project.

Safety is #1 at BTD:  Our expectation is that every employee: 1) Strictly follows safety policies, rules and safe work methods. 2) Promptly corrects or reports safety hazards or unsafe conditions. Promptly reports injuries for prompt diagnosis and treatment. 3) Makes regular suggestions for safety process improvements to support continuous improvement in safety.

Essential Functions: Research, justify, & implement new technology. Investigate cost or productivity improvements and conducts cost justification and feasibility studies where applicable.  Design specialty tools and equipment to improve productivity, quality, and safety in production.  Design specialty returnable containers to meet customer specifications and needs.

1. Take direction from Engineering Supervisor to determine how technology could fit the company’s needs while providing a quality product to that customer.
2. Provide engineering support to sales and the customer to help develop products within the scope of company’s capabilities continually modifying and improving processes and increase flexibility.
3. Report to internal departments on the customer needs, wants and requirements to provide quality products to the customers in the most productive manner
4. Communicate companies capabilities and processes and access customer needs through Sales
5. Understand blueprints and tooling in order to analyze the feasibility of a move to a more economical manufacturing process.
6. Research new equipment purchases where new products or concepts are needed to get a finished product to the customer in the most productive manner possible.
7. Assist the implementation of ideas and/or special projects, knowing the resources necessary to obtain information to complete projects.
8. Assist Engineering Supervisor and/or other engineers in the design and detailing of items within a project with the assistance of 2-D CAD and/or SolidWorks design software.
9. Formulate optimal processes in the production of parts based on clear understanding of the capabilities of equipment and customer needs.
10. Write and edit robotic programs needed to produce parts for the customer.
11. Prepare charts, graphs, and diagrams to illustrate workflow, routing, floor layouts, material handling, and machine utilization and calculate necessary data to verify process and/or identify improvement opportunities.
12. After design completion – perform construction/assembly, estimating and installation of said project.
13. Stay current on all matters that affect the company
14. Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: The minimum level of education and experience required to perform the job.

• Bachelor’s Degree in an engineering/technical discipline or
• Minimum four (4) years directly related experience
• Robotic programming knowledge (Fanuc, ABB, Universal Robots)
• PLC programming knowledge (line logic and/or block logic)
• 3-D CAD design experience
• Must possess a valid driver’s license.
• The ability to travel and be gone for a week or more if required. (New equipment installations, shows, seminars, training, customer visits, alternate plant locations, etc.)

Experience and Skills Required: Recent mechanical and shop experience that includes the following skills and abilities:

1. Working knowledge of technology and company products and processes
2. Ability to design parts, assemblies, and layouts using SolidWorks and other CAD software
3. Ability to effectively communicate and develop key relationships with internal and external suppliers and customers.
4. Ability to show initiative by seeking out and identifying new opportunities within the company
5. Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.
6. Capability of working with a high degree of personal discipline.

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of the job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear; taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of the job, the employee may be exposed to weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

(EO/AAMet/Disability Employer)