Manufacturing Engineering Spring Intern/Co-op (2027) – Various Locations
Position Overview: The Manufacturing Engineering Intern/Co-op will work in a paper mill manufacturing environment supporting operational, reliability, and process improvement initiatives. This role provides hands-on experience applying engineering fundamentals to large-scale industrial systems while collaborating with operations, maintenance, and engineering teams.
Interns and co-ops will contribute to projects focused on safety, productivity, cost reduction, equipment reliability, energy efficiency, and environmental performance, preparing students for full-time engineering roles in manufacturing or process industries.
Program Details & Locations:
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Term: January 2027 – May 2027
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Schedule: Full-time (40 hours/week)
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Work Location: Smurfit Westrock Paper mill facilities across the U.S; Opportunities vary by location and business need
How you will impact Smurfit Westrock:
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Apply engineering fundamentals to real-world manufacturing challenges
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Analyze operational data and present findings to engineering and plant leadership
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Participate in continuous improvement and cost-reduction initiatives
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Follow and promote all plant safety rules and best practices
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Collaborate with operations, maintenance, EHS, and engineering teams
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Manage day-to-day activities of assigned roles, complete project tasks, and implement new processes
You will gain exposure to one or more of the following fields within the Pulp, Paper, and Packaging Manufacturing Industry, working in departments such as the Pulp Mill, Paper Machine, Utilities & Energy Systems (Power and Recovery), Maintenance & Reliability, and Process Controls.
Opportunities by Department:
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Analyze pulping and bleaching processes to improve yield, kappa control, and energy efficiency
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Support optimization of chemical usage and recovery systems
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Monitor and analyze process data to reduce variability and improve fiber quality
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Assist with environmental compliance related to water, effluent, and emissions
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Paper Machine
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Support paper machine performance optimization (throughput, quality, runnability)
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Analyze process variability and conduct root cause analysis of breaks or defects
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Support trials related to fiber blends, additives, and operating conditions
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Evaluate energy usage in dryer sections and recommend efficiency improvements
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Utilities & Energy Systems
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Support boiler, turbine, and steam distribution system optimization
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Analyze energy usage and support energy reduction initiatives
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Assist with water balance studies and process water optimization
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Support reliability improvements for critical utility assets
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Maintenance & Reliability
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Perform root cause failure analysis (RCFA) on equipment issues
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Support preventive and predictive maintenance programs
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Analyze maintenance and downtime data to improve asset reliability
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Assist with outage planning and execution
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Electrical, Controls & Automation
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Support PLC, DCS, and SCADA systems
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Assist with troubleshooting instrumentation and control loops
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Analyze process control data to improve stability and throughput
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Support automation, digitalization, and control modernization projects
Requirements:
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Candidates must be actively enrolled in an accredited engineering college/university program pursuing a degree in Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Paper Science/Engineering, or a related discipline.
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Ability to work effectively in an industrial manufacturing environment
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Be able to Maintain strict adherence to safety rules and regulations
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Ability to commit to a full-time work schedule for the duration of the co-op
What you need to succeed:
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Demonstrate an interest, willingness, and drive to learn new things; seek to understand concepts, processes, and ideas within area of functional expertise
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Excellent verbal and written communication skills: Clearly exchanges thoughts, ideas, and messages through written, verbal, and non-verbal methods that promote an understanding with the target audience; listens carefully and attentively
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Strong attention to detail and Problem-Solving: Identifies and analyzes problems; weighs relevance and accuracy of information; generates and evaluates alternative solutions; makes recommendations; demonstrates tackling a problem by using a logical, systematic, or sequential approach
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Ability to organize and prioritize workload: Plans, arranges and/or monitors work to ensure achievement of desired results; establishes a systematic course of action to accomplish objectives
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Demonstrates agility, flexibility, and a willingness to modify one’s approach to achieve desired results; responds quickly to changing demands, processes, and updated information
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Collaboration: Works effectively with others to complete a task or achieve a common objective; ability to cooperate in both interpersonal and team relationships to foster enthusiasm and maintain mutual trust, candor, and respect for others.
What we offer:
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Competitive hourly pay based on education and experience
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A culture based on safety, loyalty, integrity, and respect.
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Hands-on engineering experience in large-scale industrial operations
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Mentorship from experienced manufacturing engineers
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Comprehensive training with numerous learning and development opportunities
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Exposure to a global organization where Safety, Sustainability, and Inclusion are business drivers and foundational elements of the daily work.
