Engineering Co-Op - Engines
Posted Aug 27, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Sep 20, 2026
Likely interview questions for this role
Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.
Behavioral
Tell me about a time you had to follow someone else's process or procedure closely, even when you might have done it differently. How did you handle that?
whether they can work under close supervision without pushing back inappropriately, since this is an entry-level structured role
Describe a time you had to explain something technical to someone who didn't have your background, maybe a teammate or a professor grading a report. How did you adjust your language?
written and oral communication skill, called out explicitly in the posting
Tell me about a group project where the schedule slipped. What caused it and what did you personally do about it?
awareness of how their actions affect product development timelines and cost, which the posting stresses
Tell me about a time you made a mistake on a design or calculation and someone else caught it. What happened after that?
whether they take ownership of errors and learn from feedback rather than getting defensive
Technical
Walk me through a class project or lab where you had to build a 3D model or drawing package from scratch. What tool did you use and what did the final deliverable look like?
whether they have real hands-on CAD experience, not just coursework exposure
Have you worked with Pro-E, or is your CAD background mostly in something else like SolidWorks or AutoCAD? How fast do you think you'd pick up Pro-E on the job?
honesty about the exact skill gap and realistic self-assessment of ramp-up time
Say you're given a 2D cross section and asked to convert it into a 3D model with a tolerance stack-up. What's your process for making sure the tolerances actually work together?
understanding of GD&T basics and whether they grasp why stack-ups matter for manufacturing
What generator or power equipment products have you looked at or worked with, even informally? What did you notice about how they're built?
genuine curiosity about the product domain versus generic engineering interest
How comfortable are you with Excel for things like tracking part specs or running basic cost comparisons? Give me an example of something you built in it.
practical Microsoft Office fluency beyond just claiming familiarity
Situational
You're asked to update a bill of materials for a part that's changing, but you're not sure which downstream teams use that BOM. What do you do before making the change?
caution and communication instincts around a task with real consequences if done carelessly
If you're designing a component and the manufacturing team tells you it can't be built the way you drew it, what's your next step?
willingness to collaborate with manufacturing partners and adjust designs for manufacturability rather than defend the original design
If your class schedule changes mid-semester and it conflicts with the 15 to 20 hour weekly commitment here, how would you handle that conversation with your manager?
reliability and proactive communication about a co-op's inherently variable schedule
When you don't know how to do something on a project, what's your first move: ask a teammate, search online, dig through documentation, or something else?
problem-solving approach and comfort using existing procedures rather than freelancing solutions
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As published by Generac.
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