JobsGenerac

Intern Engineering - Advanced Manufacturing

Generac · Waukesha, WI

Posted Sep 17, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Sep 20, 2026

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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 class project or job where you had to map out a process step by step. What did you find when you actually walked through it versus what people assumed was happening?

whether the candidate has real experience observing and documenting a process rather than just reading about Lean concepts

Tell me about a time you had to convince someone with more experience than you that a change was worth making.

ability to influence without formal authority, which interns need constantly on a plant floor

Describe a time you had to work with a team of people who had very different backgrounds than you, whether that was a group project or a job.

ability to work with plant operators, engineers, and corporate staff who all speak differently about the same problem

Tell me about a time a project or experiment did not go the way you planned. What did you do next?

resilience and problem-solving instinct rather than a polished success story

Tell me about a time you had to explain something technical to someone who didn't have your background.

written and oral communication skills, which the posting explicitly calls out as a requirement

Technical

Walk me through how you'd use Pro-E or AutoCAD to update a work instruction or operator guide for a machine you've never worked with before.

actual comfort level with CAD tools versus just listing them on a resume

What do you know about Lean manufacturing or continuous improvement, and where did you learn it - class, internship, plant tour, somewhere else?

depth versus surface familiarity with terms like waste reduction and process standardization

What does OEE stand for, and how would you go about capturing data for it on a machine that doesn't already have a smart sensor on it?

exposure to Industry 4.0 concepts and practical thinking about instrumenting equipment

How comfortable are you with Excel - things like pivot tables, basic formulas, or organizing data for a report?

whether Excel proficiency is real or just a checkbox on the resume

Situational

Say you're on the shop floor and an operator tells you the new work instruction you wrote doesn't match what they actually do at the machine. What do you do?

willingness to go back to the source and update documentation rather than assume the operator is wrong

If you were asked to help justify a capital expenditure for a new piece of fabrication equipment, what numbers or information would you want to gather first?

basic grasp of how CapEx justification works, even at a rough level

If you noticed a process generating a lot of scrap but nobody on the floor seemed concerned about it, how would you approach bringing that up?

initiative and tact when raising an issue that might step on established routines

This role involves standing, walking, and occasional lifting up to 50 pounds, plus travel to other facilities. How do you feel about that kind of work, compared to a desk-only internship?

realistic expectations about the physical and travel demands of a manufacturing floor role

Practice this interview out loud.

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The full job description

As published by Generac.

We believe power is a promise - a shared commitment to be there for others when it matters most. For more than 65 years, we've turned big ideas into solutions that help protect homes, strengthen businesses and build a more resilient, efficient, sustainable energy future. Ready to Power a Smarter World with us? We are Generac, a leading energy technology company committed to powering a smarter world. Over the sixty-five plus years of Generac’s history, we have been dedicated to energy innovation. From creating the home standby generator market category, to our current evolution into an energy technology solutions company, we continue to push new boundaries. Generac’s Internship Program is designed to provide students with real-world experience in a supportive and innovative environment. Students contribute to impactful projects, gain exposure to industry’s best practices, and build lasting professional connections. This is a valuable opportunity to develop your skills and grow alongside experienced mentors. About the Internship Program: Generac’s Internship Program is full-time (40 hours per week) from May/June to Aug/Sept 2027. The program will be on-site, with positions in the following locations: Waukesha, WI (headquarters); Eagle, WI. • Support the implementation of innovative technologies and process improvements across fabrication and paint operations.  • Partner with Plant Operations and Corporate Engineering to map manufacturing processes and identify opportunities for new technology and improvements.  • Gain hands-on experience with Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement, including waste reduction and process standardization.  • Support capital expenditure (CapEx) justification for manufacturing technology and process improvements.  • Contribute to Generac’s Industry 4.0 initiatives by helping implement smart devices, digital platforms, and enhanced OEE data capture and display.  • Use Pro-E models, drawings, and templates to update work instructions and operator guides.  • Develop your technical and problem-solving skills through hands-on projects, engineering tools, and real-world manufacturing challenges. Minimum Qualifications: • Currently pursuing a BS degree in mechanical engineering or related field. • Understanding or working knowledge of Pro-E and/or AutoCAD experience. • Microsoft Office experience (including Excel). • Proficient oral and written communication and able to write clearly and succinctly to get a message across. • Ability to work FULL-TIME during the Summer – 40 Hour Week; Potential for Work Over Breaks Preferred Qualifications: • Completion of Sophomore year Key Duties and Responsibilities: • Research and evaluate innovative technologies and breakthrough processes to accelerate competitive manufacturing. • Develop and implement methods and procedures designed to eliminate waste and drive improvements in safety, quality, yield, scrap, productivity, and operating cost. • Coordinate activities and implement standards across multiple facilities. • Deploy standard Generac tools, methodologies, standards, practices, and processes. • Collaborate with shop floor personnel to promote continuous improvement of manufacturing methods, systems, and controls. • Utilizes CAD (Computer Aided Design) or CAE (Computer Aided Engineering) systems to recommend design improvements in support of DFM. • Travels to other Generac facilities, as necessary. • Other duties as assigned. Office Environment: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear; and use hands to manipulate objects or controls. The employee is regularly required to stand and walk. On occasion, the incumbent may be required to stoop, bend, or reach above the shoulders. The employee must occasionally lift up to 25 pounds. Specific conditions of this job are typical of frequent and continuous computer-based work requiring periods of sitting, close vision, and the ability to adjust focus. Occasional travel. Physical Demands:  While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear; and use hands to manipulate objects or controls. The employee is regularly required to stand and walk. On occasion the incumbent may be required to stoop, bend or reach above the shoulders. The employee must occasionally lift up to 25 - 50 pounds. Specific conditions of this job are typical of frequent and continuous computer-based work requiring periods of sitting, close vision and ability to adjust focus.   “We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.”

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