Intern, Automation Controls Engineer (Spring 2027)

The role

You will support the wiring, fabrication, and documentation of controls and automation equipment on a pilot production line and lab. You will assist with sensor and field-device integration, PLC/HMI integration, and SOP creation.

What you will do

• Wire control panels, fabricate enclosures and brackets, and support mechanical build-out of automation equipment.
• Specify, order, and install sensors and field devices.
• Support PLC/HMI programming tasks under guidance.
• Read and red-line electrical schematics.
• Use tools such as Claude in PowerPoint/Excel to communicate scope of work.
• Help document standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the pilot line and lab equipment.
• Track task timelines and keep stakeholders informed of progress.

Required qualifications

• Organized, methodical work habits, with strong written documentation instincts.
• Willingness to ask “what’s the best approach?” before building, rather than working in isolation.
• Ability to follow and extend existing engineering conventions rather than starting from scratch.
• Basic understanding of electrical/controls concepts (sensors, digital and analog I/O, wiring fundamentals).

Nice to have

• Sheet-metal or shop-class experience.
• Exposure to PLC/HMI programming (e.g., basic sensor logic, ladder logic).
• Schematic drafting experience (electrical or mechanical).
• Experience sourcing industrial components (e.g., AutomationDirect).
• Experience with HTTP/REST and other software APIs

About the company

Heron Power is a startup company building cutting-edge power electronics for the 21st-century grid. The leadership team is made up of seasoned veterans who have designed and shipped gigawatts of power conversion products over the past decade.