Position Summary
The Shape Corp student engineering program provides students with hands-on experience in a dynamic automotive product development environment. The Product Development Engineering Intern will support the design, development, analysis, testing, and launch of products while working alongside engineering and cross-functional teams. This opportunity is designed to help an entry-level engineering student apply classroom knowledge to real-world product development challenges and build practical technical skills.
Essential Job Functions
- Assist with product design and development activities from concept through validation and production launch.
- Create, review, and revise engineering drawings, models, specifications, and other technical documentation using CAD and product lifecycle management tools.
- Support engineering calculations, tolerance analysis, design reviews, and evaluation of product performance against customer and internal requirements.
- Assist with prototype builds, test planning, validation activities, data collection, and analysis of test results.
- Participate in design failure mode and effects analysis, structured problem-solving, root-cause investigation, and corrective-action activities.
- Support material, manufacturing process, and component selection while considering performance, quality, cost, timing, and manufacturability.
- Coordinate assigned project activities with Engineering, Program Management, Manufacturing, Quality, Test, Purchasing, and other teams.
- Track assigned deliverables, document project status, and communicate technical findings, risks, and recommendations.
- Participate in benchmarking, continuous improvement, and value engineering activities.
- Develop or update technical reports, presentations, engineering documentation, and work instructions.
- Follow applicable safety, quality, customer, and engineering standards while performing assigned work.
- Perform additional duties as assigned by the supervisor, not otherwise specified in this position description.
Education & Experience
- Currently pursuing a bachelor's degree from an accredited program in Mechanical Engineering, Product Design Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Engineering Technology, or a closely related field.
- 3.0 GPA or higher on a 4.0 scale.
- Coursework or project experience involving engineering design, mechanics, materials, manufacturing processes, CAD, testing, or data analysis.
- Proficient with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
- Able to work independently while also contributing effectively within a cross-functional team.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong analytical, technical, and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.
Preferred Qualifications
- Exposure to 3D CAD software such as CATIA, NX, Creo, or SolidWorks through coursework, student projects, or prior work experience.
- Familiarity with engineering drawings, geometric dimensioning and tolerancing, design for manufacturability, or product lifecycle management systems.
- Experience with prototyping, testing, data analysis, technical documentation, or structured engineering problem-solving.
- Participation in engineering design teams such as Formula SAE, Baja SAE, robotics, capstone design, or similar technical projects.
- Interest in automotive structures, lightweighting, product development, and advanced manufacturing.
Skills Required
- Currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Product Design Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Engineering Technology, or a closely related field.
- Minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale.
- Coursework or project experience involving engineering design, mechanics, materials, manufacturing processes, CAD, testing, or data analysis.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
- Ability to work independently and contribute effectively within a cross-functional team.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong analytical, technical, and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.
- Exposure to 3D CAD software such as CATIA, NX, Creo, or SolidWorks.
- Familiarity with engineering drawings, geometric dimensioning and tolerancing, design for manufacturability, or product lifecycle management systems.
- Experience with prototyping, testing, data analysis, technical documentation, or structured engineering problem-solving.
- Participation in Formula SAE, Baja SAE, robotics, capstone design, or similar technical projects.
Shape Corp. Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Shape Corp. and has not been reviewed or approved by Shape Corp..
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Wellbeing & Lifestyle Benefits — Wellbeing offerings are positioned as unusually comprehensive, including a 24/7 onsite gym and a Total Wellbeing Center with on-site and virtual support available to employees and families at no cost. These services broaden the non-cash rewards package beyond typical manufacturing benefits.
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Retirement Support — Retirement support is described as a meaningful part of the package, with a 401(k) match referenced as a recurring strength. This can increase total compensation value even when base pay is viewed as only mid-pack.
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Strong & Reliable Incentives — Incentives are portrayed as relatively dependable, with quarterly bonus payouts and efforts to keep schedules near 40 hours when demand softens. This consistency can help stabilize earnings for roles exposed to production cycles.
Shape Corp. Insights
What We Do
We are thinkers, believers and doers. At Shape, we don’t see the norm as our limit; we look at it as our opportunity to push limits and tradition. As a chance to bring something new to our customers, associates and communities. Ignite a career where you can be INVENTIVE, CONNECTED and YOU. Discover opportunities at shapecorp.com/careers. INTEGRATED ENGINEERING As a full service, tier-one supplier, our teams design, engineer, test and analyze metal and plastic automotive components and systems. Shape solutions provide automotive OEMs with lightweight impact energy management and body structure components that meet both customer requirements and global regulations. ADVANCED MANUFACTURING Each day we manufacture products that solve customer challenges, meet global regulations and create a workplace where each associate makes a difference. Process and material advancements position us as a pioneer in custom roll forming and specialists in injection molding, welding, stamping and aluminum processing.








