Plastics & Composites Engineering Intern

At Trane Technologies^TM  and through our businesses including Trane^® and Thermo King^®, we create innovative climate solutions for buildings, homes, and transportation that challenge what’s possible for a sustainable world. We're a team that dares to look at the world's challenges and see impactful possibilities. We believe in a better future when we uplift others and enable our people to thrive at work and at home. We boldly go.

What’s in it for you:

Be a part of our mission! As a world leader in creating comfortable, sustainable, and efficient environments, it's our responsibility to put the planet first. For us at Trane Technologies, sustainability is not just how we do business—it is our busines. Do you dare to look at the world's challenges and see impactful possibilities? Do you want to contribute to making a better future? If the answer is yes, we invite you to consider joining us in boldly challenging what's possible for a sustainable world.

We are hiring a Plastics & Composite Engineering Intern as part of our Materials & Chemistry Network of Excellence Team, which is part of our Global Advanced Technology Organization. The mission of the Materials & Chemistry Network of Excellence is to enable product innovation and differentiation through leading-edge materials and chemistry technologies. We do this by leveraging internal expertise and external partners to accelerate technology implementation and translation across Trane Technologies' strategic business units. 

Where is the work:

This position has been designated as On-Site.

The Role

As a Plastics & Composite Engineering Intern within our Materials & Chemistry network, you will support strategic programs that advance the application of lightweight, multi-functional, and sustainable materials into Trane Technology products.  You will help identify and mature leading materials technologies.  In support of our strategic business units, you will support the application of plastics and composites for new product development, value engineering, quality, and reliability programs.  The location for this position is within the Thermo King Business Unit located in Bloomington, Minnesota.    

Essential Duties and Responsibilities (others may be added):

• Engage with strategic partners such as universities, national labs, and other companies to advance technologies towards commercialization for use in our products.
• Work with external resin suppliers, molders, tooling manufacturers, and testing labs to meet project deliverables. 
• Support and/or execution of required deliverables for new product development projects, quality/reliability projects, and cost improvement programs that involve design and application of plastic and composite components.
• Support short-term sustaining engineering needs from the business unit (failure analysis, supply disruption, quality issues, general consulting).
• Use appropriate analytical and test methods in designing parts, selecting appropriate manufacturing materials and processes, and in creating test plans to ensure that the product meets or exceeds customer's requirements.
• Manage timelines for design, fabrication, and qualification of plastic/composite products.
• Support technical design reviews as part of the product development process and support external reviews with suppliers for tooling and molding of plastic/composite products. 
• Identify opportunities for metal to plastic conversion to reduce weight, reduce cost, integrate parts, improve reliability, or to simplify the manufacturing and assembly process.
• Advocate for sustainability through use of tools that optimize part designs to minimize waste, evaluate use of sustainable materials for each application, and identify/mature new technologies that can help reduce our carbon footprint. 

Qualifications:

• Pursuing a Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Materials, Plastics, Composites, or Polymer Engineering. 
• Mechanical Engineering degree with an interest in plastics/composites will also be considered.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES DESIRED:

• Self-started and quick learner, able to work with minimum supervision.
• CAD Modeling – modeling experience is a plus (PTC CREO preferred). 
• Demonstrated problem solving and analytical skills.
• Good verbal/written communication and presentation skills.
• Exposure or Knowledge/experience with any of the following – Compression molding, transfer molding, high pressure RTM, RIM, and basic composite forming processes, injection molding, blow molding, thermoforming, rotational molding, extrusion, or any other polymer processing methodologies.
• Exposure to methods of material characterization for modeling and simulation analysis. 
• Basic understanding Finite Element Analysis (FEA) for polymer-based materials is a plus. 
• Knowledge of thermoplastic and/or thermoset materials.
• Demonstrated problem solving and analytical skills to resolve technical issues.
• Excellent verbal/written communication and presentation skills. 

Equal Employment Opportunity:     
We offer competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits and programs. We are an equal opportunity employer; all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, pregnancy, age, marital status, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any legally protected status.