Engineering Co-op

Franklin International is currently looking for an Engineering Intern. The intern will assist engineering staff in applying established chemical engineering principles and problem solving practices, assisting with the optimization of existing processes and the introduction of new products and processes into the manufacturing environment.   

 
The successful candidate will be able to work 40 hours a week during the summer (during regular business hours, Monday through Friday).

Primary Job Objective

Engineering Interns support the Corporate Engineering group, located in Columbus, OH, serving multiple manufacturing sites and business units. This role is intentionally broad: interns may work on process improvement, scale-up, capital projects, reliability, automation, safety, or data-driven problem solving depending on business need and individual strengths.

Diverse engineering backgrounds are encouraged (chemical, mechanical, industrial, electrical, materials, etc.) due to the breadth and variability of the work. Interns are treated as shared technical resources and are matched to assignments based on their skills, interests, and demonstrated capability. Work may range from short, tactical tasks to larger, end-to-end projects with real operational impact.

Interns are expected to contribute as developing engineers in a live industrial environment.

 

Typical Assignments and Job Tasks

 

• Mapping and documenting manufacturing processes, equipment, or workflows
• Collecting and analyzing production, quality, or maintenance data
• Supporting root cause analysis of process or equipment issues
• Assisting with scale-up of new or modified products
• Evaluating process bottlenecks and improvement opportunities
• Supporting capital projects (scope, layouts, drawings, schedules, cost tracking)
• Developing equipment layouts or updating P&IDs and as-builts
• Assisting with equipment specification and vendor coordination
• Supporting trials, startups, or commissioning activities
• Conducting time studies or material balances
• Developing operator instructions or training materials
• Supporting safety or compliance initiatives
• Building simple analytical tools (Excel, dashboards, models)
• Preparing technical summaries and end-of-term presentations

Assignments may be:

• Short-term tasks (days to weeks)
• Medium projects with defined scope
• Or a primary project spanning the internship

Interns often work across multiple sites, departments, and disciplines.

 

Required Knowledge and Skills

 

• Students in chemical, mechanical, industrial, electrical, materials, or related engineering fields
• Curious, self-directed learners who want to understand how things actually work
• Comfort with asking questions, gathering data, and making sense of ambiguity
• Interest in manufacturing, operations, or applied engineering
• Strong analytical, communication, and documentation skills

 

Based in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin International is among the largest privately held manufacturers of adhesives and sealants in the United States. We opened in 1935 as the Franklin Glue Company and today are known as Franklin International to reflect our global distribution across 60 countries on six continents around the globe. Our Construction Building Products division provides the Titebond brand of glues, adhesives and sealants for use in woodworking and all facets of residential and commercial construction. Franklin International employs over 400 people in its laboratory, R&D center, sales/marketing offices and manufacturing facility, all located at its corporate headquarters in Columbus, Ohio. We are an American family-owned, U.S.-based company and our products sold in the U.S. are made in America.