Automation Engineer Intern

Wunderlich-Malec (WM) Engineering is a 100% employee-owned ESOP and one of the largest and most well-established engineering companies in the United States. As an Intern at WM you become part of a company that is: * 100% employee-owned company with 40\+ years of industry history * A Top 5 Systems Integrator Giant * AN ENR top 500 firm Wunderlich Malec has an Automation Engineer Internship available – IIoT \& Edge to Cloud Systems to help develop the next generation of our industrial IIoT demonstration. This internship is centered on evolving our existing **Whack‑a‑Mole (WaM) IIoT Demo Kit**—a live, industrial‑grade system that demonstrates secure edge‑to‑cloud data flow using real automation, networking, and cloud technologies. While the demo presents as a fast‑paced game, it mirrors how modern manufacturing systems collect, process, and analyze data. This game will launch at an industry trade show in Fall 2026\. You will work closely with a **lead engineer** to transform this proven baseline into a more advanced, data‑driven, and visually compelling demo. **What You'll Do** During the internship, you will: * **Define the next‑generation demo scope** * + Review the current WaM system and identify improvement opportunities + Work with a lead engineer to define requirements and success criteria * **Develop engineering documentation** * + Create a **Functional Specification** describing system behavior and workflows + Create a **Design Specification** detailing hardware, edge, network, cloud, and data architecture * **Implement system improvements** * + Enhance hardware and software based on requirements and design + Improve IIoT data flow, reliability, and usability * **Build game‑based analytics** * + Use Whack‑a‑Mole game data to create **engaging analytics and dashboards** + Translate gameplay metrics into insights that demonstrate real industrial value * **Develop a user guide** * + Document setup, operation, analytics interpretation, and basic troubleshooting * **Present at a Fall trade show** * + Demonstrate the system live + Explain edge‑to‑cloud architecture, analytics, and business value to a mixed audience * **Plan what comes next** * + Create a maintenance plan + Propose future enhancements for the next internship cycle **What You'll Deliver** By the end of the internship, you will have produced: * Functional \& Design Specifications * Implemented IIoT and analytics enhancements * Game‑based analytics dashboards * A complete User Guide * Trade‑show presentation materials * A maintenance and future‑improvement roadmap All deliverables will be reused in future demos and customer engagements. **Who You Are** **Required** * Pursuing a degree in Electrical, Computer, Controls/Automation, Industrial Engineering, Computer Science, or related field * Strong interest in automation, IIoT, and edge‑to‑cloud systems * Comfortable documenting and explaining technical systems * Willing to work hands‑on with hardware and software **Preferred** * Exposure to PLCs, HMIs, networking, MQTT, or cloud platforms * Interest in data analytics or visualization * Comfortable presenting technical concepts to non‑technical audiences **Why This Internship Stands Out** * You’ll own a **real, industrial IIoT system**—not a simulation * Your work launches publicly at a **major trade show** * You’ll turn **game data into compelling analytics** * You’ll leave with a **portfolio‑ready, end‑to‑end project** * Future interns will build on *your* work **Working Environment** Standard office environment, On-site office environment, and diverse industrial environments. Frequent PC usage, fax machines, copy machines, phones. **Salary Range** Hourly pay rate of $25/hour.