Materials Engineering Intern - PENA Panasonic Energy of North America

Internship Details: 

• The program will be a fulltime paid summer internship working for Panasonic at the Gigafactory

• The program will be 12 weeks in length, and is planned to occur between Monday, May 19th and Friday, August 8th. This date range is subject to change

• Must be able to attend the entirety of the internship 

• Housing allowance provided

Program Requirements: 

• The program will be a fulltime paid summer internship working for Panasonic Energy of North America onsite at the Gigafactory 

• Must attend entirety of internship from the indicated start and end date noted above 

• Minimum 3.2 GPA 

• Must have completed a minimum of 2 years at an accredited university 

Essential Duties: 

• Characterize and understand fundamental material properties of metals before, during, and after battery manufacturing 

• Conducts failure analysis to improve battery cell safety, quality, or performance using optical microscopes, and SEM/EDS 

• Develop ex-situ evaluation and testing methods for metal components in cells to replicate in-situ loading conditions and environments 

• Analyze and evaluate process input/output data to reduce defects and improve battery performance 

• Presenting findings from characterization and failure analysis to process engineering groups as appropriate 

• Completion of reports summarizing project work 

• Other duties may be assigned 

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Requirements: 

• To ensure the health and safety in the workplace and for the protection of our employees, wearing PPE is a possibility and may include equipment such as a full Tyvek suit, safety shoes, gloves, safety glasses, face mask, bump cap, and a full hazmat suit that includes a respirator. 

The foregoing description is not intended and should not be construed to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills and efforts or work conditions associated with the job. It is intended to be an accurate reflection of the general nature and level of the job. 

What You'll Bring:

Education: 

• Completion of at least two years of full-time enrollment in a Bachelor’s degree program in Materials Science, Materials Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, Chemical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering 

Essential Qualifications: 

• Evidence of exceptional ability. Panasonic follows a culture of full-cycle engineering where members will have full responsibility and accountability for their projects from start to finish 

• Must be currently enrolled as a fulltime student at an accredited four-year college or university 

• Demonstrated experience solving difficult hands-on engineering problems with an ability to clearly articulate technical detail and thought process  

• Familiarity with basic lithium-ion battery chemistry 

• Good understanding of basic manufacturing principles 

• Strong problem-solving skills 

• Strong organizational skills 

• Excellent interpersonal, teamwork, and collaboration skills 

• Strong written and verbal communication skills 

• Ability to write and communicate technical information clearly and concisely 

• Skilled with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook) 

• Ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to a wide range of intellectual and practical problems 

• Must have working-level knowledge of the English language, including reading, writing, and speaking English 

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Previous coursework in battery science, materials analysis, or advanced manufacturing 

• Hands-on full-cycle engineering experience acquired through internships, jobs, research, or personal projects 

• A desire to create a sustainable future through energy storage, renewable energy, and electric vehicles 

Physical Demands: 

Physical Activities: (Percentage of time (equaling 100%) during the normal workday the employee is required to) 

• Sit: 40% 

• Walk: 30% 

• Stand: 20% 

• Lift: 10%  

Tools and/or Equipment: (Required frequency is:  Not required (0%), Occasional (1-33%), Frequent (34-66%, Continuous (67-100%) 

• Keyboard/Computer: Continuous 

• Office Equipment: Continuous 

• Phone Continuous 

Required Lifting and Carrying: (Required frequency is:  Not required (0%), Occasional (1-33%), Frequent (34-66%, Continuous (67-100%) 

• Up to 10 lbs.: Occasional 

• Up to 20 lbs.: Occasional 

• Up to 35 lbs.: Occasional 

• Team-lift only (over 35 lbs.): Not Required