What are the responsibilities and job description for the Guardian Kettering Engineering Co-Op position at Guardian Industries?
Your Job
At Guardian Glass, a Koch company, we believe every employee has the ability to create value through innovation, critical thinking, and entrepreneurial ownership. Our Engineering Co-Op Program provides hands-on experience working alongside engineering, operations, project management, digital transformation, and manufacturing leaders who are solving real business challenges.
This role offers an opportunity to contribute to strategic engineering initiatives while developing technical, analytical, and leadership capabilities. Co-Ops will gain practical experience supporting manufacturing operations, capital projects, engineering standards, digital solutions, and data-driven decision making across multiple Guardian locations.
This position is ideal for students interested in Engineering, Data Analytics, Manufacturing Technology, Automation, Industrial Digitalization, or Project Engineering careers.
What You Will Do
As an Engineering Co-Op, you will:
Engineering & Manufacturing
- Support engineering teams in identifying opportunities to improve safety, reliability, quality, and operational performance.
- Participate in capital project planning, execution, and commissioning activities.
- Assist with equipment upgrades, automation initiatives, and manufacturing process improvements.
- Collaborate with facility engineers, project managers, and operations teams to solve technical challenges.
- Analyze engineering, project, and operational data to identify trends and opportunities for improvement.
- Develop dashboards, reports, and visualizations using modern digital tools.
- Support engineering data governance, document management, and information systems initiatives.
- Assist with implementation and adoption of engineering technology platforms.
Project Management & Business Skills
- Contribute to project scheduling, budgeting, risk identification, and project documentation.
- Engage with cross-functional teams to understand business objectives and operational priorities.
- Present findings and recommendations to engineering and business leaders.
- Participate in continuous improvement initiatives that create measurable business value.
Innovation & Value Creation
- Leverage emerging technologies, automation tools, AI-enabled workflows, and data analytics to improve engineering effectiveness.
- Challenge existing processes and identify opportunities to simplify, standardize, and improve business outcomes.
- Apply Principle Based Management concepts to decision-making and problem-solving.
Who You Are (Basic Qualifications)
- Currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree in:
- Mechanical Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Industrial Engineering
- Manufacturing Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
- Computer Engineering
- Data Analytics
- Engineering Technology
- Related technical discipline
- Able to work full-time during designated Co-Op rotations.
- Legally authorized to work in the United States without Visa Sponsorship needs (current or future)
What Will Put You Ahead
- Previous internship, manufacturing, laboratory, or project experience.
- Exposure to data analytics, programming, or engineering software.
- Experience using tools such as:
- Power BI
- Excel
- SQL
- Python
- Autodesk Construction Cloud
- Autodesk Forma
- AutoCAD
- Revit
- Procore
- SharePoint
- Exposure to world-class glass manufacturing and engineering operations.
- Experience working on real business challenges with measurable impact.
Hands-on involvement in major capital and facility improvement projects.
- Development of technical, business, and leadership skills.
- Coaching and mentorship from experienced engineers and business leaders.
- Understanding of Principle Based Management and value creation.
- Opportunities to build professional networks across Guardian and Koch companies.
At Koch companies, we are entrepreneurs. This means we openly challenge the status quo, find new ways to create value and get rewarded for our individual contributions. Any compensation range provided for a role is an estimate determined by available market data. The actual amount may be higher or lower than the range provided considering each candidate's knowledge, skills, abilities, and geographic location. If you have questions, please speak to your recruiter about the flexibility and detail of our compensation philosophy.
Why Guardian Glass
Guardian Glass is one of the world's largest manufacturers of float, coated, and fabricated glass products. Our team combines engineering excellence, innovative technology, and entrepreneurial thinking to create solutions that improve buildings, vehicles, and everyday life.
At Guardian, we empower employees to challenge the status quo, develop their capabilities, and create long term value for customers, communities, and the company.Hiring Philosophy
All Koch companies value diversity of thought, perspectives, aptitudes, experiences, and backgrounds. We are Military Ready and Second Chance employers. Learn more about our hiring philosophy here.
Who We Are
As a Koch company, Guardian Glass is one of the world's largest manufacturers of float, value-added and fabricated glass products and solutions. We produce high-performance glass for architectural, residential, interior, transportation and technical glass applications. You'll find our glass in homes, offices and cars and in some of the world's most iconic projects. As an Engineering Co-Op, you'll gain hands-on experience working with engineering, operations, and technology teams to solve real business challenges, support manufacturing excellence, and develop valuable technical, analytical, and leadership skills. If you're looking to apply your talents, make a meaningful impact, and accelerate your professional growth, we encourage you to apply and help us create lasting value for our customers, communities, and company.
At Koch, employees are empowered to do what they do best to make life better. Learn how our business philosophy helps employees unleash their potential while creating value for themselves and the company.
Our Benefits
Our goal is for each employee, and their families, to live fulfilling and healthy lives. We provide essential resources and support to build and maintain physical, financial, and emotional strength - focusing on overall wellbeing so you can focus on what matters most. Our benefits plan includes - medical, dental, vision, flexible spending and health savings accounts, life insurance, ADD, disability, retirement, paid vacation/time off, educational assistance, and may also include infertility assistance, paid parental leave and adoption assistance. Specific eligibility criteria is set by the applicable Summary Plan Description, policy or guideline and benefits may vary by geographic region. If you have questions on what benefits apply to you, please speak to your recruiter.
Additionally, everyone has individual work and personal needs. We seek to enable the best work environment that helps you and the business work together to produce superior results.
Equal Opportunities
Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and protected veteran status. Except where prohibited by state law, some offers of employment are conditioned upon successfully passing a drug test. This employer uses E-Verify. Please click here for additional information. (For Illinois E-Verify information click here, aqui, or tu).