What are the responsibilities and job description for the Summer 2026 - Automation Engineer Intern position at Koch?
Your Job
At Koch, Inc. our mission is to help people improve their lives by making and innovating valuable products and services. But Koch Inc. isn’t just Koch. We have a variety of companies that work in many industries and create thousands of essential products that you use every day. Industry leaders like Georgia-Pacific, INVISTA, and Guardian manufacture many of the materials that go into your home. We even have companies who create transformative technology and fuel transportation, like Infor, Molex and Flint Hills Resources!
Koch has been selected as one of the Top 100 Internship Programs in the U.S for 2025 by WayUp. The internship opportunity will be a 12-week program running from late-May to early August 2026.
At Koch, we believe that everyone should be an entrepreneur no matter what role they have. As an intern, co-op, or new graduate there are countless opportunities for you to be challenged, have your voice heard and gain real experience within our companies. Sound exciting? Do you want to be a part of meaningful work? Kickstart your career with us by applying today!
Our Team
Koch Ag and Energy Solutions (KAES) is seeking a motivated Automation Intern to join our team. This internship provides hands-on experience working with automation systems and engineering projects that support next-generation industrial solutions. You will gain valuable exposure to control system programming, data analysis, and automation hardware/software integration in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
What You Will Do
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
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, aquí, or tu).
At Koch, Inc. our mission is to help people improve their lives by making and innovating valuable products and services. But Koch Inc. isn’t just Koch. We have a variety of companies that work in many industries and create thousands of essential products that you use every day. Industry leaders like Georgia-Pacific, INVISTA, and Guardian manufacture many of the materials that go into your home. We even have companies who create transformative technology and fuel transportation, like Infor, Molex and Flint Hills Resources!
Koch has been selected as one of the Top 100 Internship Programs in the U.S for 2025 by WayUp. The internship opportunity will be a 12-week program running from late-May to early August 2026.
At Koch, we believe that everyone should be an entrepreneur no matter what role they have. As an intern, co-op, or new graduate there are countless opportunities for you to be challenged, have your voice heard and gain real experience within our companies. Sound exciting? Do you want to be a part of meaningful work? Kickstart your career with us by applying today!
Our Team
Koch Ag and Energy Solutions (KAES) is seeking a motivated Automation Intern to join our team. This internship provides hands-on experience working with automation systems and engineering projects that support next-generation industrial solutions. You will gain valuable exposure to control system programming, data analysis, and automation hardware/software integration in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
What You Will Do
- Collaborate with operators, technicians, IT staff, and engineers to understand manual processes and translate these into automated control programs.
- Help design, program, and commission automation solutions using PLCs and control systems.
- Assist in troubleshooting and resolving hardware or software issues on-site or remotely.
- Participate in lifecycle planning for automation hardware, including controllers, HMI’s and associated equipment.
- Support cybersecurity initiatives by helping assess and remediate risks related to connected control assets.
- Contribute to building and maintaining detailed technical documentation, control narratives, and commissioning checklists.
- Use emerging tools (including AI-enabled platforms) to improve documentation, knowledge sharing, and process automation workflows.
- Travel occasionally to various plant locations to gain hands-on experience and inspect equipment installations.
- Document your learning journey and provide feedback on challenges, solutions, and process improvements.
- Currently enrolled in a degree program related to one of the following areas: Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering (with programming interest), or related technical field
- Familiarity, projects, or entry level experience with programming languages (Ladder Logic, Python, C/C , Microcontroller projects).
- Legal authorization to work permanently in the United States for any employer without requiring a Visa transfer or Visa sponsorship
- Initiative, natural curiosity, strong communication skills, and an aptitude for fast-paced learning
- Basic understanding of automation technologies such as PLC programming (Allen-Bradley, Schneider, Ignition, HMI Software) industrial networks, and control systems.
- Willingness to learn and interest in industrial automation, hardware lifecycle management, and data integration.
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
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, aquí, or tu).