Manufacturing Engineering Intern (Summer 2025)

Description

Whisker is the maker of Litter-Robot, Feeder-Robot, and Litterbox.com. At Whisker, we believe pet parenthood can always get better.

As leading innovators in pet tech and refined pet accessories, we work tirelessly to solve problems and deliver smarter insights for pet parents while enriching the lives of pets. Whether it’s a self-cleaning litter box that automates scooping, an automatic feeder that helps pets develop healthier eating habits, or a modern cat tree that delights both humans and felines, we strive to deliver better solutions for consumers while transforming pet care along the way. To us, having a pet is the best thing ever. At Whisker, life together just keeps getting better.

Whisker is based in Auburn Hills, Michigan and Juneau, Wisconsin with 600 passionate team members.

Internship anticipated to occur in May, 2025 through August, 2025

What You’ll Do:

The Manufacturing Engineering intern builds and develops assembly fixtures and performs time studies. They will participate in our manufacturing processes – on and off the assembly line.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

This list of duties and responsibilities is not all-inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties and responsibilities as deemed necessary.

• Creates work instructions and maintains current production processes
• Promotes and supports Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement activities in the Manufacturing facility
• Helps improve our material delivery systems and management through developing flow racks and kanban systems for the assembly lines
• Designs and manufactures jigs, fixtures, and assembly aids for the manufacturing process using rapid prototyping, and other manufacturing methods 
• Will perform additional responsibilities when required 

Requirements

What You’ll Bring:

• Pursuing a degree in Mechanical, Mechatronics, Robotics or Industrial Engineering
• Demonstrated hands-on mechanical ability and troubleshooting
• High degree of initiative, self-motivation and ability to motivate others
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with Team Members and colleagues
• Exposure and previous use of 3D CAD, preferably in SolidWorks
• Comfortable with hand tools to create prototype parts and assemblies 
• Comfortable with office pets (cats, dogs) 

Not Required but Nice to Have!

• VEX, BEST, PLTW, OCCRA, Combat Robotics, FIRST or other design/build challenge experience are a plus. Including home projects
• Basic understanding of electrical systems
• Good understanding of computers and any coding experience 

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The physical demands described here represent those that a Team Member must meet to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the Team Member is regularly required to sit and talk or hear. The Team Member is frequently required to use their hands to handle or feel. The Team Member is occasionally required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms. The Team Member must lift and/or move up to 35 pounds and occasionally up to 75 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that a Team Member encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

Statement of Inclusivity:

We believe different perspectives make Whisker better and strive to create a place where everyone has equal opportunities to thrive.

Please ensure to regularly check your email spam folder for any communication from Whisker to avoid missing important updates regarding your application status.

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