Systems Engineering Intern

Summary

Franklin Electric is a global leader in water and energy systems, and they are seeking a Senior-Level Systems Engineering Intern to support the development and sustainment of integrated water pumping systems. This role is designed for students to apply systems engineering principles to real, fielded products, bridging various engineering domains to enhance system performance and reliability.

Responsibilities

• Analyze and understand system-level requirements and how they flow down to motors, drives, controls, and mechanical subsystems
• Support root cause analysis of field issues by evaluating system behavior across operating conditions, interfaces, and use cases
• Identify and document system interactions and failure modes using structured methods (e.g., DFMEA, fault trees, causal analysis)
• Evaluate potential corrective actions and design trade-offs, considering performance, robustness, risk, and user impact
• Assist in defining and executing system verification and validation activities, including lab testing and field correlation
• Provide system-focused feedback to improve technical documentation, manuals, and technical bulletins
• Communicate findings in a clear, structured systems-engineering format to field engineers and cross-functional teams
• Configure and evaluate VFD–motor–pump system behavior across different operating scenarios
• Analyze control system behavior (e.g., stability, response, limits) in the context of overall system performance
• Use lab testing to validate hypotheses about system interactions, not just component functionality
• Support integration and system debug efforts that span controls, electrical, mechanical, and hydraulic domains

Skills

• Pursuing a Master's degree in Systems Engineering, or senior standing in Electrical, Mechanical, Controls Engineering, or a related field with strong systems emphasis
• Solid understanding of systems engineering concepts, including: Requirements definition and flow-down, System interfaces and integration, Failure and risk analysis (e.g., DFMEA), Verification and validation, Use Case development
• Strong analytical and system-level debugging skills
• Understanding of control system principles, including PID concepts
• Ability to clearly document and communicate system behavior and trade-offs
• Experience with CODESYS-based controls development, including C and ladder logic programming
• Proficiency with MATLAB and/or Python for system modeling, data analysis, or test result evaluation
• Coursework or experience with electromechanical systems, including VFDs, motors, or pump systems
• Familiarity with systems engineering methods, including requirements flow-down, failure analysis, and risk assessment (e.g., DFMEA)
• Experience translating lab and field data into system-level insights and design recommendations

Qualifications

Must Haves

• Pursuing a Master's degree in Systems Engineering, or senior standing in Electrical, Mechanical, Controls Engineering, or a related field with strong systems emphasis
• Solid understanding of systems engineering concepts, including: Requirements definition and flow-down, System interfaces and integration, Failure and risk analysis (e.g., DFMEA), Verification and validation, Use Case development
• Strong analytical and system-level debugging skills
• Understanding of control system principles, including PID concepts
• Ability to clearly document and communicate system behavior and trade-offs

Nice to Haves

• Experience with CODESYS-based controls development, including C and ladder logic programming
• Proficiency with MATLAB and/or Python for system modeling, data analysis, or test result evaluation
• Coursework or experience with electromechanical systems, including VFDs, motors, or pump systems
• Familiarity with systems engineering methods, including requirements flow-down, failure analysis, and risk assessment (e.g., DFMEA)
• Experience translating lab and field data into system-level insights and design recommendations

Benefits

• Networking opportunities
• Lunch and learns
• Many opportunities for team building (like the competitive Intern Cornhole Tournament)
• A presentation to Senior Leaders and Executives in the company