Controls Engineering Coop
Mitchell
Experience Information
Employer: Mission Design & Automation
Job Title: Controls Engineer Coop
Major: Electrical Engineering
Received Credit: Yes
Paid: Yes
Abroad: No
Description of the Organization
Mission Design & Automation is a full-service machine integration company specializing in everything from retrofitting existing equipment to developing complete systems from concept to installation. Based in South Holland, Mission operates across three facilities and employs approximately 140 skilled team members dedicated to delivering innovative, turnkey automation solutions.
Description of the Tasks/Projects Completed
Over the past three semesters, I have contributed to a wide range of projects that have strengthened both my technical and practical skills. These have included numerous smaller R&D initiatives to validate concepts before integrating them into production equipment, as well as updating electrical schematics with redlines to correct wiring issues and improve documentation accuracy. I have also set up and operated a 3D profiling system to scan customer parts and generate the required measurement data. Most recently, I developed a control program from scratch for a punch cart, using four pneumatic cylinders to grip, move, secure, and punch customer parts. In addition, I have supported Mission engineers on customer sites during machine installations, gaining valuable hands-on experience and building strong customer-facing skills in real-world environments.
Skills/Knowledge Gained Through The Experience
Over the course of my three rotations, I have gained experience in PLC programming, HMI development, electrical panel design and wiring, Project flow, as well as communication with both customers and coworkers.
Favorite Part of the Experience
By far my favorite thing about Mission is its culture. Over the past decade, I have worked in many different jobs, and I have never found another company that so clearly puts people first. At Mission, relationships, trust, and genuine care for employees, vendors and customers come before everything else, and the financial success naturally follows from those strong foundations.
How the Experience Influenced Future Career Goals
Before starting my Co-op, I had very limited knowledge of automation, but I have learned an incredible amount over the past two years. This field is always evolving every project brings a different combination of technology, customer requirements, and processes, making the work dynamic and far from repetitive. With the rapid growth of automation across industries, there are constantly new systems to design, standards to meet, and innovations to learn, ensuring that each day is unique and challenging. If given the opportunity, I would gladly accept a full-time role, knowing I would continue to grow and thrive in such an ever-changing environment.
Internship Format
In Person