Mechanical Engineer Intern

Overview

Roanoke Cement Company is seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Mechanical Engineer Intern to support the Maintenance and Reliability team at our cement manufacturing facility in Troutville, Virginia.

This internship provides hands-on exposure to heavy industrial mechanical systems within a cement production environment. The Mechanical Engineer Intern will assist with maintenance engineering activities, equipment reliability initiatives, and continuous improvement projects while gaining practical experience with rotating equipment, material handling systems, and plant mechanical operations.

This position is designed to provide real-world experience for engineering students interested in industrial maintenance, reliability engineering, and manufacturing operations.

Responsibilities

Maintenance & Reliability

• Assist the maintenance team with preventive and predictive maintenance activities for mechanical equipment including pumps, conveyors, gearboxes, compressors, and hydraulic and pneumatic systems.
• Support troubleshooting efforts by helping identify mechanical issues and documenting findings.
• Participate in root cause analysis (RCA) investigations for equipment failures and recurring reliability issues.
• Assist in collecting and analyzing equipment performance data to identify reliability improvement opportunities.
• Support basic condition monitoring and lubrication program activities.

Equipment & Asset Management

• Assist in reviewing and updating maintenance procedures and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Help maintain equipment records and maintenance history in the plant’s Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS).
• Support spare parts identification and organization of mechanical inventory.
• Assist maintenance planners with organizing work orders and documentation.

Projects & Continuous Improvement

• Assist engineers with small capital projects and reliability improvement initiatives.
• Support installation or modification of mechanical equipment under supervision.
• Review mechanical drawings, equipment manuals, and P&IDs with guidance from plant engineers.
• Participate in plant continuous improvement initiatives such as Lean, 5S, or Total Productive Maintenance (TPM).
• Assist with documenting project results and preparing technical summaries.

Safety & Compliance

• Follow all plant safety, environmental, and regulatory standards.
• Participate in safety meetings, plant walk-throughs, and hazard identification activities.
• Support Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) reviews and safe work practices.
• Promote a strong safety-first culture throughout the internship experience.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work with maintenance, production, electrical, and reliability teams to support plant operations.
• Assist engineers and maintenance technicians with technical tasks and data collection.
• Observe and participate in plant shutdown or outage planning activities when available.
• Perform other duties and learning assignments as directed by the Maintenance Manager.

Qualifications

Education

• Currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
• Rising sophomore, junior, or senior students preferred.

Preferred Skills & Knowledge

• Basic understanding of mechanical systems and equipment.
• Exposure to rotating equipment, bearings, lubrication, or mechanical design concepts.
• Ability to read basic engineering drawings or diagrams.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook).
• Interest in industrial manufacturing, maintenance engineering, or reliability engineering.

Soft Skills

• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Effective communication and teamwork skills.
• Ability to learn quickly in a fast-paced industrial environment.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to safety.
• Willingness to work in a heavy industrial cement plant environment.