About this role

About our group:

This internship is designed for a student who wants to make a real contribution in a high-technology manufacturing environment. A meaningful factory-efficiency problem will be assigned, and the intern will be expected to investigate it, challenge existing assumptions, invent practical new solutions, test ideas with factory stakeholders, and present recommendations to site leadership.

The selected project will focus on one primary topic below, with opportunities to connect findings across the other topics when the data supports it.

About the role - you will:

· Collect, clean, and analyze manufacturing data from appropriate factory reports and systems.

· Observe work in the wafer factory and interview operators, technicians, engineers, and managers to understand barriers that are not visible in the data.

· Map current processes, decision points, ownership, and information flow.

· Use Lean methods, time studies, Pareto analysis, trend analysis, and other appropriate engineering tools.

· Develop new metrics, dashboards, analytical methods, or process concepts that make performance losses visible and actionable.

· Prototype and test solutions with stakeholders, incorporating feedback and documenting limitations.

· Estimate the potential benefits of recommendations in output, cycle time, labor efficiency, or avoided loss.

· Provide clear documentation and present findings, conclusions, and recommendations to manufacturing leadership.

Potential Internship Projects:

Idle-Time Observation Study

Measure how selected toolsets actually spend available production time. Compare floor observations with system-reported states, build a clear idle-time taxonomy, quantify the largest recurring losses, and recommend improvements to data accuracy, operating practices, or response processes.

Missing Minutes Root Cause Analysis

Analyze delayed or incomplete production opportunities that reduce output. Create a repeatable method to identify events, classify causes such as staffing, handoffs, training, dispatch, equipment, or process barriers, and develop visual management tools that help prevent recurrence.

WIP Restriction Cost Analysis

Quantify the factory impact of work-in-process controls and constraints. Determine which WIP restrictions create the most waiting time, lost moves, or cycle-time risk; distinguish controls that protect quality from controls that may be overly restrictive; and recommend a fact-based prioritization method for follow-up action.

About you:

• Curious and willing to spend time both in the data and on the factory floor.

• Comfortable asking thoughtful questions, testing assumptions, and working through ambiguity.

• A self-starter who can organize work, follow through on commitments, and seek input when needed.

• A collaborative communicator able to work with operators, technicians, engineers, analysts, and managers.

• Motivated by difficult, open-ended problems and interested in inventing solutions rather than only documenting existing processes.

• Able to communicate technical findings clearly through concise writing, visualizations, and presentations.

Your experience includes:

· Experience using Microsoft Excel for data preparation, analysis, and visualization. Experience with Power BI, SQL, Python, Minitab, or similar tools is helpful but not required.

· Experience or professional interest in manufacturing systems, operations, statistics, Lean methods, process improvement, or data analytics.

· Ability to work on-site in Bloomington, Minnesota and follow cleanroom, safety, information-security, and manufacturing procedures.

· Currently pursuing a bachelor’s in an engineering or science major with enrollment continuing after Summer 2027.

Location:

Our Normandale campus spans two suburbs, Edina and Bloomington, and serves as the Recording Head development and manufacturing arm of Seagate. Located in the heart of a bustling community, Seagate offers an on-site café, or if you prefer, you can drive to one of many restaurants just minutes away. Need to grab a gift over lunchtime? Shopping is abundant in the area. If working out is your thing, the on-site fully equipped fitness center hosts wellness programs, outdoor activities, tournaments, and group workouts. Looking for something more laid back? Reset in one of our meditation rooms, or simply take a walk around our indoor walking path. On-site cultural festivals, celebrations, and community volunteer opportunities also abound.

The estimated base wage range for this position is $24.00-31.00/hr. The individual base wage is based on work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Seagate offers comprehensive benefits to its eligible Interns, including, but not limited to, medical, dental, vision, and participation in the employee stock purchase plan. Seagate also offers Interns 12 paid holidays and a minimum of 48 hours of paid sick leave. The benefits for this position are based on a 24 to 40-hour-per-week schedule for a full calendar year and may differ depending on work location and tenure with the Company.

Location : Normandale, United States
Travel : None