Process Improvement Engineer 2027 Summer Internship

Overview

General Dynamics Electric Boat provides an unparalleled learning experience for college students, offering practical exposure in the defense industry alongside expert engineers, shaping the future of submarine innovation. General Dynamics Electric Boat is one of the only two shipyards that produce submarines for the US Navy and there’s never been a better time to join. The US Navy has a demand for cutting-edge naval capability and technology never seen before, and Electric Boat is the vanguard—designing, building, and maintaining the most advanced submarines in the world. Our work is mission-critical work in supporting the U.S. Navy and strengthening national security.

This program requires a minimum commitment of 8 weeks during the Summer 2027 Season.

Participation in this program requires medical screening, passing a drug test and background check.

This is not a remote opportunity.

This position is located at the Groton, CT location and you will need reliable transportation and housing for the duration of your intern assignment.

About D201 – Process Improvement Engineering

Our mission is to enable the success of the shipbuilders of Groton Shipyard to be safe and successful as they build and test the most advanced vessels in the US Navy. You will use techniques and strategies from Lean, Six Sigma, Continuous Improvement, Theory of Constraints, team facilitated problem solving, and culture transformation to create breakthrough improvements in span times, quality, and performance. This team guides organizations in developing and implementing improvement strategies and creating tangible & significant improvements.

Role Overview:

In this role, you will help apply logical, data‑driven, and collaborative problem‑solving methods to real challenges within submarine manufacturing at Groton. You will work directly with Continuous improvement professionals, shipbuilders, and teams across the organization, gaining hands‑on experience in problem solving and learning how world‑class submarines are built.

Interns will assist the Continuous Improvement staff in investigating processes, gathering data, facilitating team discussions, and supporting efforts that reduce lead times, improve quality, lower costs, and enhance safety in manufacturing and outfitting areas.

A key challenge you’ll help address is the complexity of Electric Boat’s high‑mix, low‑volume production environment. Unlike traditional assembly lines with repetitive processes, submarine construction involves thousands of unique tasks and extensive coordination. Interns will learn how to apply foundational Lean Six Sigma tools in situations where the goal is not simply streamlining linear flow, but improving communication, teamwork, and system‑level coordination across diverse trades and activities.

Selected interns will receive instruction in Lean Six Sigma principles and will be supported in applying these tools within Electric Boat’s unique Continuous Improvement approach. This role is designed to give you meaningful exposure to complex manufacturing, hands‑on learning opportunities, and the chance to support teams as they solve some of the most challenging constraints in submarine production.

Qualifications

Required:

• Must be 18 years of age or older
• US citizenship is required
• Must be able to successfully pass a medically supervised drug screen and background check
• Must be enrolled full-time at a college or university
• At minimum students must have completed their Freshman year prior to the start of the internship
• Must be available to work 40 hours per week for a minimum eight (8) consecutive weeks between May 2027 to September 2027
• Selected candidates will be responsible for establishing housing and reliable transportation for the duration of their intern assignment
• Pursuing a Bachelor or Masters Degree in Operations Management, Business Administration, Business Analytics, Organizational Leadership, Industrial Organizational Psychology, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or Engineering Management

Preferred:

• Experience in team leadership or collaborative problem solving
• Education or experience with Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, Toyota Production Systems, or other related continuous improvement approaches is highly desired
• Experience with project management

Skills

Skills:

• Strong interpersonal and emotional intelligence skills
• Persistent, patient, and kind
• Demonstrated ability to close out projects on-time with desired results 
• Able to combine initiative with professionalism to accomplish difficult tasks
• Motivated, performance driven individual with strong leadership skills