Materials Analysis Co-Op (Summer 2026)

Area of Accountability 

The Material Analysis Laboratory at Trailer Commercial Vehicle Systems supports New Product Development, Manufacturing, and Product Lifecycle activities across the organization. The group operates a small test laboratory capable of materialographic preparation and microscopic evaluation, hardness testing, axial fatigue testing, surface metrology, environmental corrosion testing, and others. These methods are used to evaluate new designs, improve existing products, and perform failure analysis.

 

Major Responsibilities (may vary depending on project)

• Plan and execute material characterization projects to validate new designs and existing products.
• Devise and coordinate manufacturing experiments to drive continuous improvement.
• Perform formal failure analysis of components/systems found defective in manufacture, assembly, or service.
• Prepare technical documents in the form of engineering notes, test procedures, and analyses.
• Present findings to engineering personnel using slides, informal summaries, and formal reports.
• Participate in laboratory management activities including maintenance, improvement projects, and capital expansion to add lab capability.

Qualifications 

 

Required:

• Working toward a Bachelor’s degree or higher in materials science & engineering, corrosion engineering, or related discipline.

Preferred:

• Fundamentals of metallurgy (ferrous/non-ferrous).
• Logical thinking and reasoning.
• Statistics, experimental design, and quality.
• Mechanical and machining interest.

 

*This is not a comprehensive list of duties. Duties may change without notice in management’s sole discretion. Hendrickson is an at-will employer, each employee is free to resign at any time, just as Hendrickson is free to terminate employment at any time without cause or notice.

 

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. 

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law.