Research & Development Summer Intern - Development of Trial Planning Platform

THE COMPANY
Continental develops pioneering technologies and services for sustainable and connected mobility of people and their goods. Founded in 1871, the technology company offers safe, efficient, intelligent, and affordable solutions for vehicles, machines, traffic, and transportation. In 2023, Continental generated sales of €41.4 billion and currently employs around 200,000 people in 56 countries and markets.

ContiTech is one of the world’s leading industry specialists. The Continental group sector offers its customers connected, environment-friendly, safe, and convenient industry and service solutions using a range of materials for off-highway applications, on rails and roads, in the air, under and above the ground, in industrial environments, for the food sector and the furniture industry. With about 42,000 employees in more than 40 countries and sales of some 6.8 billion euros (2023), the global industrial partner is active with core branches in Asia, Europe and North and South America.

Are you ready to shape the future with us?

HOW YOU WILL MAKE AN IMPACT

Research & Development Summer Intern - Development of Trial Planning Platform will focus on developing an integrated digital tool that consolidates global trial requests, raw material forecasting, and trial‑readiness documentation into a single, streamlined platform. The tool will support up to a three‑month planning horizon, deliver semi-automated raw material demand forecasts, and include a short‑term priority system to highlight trials planned within the next month.

By combining several existing processes—including the Global Trial Batch Request tool and the current tracer kickoff / pre‑production / post‑production questionnaires—the intern will create a unified solution that improves visibility, efficiency, and planning accuracy across the organization.

Project Objectives:

1. Build a Forecast Tool for Raw Material Demand

• Develop an automated system to explode trial formulations into raw material requirements
• Generate material forecasts up to three months in advance
• Provide visibility to supply chain and plant teams to ensure material readiness

2. Integrate a Trial Priority Model

• Implement a dynamic priority scoring system for trials scheduled in the upcoming month
• Highlight urgent, strategic, or customer‑critical requests
• Provide a simple dashboard view for leadership decision‑making

3. Combine with Global Trial Batch Request Tool

• Consolidate data inputs to eliminate duplicate forms and conflicting trial information
• Ensure trial requests link seamlessly to material forecasting

4. Incorporate Trial Questionnaire

• Digitize and embed the tracer kickoff, pre‑production, and post‑production meeting questions directly into the workflow
• Create a consistent data record that follows each trial from initiation through closeout
• Enable automated reporting and documentation generation

5. Deliver a Unified Interface

• Provide a single portal or dashboard for trial planners, development engineers, plant personnel, and technical managers
• Improve cross‑functional transparency and reduce communication gaps

Project Deliverables:

• Functional Prototype of the integrated forecasting and planning tool in Mendix
• Documentation on system Architecture, data flow, and user instructions
• Dashboard showing:
  • Forecasted Material demand for upcoming Trials
  • Priority Ranking for Near Term Trials
  • Trial Status and Questionnaire Completion
• Recommendations for long-term implementation and hand off to development team

End‑of‑Internship Leadership Presentation — Deliver a polished, professional presentation to the management team summarizing your findings, recommendations, and project impact.

WHAT YOU WILL BRING TO THE ROLE

• Currently enrolled in a U.S.-accredited college, university, or technical school with a minimum 2.8 GPA.
• Pursuing a degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Material Engineering, or Chemistry, or a related field of study.
• Comfortable working with digital tools and have an interest in technology-supported problem solving, including data modeling, workflow automation, data analysis or digital documentation systems.
• Enjoy integrating scientific work with computer-based tools and systems
• Proficient in MS Office Suite, Outlook & Internet applications.

Additional Details

• This is a paid, full‑time summer internship.  Internship dates are between May 18 - August 7.
• Relocation and housing assistance are not provided.
• Legal authorization to work in the U.S. is required. Sponsorship for employment visas is not available now or in the future for this role.

THE PERKS

• Competitive Pay
• Hands-on Experience with the Team
• Project Experience
• Networking Opportunity
• On-Site Gym
• And more benefits that come with working for a global industry leader!

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

EEO-Statement:

EEO / Disabled / Protected Veteran Employer. Continental offers equal employment opportunities to all qualified individuals, without regard to unlawful consideration to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law. In addition, as a federal contractor, Continental complies with government regulations, including affirmative action responsibilities for qualified individuals with a disability and protected veterans, where they apply. To be considered, you must apply for a specific position for which Continental has a current posted job opening. Qualifying applications will be considered only for the specific opening(s) to which you apply. If you would like to be considered for additional or future job openings, we encourage you to reapply for other opportunities as they become available. Further, Continental provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with a disability. If you need assistance in the application process, please reply to [email protected] or contact US Recruiting at 800-821-2727. This telephone line and email address are reserved solely for job seekers with disabilities requesting accessibility assistance or an accommodation in the job application process. Please do not call about the status of your job application, if you do not require accessibility assistance or an accommodation. Messages left for other purposes, such as following up on an application or non-disability related technical issues, will not receive a call back.

Ready to drive with Continental? Take the first step and fill in the online application.