At Hypertherm Associates, Internships and Co‑ops are designed to give students and early‑career talent real experience doing real work alongside people who care about quality, learning, and doing the right thing.

Many Associates started their careers here through Internships or Co‑ops. Whether your path continues with us or takes you elsewhere, we aim to make this a strong and meaningful foundation.

Internships and Co‑ops: what’s the difference?

Internships are typically short‑term experiences (often in the summer) that allow students to apply what they’re learning in school to real projects, gain exposure to a professional environment, and develop foundational skills.

Co‑ops (cooperative education experiences) are generally longer‑term placements and may span multiple months or academic terms. Co‑ops are more immersive by design and allow students to take on deeper responsibility and contribute over a longer period.

Both Internships and Co‑ops are paid, supported experiences focused on learning, contribution, and growth.

CST project with Interns

How Intern and Co‑op hiring works

Our hiring approach for Interns and Co‑ops is designed to be clear, fair, and supportive. Most Intern and Co-op opportunities are posted on our career site for applications annually in the fall.

We don’t expect deep industry experience. We care most about how you think, how you learn, and what motivates you.

Learn more about how we hire

What you can expect  

We know that stepping from the classroom into a professional environment can feel like a big transition. Our aim is to make that transition feel natural and welcoming.

As an Intern or Co‑op at Hypertherm Associates, you can expect:

  • Meaningful, hands-on work tied to real projects

  • Clear expectations and structure, so you know what success looks like

  • Access to mentors and teammates who want you to learn and ask questions

  • Opportunities to see how different parts of the business work together

  • Honest conversations about careers, growth, and next steps

Engineering Internships and Co‑ops

We offer Internship and Co‑op opportunities across a range of engineering disciplines, depending on business needs and timing. These may include, but are not limited to:

  • Manufacturing Engineering

  • Mechanical Engineering

  • Electrical Engineering

  • Software Engineering

  • Industrial or Systems Engineering

Engineering Interns and Co‑ops work closely with experienced Engineers and partners across the business to support projects related to design, manufacturing, process improvement, automation, and product development.

Manufacturing Process Engineering (MPE) Internships

Manufacturing Process Engineering (MPE) Internships focus on how products are built, how processes are improved, and how quality and efficiency come together on the manufacturing floor.

MPE interns may:

  • Support manufacturing or assembly processes

  • Participate in continuous improvement initiatives

  • Work on projects related to safety, quality, or efficiency

  • Learn how engineering decisions connect directly to production and customer outcomes

These internships are hands-on, collaborative, and closely connected to how the business operates day-to-day.

Manufacturing Process Engineering Rotational Program

Following college graduation, we offer a Manufacturing Process Engineering (MPE) rotational program designed to provide broader exposure across different teams and areas of the business over time, without needing to select a specialization upon hire.

Participants in a rotational program may have the opportunity to:

  • Work with different teams across engineering, manufacturing, and operations

  • Gain hands-on experience in a variety of focus areas

  • Build a strong foundation while exploring where their skills and interests fit best

Depending on business needs, some roles may include the opportunity to rotate across two to four teams in six‑month assignments. These experiences are designed to help you build a broader understanding of how our work fits together, gain an enterprise‑level perspective on our processes, and collaborate with Associates across the company.

SkillBridge Program

We’re proud to participate in the U.S. Department of Defense SkillBridge Program, which supports service members as they explore what’s next after active duty. As a DoD SkillBridge Industry Partner, eligible service members may be considered for a qualified SkillBridge internship with Hypertherm Associates during their final months of service, while continuing to receive their military pay and benefits.

For participants, SkillBridge is an opportunity to gain hands‑on civilian work exposure, apply skills in a new setting, and start building connections that support a smooth transition to civilian life. For us, SkillBridge participants bring fresh perspective, strong leadership, and a mission‑focused mindset that strengthens our organization and community.

 How to Apply

SkillBridge participation begins with your military chain of command and the Department of Defense.

To be considered for a SkillBridge internship with Hypertherm Associates:

  1. Confirm your eligibility through your military branch and transition office

  2. Apply for SkillBridge approval through the Department of Defense SkillBridge program

  3. Explore open opportunities on our careers site and apply to roles aligned with your skills and interests, or reach out to us directly at jobs@hypertherm.com with areas of interest

  4. Coordinate final approval with your command and our recruiting team

If selected, our team will work with you to align timing, experience goals, and project opportunities to support a successful transition.

Accessibility and support

We’re committed to providing an inclusive hiring experience and want every candidate to feel supported throughout the process. If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application or interview process, please contact jobs@hypertherm.com. We’re happy to work with you and ensure you’re set up for success.