Engineering Solutions 2026 Summer Intern

Design Outreach

Engineering Solutions Summer Intern 

Design Outreach: 

In today's world, nearly 1 out of every 3 people in the world lacks access to clean water, and even more people live without safe sanitation options such as toilets or latrines.  Billions of people also lack access to basic and life-saving healthcare technologies. Without access to appropriate healthcare equipment and safe, reliable water and sanitation, billions of people around the world face dangerous conditions, disease, and even death.

Design Outreach (DO) exists to solve these global challenges through the development of innovative and appropriate technologies in Water, Sanitation, Hygiene (WASH) and Medical sectors. We do this by engineering technologies that are appropriate for the context and communities in which they are used and by providing a high level of quality in all our products. As a Christian humanitarian engineering organization, our vision is to see low-income and marginalized communities around the world transformed physically, economically, and spiritually. We have seen firsthand the transformation that happens in communities where LifePump, DO's flagship technology, has been operating for years without failure—evidence that appropriate and reliable technology solutions can break the cycle of poverty and provide bridges to share the Gospel. 

Design Outreach is a small team with global impact.  At Design Outreach, you will have the opportunity to dive into a diverse set of projects, have high-level ownership of your work, and make a direct impact on our mission. Our team has grown from 5 to over 30 staff members in under three years and continues to expand as we strive to be the global leader in appropriate technology development. DO's work environment is highly collaborative. Our staff work alongside and learn from volunteers within industry and academia, including the DO Fellows, a group of world-class subject matter experts that work with and mentor our staff. In the next three years, we are planning to deploy seven technologies in the WASH and Global Health sectors. In collaboration with our Gospel partners, we plan to reach over 1,000 communities with safe water and the Gospel through LifePump.     

What will be your impact? We invite you to find your purpose and live out your calling at Design Outreach. Join our team, and work alongside others who are committed to putting their faith into action!

Position: 

The R&D Summer Internship is a 10-week program that runs from May to August and is open to college students completing their freshman through junior year in an applicable engineering field. As an intern, you will have the opportunity to choose to focus on either WASH or Medical technologies as you work directly with and report to project engineers. You will be involved in the design, development, and testing of DO’s WASH or Medical technologies. The R&D intern position is a support-raised position with a support goal of $7200 to cover wages ($18/hour) during employment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Assist with new product development efforts.
• Assist in prototyping and test methods to evaluate and refine concepts. 
• Provide support in the development of feasibility studies.
• Conduct, record, and report results from tests. 
• Generate CAD models and drawings.
• Support-raise launch funds and send an update to supporters at the end of the internship.
• Participate in design project teams meetings and professionally represent Design Outreach.

Requirements:

• Understands and supports the mission of a Christ-centered organization dedicated to sharing the Gospel by word and deed.
• Passion and agreement with Design Outreach’s vision and mission.
• High capacity to be self-motivated for independent work and to be collaborative for work with teams.
• Some experience with CAD 3D modeling and drawing creation.
• Strong communication (writing, oral, and presentation) and interpersonal skills. 
• Self-motivated and detail oriented.
• Excellent verbal, grammar, computer, and Word/Excel/PowerPoint skills.
• Ability to commit an average of 8 hours per day 5 days per week (40 hours total per week); occasional Saturday hours may be required. 
• Works from office in Columbus, Ohio. 
• Ability to work in a team-based collaborative environment.
• Ability to lift and carry 20-40 pounds.
• Ability to stand and work for a full workday, at times outdoors at our partner facility, Exact Machine.
• Pursuing a bachelor’s degree in applicable engineering field such as mechanical, biomedical, electrical, civil, etc.     

Housing:

• There are many options in the greater Columbus area, including apartments within walking distance to our office complex in Gahanna, as well as student houses/residences and apartment sublets at Ohio State University and Otterbein University, which are both about a 15-minute drive away from the DO office. 

Benefits:

• Intern positions do not include benefits.

Timeline: 

• Application window closes November 15, 2025. Interviews will be conducted before Thanksgiving.
• Support-raising training will occur in the first week of December with a 3-hour training course with the DO head office. 
• Start date is early to mid-May, depending on school calendars.