Panel Design Intern

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Description

The Drexel WayWe don’t just sell lumber; we Supply. Happiness. Drexel is Team Member-owned and community-driven. With six retail hubs and three manufacturing plants across Wisconsin, we’ve been a Top Workplace every year since 2011. Why? Because we hire for heart and train for skill. When you join Team Blue, you aren't just an intern - you’re an owner.

The MissionAs a Panel Design Intern, your primary objective is to transform blueprints, scopes of work, and architectural plans into precise, high-performance wall and floor panel designs. Driven by our core values, you will apply your mathematical talent and technical aptitude to design structural components and produce comprehensive panel layouts for off-site manufacturing. Working closely with production facilities, jobsite teams, and collaborating design departments, you ensure our builders receive buildable, engineered wall and floor systems on time and with unmatched accuracy - bringing our customers' dreams to life while supplying happiness every step of the way! About the Internship

• Schedule & Hours: In-person internship running 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday.
• Location: Amherst, WI production facility.
• Timeline: Begins May 2026 and concludes August 2026.
• SHU Day & Location: The first day of the internship, Supply Happiness University (SHU), takes place at Drexel Building Supply in Campbellsport (110 E Main St., Campbellsport, WI). (Note: Transportation for SHU day is not provided and must be arranged by the intern.)

Defining the Role

• Blueprint & Scope Analysis: Read and interpret architectural blueprints, site plans, and scopes of work with mathematical precision.
• Wall & Floor System Design: Produce individual component designs and final placement layouts for prefabricated wall and floor panel systems.
• Structural Component Modeling: Utilize industry design software - learning tools like MiTek and iStruct to model robust, build-ready structural components.
• Engineering Support & Customer Service: Provide structural and engineering support to builders and field teams when technical questions or plan modifications arise.
• Jobsite Visits: Conduct visits to off-site construction jobsites to see prefabricated wall and floor panels installed in real time and gain hands-on field insight.
• Cross-Department Collaboration: Collaborate across design disciplines (truss, residential, and panel departments) to understand how all framing systems coincide seamlessly.

What Success Looks LikePerformance is measured by your direct impact on design accuracy, manufacturing readiness, and team collaboration:

• Design Precision & Quality: High attention to detail in translating architectural specifications into exact, zero-error wall and floor cut sheets and layout packages.
• Technical Growth: Rapid development and proficiency in specialized industry software, including MiTek and iStruct.
• Field & Team Alignment: Proactive communication across internal design departments, production sawyers/assemblers, and field personnel to ensure smooth off-site execution.
• Teamwork & Culture: Energetic alignment with Drexel's 11 core values and a passionate "Supply. Happiness." mindset.

The Essentials

• Education: Currently pursuing a degree in Architectural Technology/Drafting, Construction Management, Civil/Structural Engineering, Building Construction, or a related field.
• Technical & Mathematical Skills: High comfort level working with computers and software, paired with strong, "math wizard" numerical problem-solving skills.
• Software Aptitude: Willingness and eagerness to learn MiTek and iStruct design platforms.
• Core Strengths: Highly detail-oriented, organized, and curious, with clear written and verbal communication skills.
• Knowledge & Curiosity: A strong desire to learn off-site construction methods, prefabricated wall/floor framing, blueprint reading, and structural load distribution.

The Drexel Advantage

• The Wealth-Builder (Ownership): Gain hands-on exposure to a Team Member-owned ESOP culture where everyone wins together.
• Professional Growth: Hands-on experience working directly with off-site framing experts and cutting-edge manufacturing automation on real-world projects.
• Team Blue Culture: Fun, supportive work environment recognized as a Wisconsin Top Workplace every year since 2011!
• Clothing Discount: Drexel covers 50% of your apparel items ordered through the Drexel team clothing site.

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