Program Overview
Cole-TAC’s internship program is paid. We offer both summer and year-round placements, with flexible hours that can be built around your class schedule. Interns take on real, projectbased work and are guided by members of our team throughout the internship.
program length
Summer or year-round (flexible)
where interns work
On-Site - Rapid City, SD
Industrial Engineering Intern
Overview
About Cole-TAC
We design and build rugged, American-made gear used by professionals and outdoor enthusiasts alike. Founded in 2015 and based in Rapid City, SD, our production team takes pride in craftsmanship, consistency, and quality — and we’re looking for people who want to build a skill and grow with us.
The Role
Join Cole-TAC’s operations team as an Industrial Engineering Intern and help us make our production floor faster, safer, and more efficient. You’ll work alongside our production and engineering staff to study our workflows, spot bottlenecks, and help implement improvements that make a real difference in how our gear gets made. This is a hands-on role for someone who wants to see process improvement ideas actually put into practice on a working shop floor.
Essential Functions
- Observe and document current production workflows and identify opportunities for improvement.
- Conduct time studies and analyze production data to identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies.
- Assist in redesigning workstation layouts and material flow to reduce waste and improve throughput.
- Support the development of standard operating procedures for production processes.
- Help track key production metrics and prepare summaries for the team.
Qualifications
- Currently pursuing a degree in Industrial Engineering or a closely related field
- Familiarity with lean manufacturing or Six Sigma principles
- Comfortable working with data and spreadsheets (Excel or similar) to analyze processes
- Basic understanding of manufacturing workflows and production processes
- Strong analytical and problem-solving mindset
- Good communication skills and ability to work alongside both engineers and floor staff
- Self-starter attitude; able to take a rough problem statement and run with it
- Comfortable spending time on the production floor, observing and measuring real workflows
- Experience with process mapping or CAD tools is a plus
- Familiarity with inventory or ERP systems is a plus
Why Intern With Us
- Paid internship — summer-only or year-round options available
- Flexible hours built around your class schedule
- Real, project-based work — not busywork
Marketing Content Intern
Overview
About Cole-TAC: We design and build rugged, American-made gear used by professionals and outdoor enthusiasts alike. Founded in 2015 and based in Rapid City, SD, our production team takes pride in craftsmanship, consistency, and quality. We’re looking for people who want to build a skill and grow with us.
The Role: Join Cole-TAC’s marketing team as a Marketing Content Intern and help show the world what we build. You’ll photograph and film our products, create stories and content for our social channels, and sit in on team meetings to see how a marketing department runs day to day. You’ll work closely with our Video Producer and take on tasks from our Digital Marketing Specialist. This is a hands-on role for someone who wants to build a real portfolio and learn every side of marketing, pitching in wherever the team needs it.
Essential Functions
- Photograph and film Cole-TAC products for social media, the website, and marketing campaigns.
- Edit photos in Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom, and edit video in DaVinci Resolve.
- Create stories and short-form content for Cole-TAC’s social media channels, and schedule posts through Hootsuite.
- Assist our Video Producer with video shoots, including setup, capture, and editing.
- Complete content and digital marketing tasks assigned by our Digital Marketing Specialist, including support for email and SMS campaigns in
- Klaviyo and product content updates on our WooCommerce website.
- Attend marketing team meetings and contribute ideas.
- Support other areas of the marketing department as needed to learn how each part of the team operates.
Qualifications
- Currently pursuing a degree in Marketing, Communications, Photography, Film, or a closely related field
- Proficient in photography and video, including shooting, lighting, and composition
- Working knowledge of Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom
- Experience editing video in DaVinci Resolve or a similar editor
- Comfortable working outdoors for shoots in a variety of weather and terrain
- Comfortable working around firearms in a safe, professional environment
- Able to adapt quickly to rapid change and shifting priorities
- Comfortable taking direction from multiple team members
- Self-starter attitude; able to take an idea and run with it
- Familiarity with social media platforms and short-form content trends
- Experience with Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, or other Adobe Creative Cloud apps is a plus
- Familiarity with Hootsuite, Klaviyo, or WooCommerce is a plus
- Strong grammar and writing skills are a plus
- A portfolio or work samples are a plus
Why Intern With Us
- Paid internship, with summer-only or year-round options available
- Flexible hours built around your class schedule
- Portfolio-building work: your photos and videos get published on a real brand’s channels
- On-location shoots at ranges and out in the Black Hills
- Hands-on experience with industry tools: full Adobe Creative Cloud access, DaVinci Resolve, Hootsuite, Klaviyo, and training on our in-house planning software
- A behind-the-scenes look at how a marketing team operates, not busywork
Mechanical Engineering Intern
Overview
About Cole-TAC
We design and build rugged, American-made gear used by professionals and outdoor enthusiasts alike. Founded in 2015 and based in Rapid City, SD, our production team takes pride in craftsmanship, consistency, and quality — and we’re looking for people who want to build a skill and grow with us.
The Role
Join Cole-TAC’s engineering team as a Mechanical Engineering Intern and help bring new tactical gear from concept to production. You’ll work alongside our design and production staff to prototype, test, and refine products used by professionals and outdoor enthusiasts nationwide. This is a hands-on role for someone who wants real engineering experience in a small, fast-moving manufacturing environment.
Essential Functions
- Assist in designing and modeling components and fixtures using CAD software.
- Build and test prototypes to evaluate fit, function, and durability.
- Support production, troubleshooting, and process improvements on the shop floor.
Qualifications
- Currently pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related field
- Proficiency with CAD software (SolidWorks)
- Solid grasp of engineering fundamentals: statics, materials, basic mechanisms, and manufacturing processes
- Comfortable working with hand tools and shop equipment, or eager to learn
- Strong problem-solving mindset — comfortable iterating through prototypes rather than expecting a perfect first design
- Good communication skills and the ability to work alongside both engineers and floor staff
- Self-starter attitude; able to take a rough problem statement and run with it
- Experience with 3D printing
- Basic exposure to electronics, wiring, or microcontrollers (Arduino, Raspberry Pi, etc.)
- Familiarity with pneumatics or basic automation concepts
Why Intern With Us
- Paid internship — summer-only or year-round options available
- Flexible hours built around your class schedule
- Real, project-based work — not busywork
about us
About Cole-TAC
We design and build rugged, American-made gear used by professionals and outdoor enthusiasts alike. Our production team takes pride in craftsmanship, consistency, and quality – and we’re looking for people who want to build a skill and grow with us.
founded
2015
headquarters
Rapid City, SD
team size
45
Why Intern at Cole-TAC
Competitive Pay
Paid internships, with pay based on role.
Mentorship
Every intern is paried with a dedicated team mentor.
Flexible Schedule
Work hours are built around your class schedule, with options for summer-only or year-round involvement.
Hand-On Projects
Real project ownership from day one, not busywork.
Full-Time Pathway
Top-performing interns are considered for full-time roles.
Team Events
Socials and team outings throughout the program.
Schools We've Interned From
We’ve welcomed interns from schools including:
II
“At Cole-TAC, I learned that engineering isn’t just about designing—it’s about solving real problems.”
– Tanner, Mechanical Engineering (Class of 2026)
Intern / Part-time, May 2024 – May 2026