Summer Internship - Sports Science Research Engineer

Descrizione del lavoro:

At ASICS, our Sound Mind, Sound Body™ philosophy is more than a tagline, it's our way of life. Over 75 years ago our founder, Kihachiro Onitsuka, saw that sport and movement had the power to lift spirits, project positivity, and propel people and whole communities forward.

ASICS provides a diverse and inclusive culture that enables learning, growth, and opportunity at all levels. Our robust employee benefits allow for real work-life balance and a strong sense of community. We empower our employees to pursue their career goals. If this sounds like you, then we want you on our team.

A Brief Overview

ASICS Institute of Sports Science America (ISS America) is the first overseas research hub of ASICS Institute of Sports Science in Japan. Officially launching in January 2026, ISS America operates as an LLC under ASICS America Holdings. Our mission is to drive innovation in sports footwear and related products through strategic partnerships with leading U.S. universities. We are dedicated to deepening the understanding of human athletic performance and translating scientific and engineering insights into tangible products and research assets. We partner closely with the University of Michigan to bridge the gap between academic research and real-world sports innovation.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a global brand at the forefront of sports science and product development during its startup phase in the U.S. This is not a conventional internship or training program-it's a hands-on research project where you'll contribute meaningfully to cutting-edge sports science infrastructure development. You'll engage simultaneously with academic research perspectives, engineering work including hardware design and prototyping, and a question-driven research approach that emphasizes designing the experimental environment itself. During this internship, you will discover your strengths, develop your technical skills, and learn more about the environment of your future career path in sports science and engineering research. You will be a vital contributor to ISS America's vision of creating a quality lifestyle through intelligent sport technology and advanced athletic performance research.

About our Internship Program:

ISS America is committed to recruiting the best and brightest talent to join our internship program located at New Lab in Detroit, MI and the ASICS × Michigan Sports Innovation Center (AMSI) Lab near the University of Michigan. During this internship, interns will discover their strengths, develop their technical skills, and learn more about the environment of their future career path in sports science and engineering research. ISS America interns are vital contributors to the company's vision of creating a quality lifestyle through intelligent sport technology and advanced athletic performance research.

We are currently seeking 2 interns to assist with cutting-edge sports science infrastructure development and hands-on research projects. This is a PAID internship, 24 hours per week at $18.00 per hour, running from June 4th - August 20th, 2026. Interns will engage with academic research perspectives, engineering work including hardware design and prototyping, and a question-driven research approach that emphasizes designing the experimental environment itself. You will be based primarily at New Lab in Detroit with collaborative work at the AMSI Lab near the University of Michigan.

2026 Summer Research Project

Development of a Runner-Following, Rail-Based System to Capture Shoe Deformation During Running
You'll work on designing and building a custom imaging and measurement system that can run alongside a human runner to capture shoe deformation behavior in motion. Rather than relying on off-the-shelf commercial systems, this project will:

* Start from the fundamental research question: What do we want to understand during running?

* Work backward to define the measurement concept

* Design, prototype, and validate the full system, including imaging configuration, motion mechanism, fixation, and control

* Create research infrastructure and system design knowledge that can be continuously leveraged within ISS research activities

Tentative 2026 Internship Dates: June 4th - August 20th

Leadership Responsibilities

* This position does not have people leadership responsibilities.

What You'll Do

* Participate in all phases of research infrastructure development: conceptualization, design, prototyping, and validation

* Contribute to hardware design and system engineering for the runner-following rail system

* Conduct experimental setup construction and troubleshooting

* Collaborate with researchers to translate academic research questions into applied engineering solutions

* Support measurement execution and data validation at the AMSI Lab

* Document design decisions, prototyping iterations, and technical findings

* Adheres to all company policies and procedures

* Embodies and demonstrates company ethics and values

* Abides by all federal, state and local laws

How You'll Be Successful

* Strong mechanical engineering, robotics, mechatronics, or closely related engineering background

* Demonstrated hands-on experience with hardware development, prototyping, or experimental setup construction

* Proficiency with design and analysis tools (CAD software, simulation tools, or equivalent)

* Demonstrated experience using Microsoft 365 Tools (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

* Ability to work in a fast-paced, research-driven environment with great attention to detail

* Experience collaborating with multidisciplinary teams and demonstrating effective interpersonal skills

* Excellent oral and written communication skills

* Demonstrated ability to take initiative, solve problems independently, and take accountability for results

* Ability to effectively manage multiple project phases and engage in continuous learning

* Passion for sports science, athletic performance, or applied research

What You'll Need

* Currently pursuing an undergraduate degree or graduate degree in Engineering or related field at an accredited institution with a graduation date of December 2026 or later required

* Engineering background with strong preference for Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, Mechatronics, or closely related disciplines

* Genuine interest in hands-on hardware development and translating academic research into applied outcomes

* University of Michigan students preferred

SALARY / PAY RANGE: $18.00/hr.

PAY TRANSPARENCY:

To encourage pay transparency, promote pay equity, and proactively address regulations, ASICS America Corporation will comply with all applicable state or local laws or regulations which require employers to provide pay or salary range information to job applicants and employees. A posted salary/pay range applies to the current job posting. Salary/pay offers may be based on key factors such as education and related experience.

ASICS CCPA Pre-Collection Notice for Job Applications: We collect personal information (PI) from you in connection with your application for employment with ASICS America Corporation, including the following categories of PI: identifiers, personal records, professional or employment information, and inferences drawn from your PI. We collect your PI for our purposes, including performing services and operations related to your potential employment. For additional details or if you have questions, contact us at hrccpa@asics.com.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employee(s) assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of employee(s) assigned to this job. ASICS America Corporation reserves the right at any time, with or without notice, to alter or change job responsibilities, reassign or transfer job position or assign additional job responsibilities within your general skill set or capabilities. ASICS America Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Employer