Engineering Intern

In this role, you aren’t just sitting in an office. You will be on the floor learning how to manage the infrastructure that keeps a major food production facility operational. We are looking for a candidate who is curious about how systems work and who wants to master the engineering behind a large-scale manufacturing environment. We don't just maintain a facility; we manage a high-output, precision-engineered environment. We are looking for a candidate who brings that same intensity and commitment to improvement that we apply to our manufacturing processes.

Internship Objectives:

• Own a Project: You will take lead on one specific improvement project during your time here and present your findings to the leadership team at the end of the summer.
• Full-Stack Experience: See the complete manufacturing cycle, from raw material intake to final product shipment and how each department plays a role.
• Professional Development: Gain mentorship from Senior Engineers and operational leaders, with exposure to facility strategy, budgeting, and lean manufacturing methodologies.

Below are tasks and objectives categorized by different skill sets or directions depending on the candidate’s competencies.

1. Project Management & Engineering

• Capital Project Support: Assist in the planning, procurement, or execution phases of small-scale capital expenditure (CAPEX) projects.
• Project Documentation: Manage project trackers for ongoing plant upgrades (e.g., renovation punch lists or new equipment commissioning assistance).
• Vendor Liaison: Help coordinate with external contractors or vendors for site installations or service visits.

2. Site Infrastructure & Regulatory Compliance

• Wastewater/Environmental Compliance: Learn about Anaerobic treatment systems and their role in environmental compliance as well as system blower upgrades currently in process.
• Building Facilities: Support the oversight of site-level improvements (e.g., cooler temperature optimization, audit preparation, or interior office expansions).

3. Operations & Process Improvement

• Process Mapping: Analyze and document a specific production line's throughput to identify bottlenecks or inefficiencies.
• Data Analysis: Assist in collecting and analyzing OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness) data to drive site-level performance improvements.
• Equipment Lifecycle Tracking: Support the maintenance team in tracking PM (Preventative Maintenance) compliance and identifying opportunities to extend component lifespan.
• Standardization: Help draft or update Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) based on recent equipment upgrades or safety audits.

4. Food Safety & Security (Connecting to your current initiative)

• Risk Assessment: Participate in conducting a vulnerability assessment of the facility’s physical or operational security.
• Compliance Audit Support: Assist in gathering evidence and performing internal audits to prepare the facility for upcoming third-party certifications (e.g., SQF, BRC).

 5. Technical Skills & "Floor Time"

• Troubleshooting: Shadow technicians during equipment downtime events to learn root cause analysis (RCA) techniques.
• Safety Initiatives: Contribute to the facility's safety culture by participating in safety walks and incident reporting.

This is a paid, project-based internship with an hourly rate of $23 per hour. Successful candidates will gain hands-on experience in plant facilities engineering, data-driven operational improvement, and industrial project management within a high-output manufacturing environment. 

Note: We are looking for candidates who are ready to take ownership. In your application, please briefly highlight a specific project or engineering challenge you have tackled, either in an academic setting or a previous role, that you are proud of.