5 Food Industry Engineering Internships for Summer 2022

Participating in an internship program is one of the best ways for engineering students to gain practical, hands-on experience and prepare to enter the workforce. The food processing industry has many opportunities for undergrads, graduate students, and recent graduates to use their technical skills and advance their careers.

Powder & Bulk Solids editors found these five engineering internships at US food and beverage manufacturing firms to provide a view of the types of roles available to students.

J.M. Smucker Co.

A sign outside of the headquarters of the The J.M. Smucker Co. in Orrville, OH on Aug. 10, 2019.

Intern, Operations
Oxnard, CA

Tackle engineering and processing production issues, implement lean manufacturing techniques, analyze and plan workflows, and more in J.M. Smuckers’ operations internship this summer. Interns will work from early April through the end of August at the firm’s Oxnard, CA production location. Engineering students enrolled in a four-year degree program, or who recently graduated, are preferred for the role.

Click here to see the internship listing.

Kellogg Co.

The entrance sign to Kellogg Co. is pictured at the Porter Street plant in Battle Creek, MI, Dec. 11, 2021. REUTERS/Emily Elconin. Representative image.

Intern – Packaging Innovation & Technology
Battle Creek, MI

Running from May 9 to July 29, 2022, this internship program with Kellogg’s Packaging Innovation & Technology team offers Engineering undergrads and grads a chance to support packaging engineers working on some well-known brands, conduct and document plant tests, and gain technical knowledge in the packaging space. The firm is looking for applicants who are a current or recent student in a degree program for Packaging Science, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Industrial Design, Material Science or other related fields.

Click here to see the internship listing.

Post Holdings

A Post Holdings cereal plant in the US. Representative image.

Project Engineering Internship
Minnetonka, MN

This internship with Post-owned food processor Michael Foods Inc. provides students with the opportunity to work with egg products, refrigerated grocery and potato products. Project engineering interns will be based out of Michael Foods’ corporate headquarters in Minnetonka, MN and engage with a range of departments, including Engineering, Plant Operations, Safety, Quality, and Continuous Improvement, to support capital projects. Participants assist in scope development, equipment layouts, ergonomics, materials flow, and more. Current or recent students in undergraduate degree Engineering programs who have an interest in food processing are encouraged to apply.

Click here to see the internship listing.

Cargill

A sign outside of a facility occupied by Cargill, Inc., in Hopkins, MN on Oct. 25, 2015. Representative image.

Engineer Intern
Various US Locations

Agribusiness Cargill’s 12-week engineering internship program enables students to develop experience working alongside the company’s production management engineers, environmental engineers, maintenance and reliability engineers, and process/project engineers. Participants who excel in the internship may be offered a second internship, co-op, or a full-time position with Cargill. Applications are open to sophomores, juniors, seniors, and grad students in an engineering degree program, including industrial engineering, mechanical engineering, and chemical engineering. Internships run from May to August 2022.

Click here to see the internship listing.

PepsiCo

A PepsiCo facility in the United States. Representative image.

R&D Engineer Intern
Various US Locations

R&D engineer interns at PepsiCo participate in designing, executing, and launching products with the company’s R&D technical experts and other business unit leaders. Participants contribute technical expertise and insights from development through launch. Current or recent engineering students are encountered to apply.   

Click here to see the internship listing.

Find Out More

Learn about more engineering internship opportunities by visiting the ‘careers’ sections of food and beverage companies’ corporate websites or consult your university’s career development office.

Most major food firms offer an internship or co-op program of some kind, so take the time to investigate all opportunities available before deciding on which ones to apply to.