Manufacturing Maintenance Technician

The Summer Engineering Intern will support the Engineering and Operations teams at a milk manufacturing plant, gaining hands-on experience in food and beverage manufacturing, process optimization, equipment reliability, and continuous improvement. This role is designed for engineering students interested in applying classroom knowledge to real-world industrial and food production environments while learning about dairy processing, quality, and safety standards.

Duration:  Summer Internship (10–12 weeks, full-time)

1st Shift: Monday through Friday 7am - 4pm.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Key Responsibilities

- Assist engineers with daily manufacturing support activities, including equipment troubleshooting and process observations

- Support continuous improvement projects focused on safety, quality, efficiency, and reliability

- Collect, analyze, and summarize production and process data to identify trends and improvement opportunities

- Participate in root cause analysis for equipment downtime, quality deviations, or process inefficiencies

- Assist with documentation updates such as standard operating procedures (SOPs), work instructions, and engineering drawings

- Observe and support capital projects, equipment installations, or upgrades

- Collaborate with cross-functional teams including Operations, Maintenance, Quality, and Sanitation

- Follow all plant safety, food safety, and quality requirements (GMPs, HACCP, and plant policies)

Learning Opportunities

- Exposure to dairy processing operations (pasteurization, homogenization, filling, packaging, and CIP systems)

- Hands-on experience with manufacturing equipment, automation, and control systems

- Introduction to food safety and regulatory requirements in a dairy manufacturing environment

- Development of professional skills such as teamwork, communication, and problem-solving

Mentorship from experienced engineers and plant leaders

Requirements

REQUIREMENTS

Required Qualifications:

- Currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, Industrial, or related field)

- Completed at least sophomore year by the start of the internship

- Strong interest in manufacturing, food & beverage, or industrial operations

- Basic proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)

- Willingness to work in an industrial manufacturing environment

Preferred:

- Coursework or experience related to manufacturing, process engineering, or automation

- Familiarity with data analysis, Lean manufacturing, or Six Sigma principles

- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills

- Ability to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical teams

Physical & Work Environment Requirements

- Must be able to work in a manufacturing environment with exposure to noise, temperature variations, and food processing areas

- Ability to walk production floors and occasionally climb stairs or ladders

- Must comply with all safety and food hygiene requirements (PPE, sanitation practices, etc.)

- Must be able to lift upto 25 lbs.