Process & Machinal Engineer Intern - Spring 2027

Blount Fine Foods•McKinney, TX

About The Position

This Spring 2027 internship provides experiential learning and opportunities to apply classroom concepts in a real-world setting. Interns receive timely feedback, accessible supervisors, bi-weekly meetings with the internship program lead, career-readiness assistance, and networking opportunities. The intern collaborates with process and design engineering personnel to improve equipment, processes, products, and packaging quality. The role involves analyzing manufacturing performance and business data, recommending improvements, supporting a multi-year food-manufacturing-facility expansion, and spending time on the production floor of a fast-paced USDA- and FDA-regulated facility producing soup and seafood products. The intern also supports quality control, process monitoring, asset and critical-spares planning, and food-safety programs. In the event of an absence, trained personnel will fill the position.

Requirements

Be a degree candidate in Mechanical Engineering or a related field.
Have above-average mathematics skills and familiarity with statistics, including SPC and control charts.
Have a thorough knowledge of computers and computer programs; AutoCAD is required.
Be detail-oriented and have above-average organizational skills.
Be self-motivated, energetic, and possess excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Be able to work and solve problems, maintain a positive attitude toward continued learning, and support the overall business.
Be able to interact in a dynamic team environment and display tact and diplomacy with peers and management.
Be willing to adhere to the Quality Engineering Philosophy.
Be competent with Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.
Complete HACCP training if monitoring CCPs and follow approved HACCP plans.

Nice To Haves

Proficiency with MiniTab, Smart Draw, and Simscale is a plus.
Lean Six Sigma certification is a plus.
Experience with Smart Draw and Minitab software is a plus.

Responsibilities

Conduct a thermal efficiency audit and present recommendations for maximizing efficiency.
Work with management to identify business-process inefficiencies and determine improvements aligned with financial goals.
Evaluate and develop manufacturing processes by studying product and process requirements, applying knowledge of design, assembly, tooling, and materials, consulting equipment vendors, and soliciting operator observations.
Improve manufacturing efficiency by analyzing and planning workflow, space requirements, and equipment layout.
Establish and monitor performance metrics and standards based on equipment and process capabilities, and assess current manufacturing processes.
Mine, analyze, summarize, and report performance and business data to identify trends, issues, and potential solutions and support manufacturing decisions.
Maintain professional and technical knowledge through ongoing professional development.
Work with the Safety department on job safety analyses (JSAs).
Manage, analyze, improve, and report metrics, including dashboards and internal reports.
Provide technical assistance in identifying, analyzing, evaluating, and developing quality systems and procedures.
Report issues at established frequencies to relevant departments to support continuous improvement and corrective and preventive actions.
Develop, implement, and maintain performance metrics covering complaints, right-first-time product, product holds, yields, raw-material supplier performance inspections, and internal and external audit results.
Improve and define data-editing and standardization processes; monitor, document, and provide feedback on completed initiative controls.
Act as a liaison between departments and business partners, and assist with developing and implementing data-capture systems.
Monitor manufacturing standards and controls across receiving, staging, preparation, processing, packaging, storage, and shipping.
Perform batch-control tests and product sampling, including statistical process control (SPC), to ensure processes remain in control.
Support smooth process flow, volume, and efficiency while maintaining specifications and product quality.
Work with other departments to ensure appropriate techniques, staffing, training, and methods produce consistent, high-quality products.
Confer with engineers and other personnel to implement operating procedures, resolve system malfunctions, or provide technical information.
Interact with vendors or customers on technical or design issues.
Use sample data to create control charts and identify process shifts.
Complete applicable food-safety paperwork accurately and honestly; follow GMPs, SOPs, food and employee safety policies, and allergen-control procedures.
Report suspicious packages, activities, and individuals.
When monitoring critical control points (CCPs), complete required HACCP training and follow approved HACCP plans.
Perform other duties with similar skills, work conditions, and responsibilities as assigned.