Product Development Intern - Summer 2027 - Campus Recruiting (Multiple Locations)

Hormel Foods Family of Companies • Austin, MN

8h • Onsite

About The Position

The Product Development Intern role is an exciting and educational experience where interns will be involved in various stages of the product lifecycle, from ideation and design to testing, launch, and beyond. Hormel Foods Corporation, based in Austin, Minnesota, is a global branded food company with over $12 billion in annual revenue across more than 80 countries worldwide. The company lives by its purpose statement — Inspired People. Inspired Food.™ — to bring some of the world’s most trusted and iconic brands to tables across the globe.

Requirements

• Must graduate in December 2027, May 2027, or August 2028.
• Must have at least Junior status and major in Food Science, Animal Science, or related field with a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA preferred.
• Demonstrated leadership skills are necessary for success in this position.
• Previous food or meat processing experience is beneficial.
• Possess a strong work ethic and an entrepreneurial spirit.
• Must be a Citizen or National of the United States, a lawful, permanent resident, or have authorization to work in the United States.
• Applicants must not now, or any time in the future, require sponsorship for an employment visa.
• This position will require access to and/or the utilization of a personal motor vehicle to get to and from the workplace.

Responsibilities

• Assist the research and development team on the commercialization of new and reformulated products to include: bench top sample preparation, formulation, materials sourcing, product costing, plant trials (may require travel to other production facilities), food safety planning, acceptance testing, development and shelf life testing.
• Apply knowledge of food science while gaining experience in the product development process.
• Learn to operate a wide variety of food processing equipment in the pilot plant.
• Practice communication skills, use analytical techniques, and apply critical thinking skills to interpret data pertaining to product quality and shelf-life attributes.
• Maintain a clean, safe work environment all while following established guidelines for good housekeeping, GMPs, ServSafe and safety.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Projects may include: Product formulation, Process/Product Troubleshooting, Testing new ingredients and processes, Conducting meat quality audits, Preparing and presenting food prototypes for review by sales, marketing, operations, and R&D.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Intern