Engineer Co-op

December 9, 2024
$35 / hour

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Description

About Cargill:

Cargill is a global company with a 154-year history, employing 155,000 people worldwide. They connect farmers with markets, customers with ingredients, and people and animals with the food they need. Their diverse businesses include Agricultural Supply Chain North America (CASCNA), Cocoa and Chocolate North America (CCNA), Edible Oils North America (EONA), Cargill Bio Industrial (CBI), Protein and Salt (CPS), and Starches and Sweeteners and Texturizing Solutions (CSST). Cargill emphasizes using new technologies and dynamic insights to build a stronger, more sustainable future.

Description: Engineering Co-op (May 2025)

This 7-8 month engineering co-op program (May-December 2025) offers hands-on experience in various Cargill production facilities across the United States. Relocation is required, and housing assistance and relocation reimbursement are offered to qualifying candidates. The program is designed to prepare students for their careers, providing a supportive environment for learning and skill development.

Internship Responsibilities:

Co-ops will gain experience in either Operations Leadership or Maintenance & Reliability Engineering. Specific responsibilities vary depending on the chosen path, but all roles involve working in a fast-paced production environment and leading teams (production employees, project teams, contractors, or technical operations teams).

Operations Leadership (Production Management Engineers): This path focuses on leading people, processes, and production in a plant environment. Responsibilities include direct supervision of operators, participation in daily production meetings, ensuring compliance with regulations (environmental, health, safety, maintenance, housekeeping), process optimization, equipment reliability, and potentially managing capital projects. Development of production employee teams and handling employee relations are key aspects within the first two years of a full-time career in this area.

Maintenance & Reliability Engineering: This path emphasizes ensuring minimal downtime and repair costs through process improvement and asset utilization. Responsibilities include supervising specialized teams, leading short- and long-term planning (including weekly maintenance and capital projects), and utilizing tools such as Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM), Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA), Root Cause Analysis (RCA), 5S, and 5-Why to prevent equipment failures.

Environmental Engineering: This path involves working with various teams, processes, and assets related to efficient operation of plant systems (refrigeration, steam, water, compressed air) and a large-scale Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP). Responsibilities include ensuring environmental compliance, regulatory permitting, and supervising operators and technicians.

Process/Project Engineering: This path focuses on major projects and improvements, including business case development, vendor selection, budget management, project management, process optimization, safety, quality, infrastructure, and energy use. It involves innovation processes, idea generation, reliability-centered design, and implementing technical initiatives from global groups.

Program Features:

Real-world experience: Hands-on work on projects ranging from system design and upgrades to reviewing and updating plant drawings.
Mentorship and networking: Opportunities to connect with leaders, colleagues, and peers across the U.S. through various events.
Development resources: Access to expansive learning resources, development courses, and experienced leaders.
Potential for full-time employment: Outstanding performers may be offered a second co-op or a full-time position.
Community engagement: Access to volunteer opportunities and paid time off for volunteer activities.
Compensation: hourly rate of $25.00 – $34.70 per hour (dependent on graduation date and full-time eligibility). Benefits package (medical, etc.) is offered depending on hours worked.

Physical Demands: The job involves physical activity requiring moderate exertion, including bending, stooping, squatting, twisting, reaching, working on irregular surfaces, occasional lifting of objects over 50 pounds, and frequent lifting of 10-25 pounds. Exposure to heat, cold, grain dust, etc., may also occur.

Locations: Various plant locations across the U.S. (see list in original text).