Engineer Co-op

January 6, 2025
$34 / hour

Are you applying to the internship?

Description

About Cargill:

Cargill is a global company with a 154-year history and 155,000 employees. They connect farmers with markets, customers with ingredients, and people and animals with the food they need. They utilize new technologies, dynamic insights, and their extensive experience to achieve this. Cargill emphasizes building a stronger, more sustainable future.

Description: Engineering Co-op (May 2025)

This is a 7-8 month co-op opportunity (May-December 2025) for students pursuing a bachelor’s or master’s degree in engineering (Chemical, Biochemical, Mechanical, Biosystems, Agricultural, Mining, Electrical, Industrial, Environmental, Packaging, or a related field). The co-op is designed to provide practical experience and prepare students for their future careers. Geographic flexibility and willingness to relocate anywhere in the U.S. are mandatory.

Work Locations: Cargill has various production facilities across the US. Possible locations include: Blair, NE; Bloomington, IL; Buckeye, AZ; Cedar Rapids, IA; Chandler, AZ; Charlotte, NC; Cleveland, OH; Dalton, GA; Dayton, OH; Eddyville, IA; Fayetteville, NC; Fort Dodge, IA; Fullerton, CA; Gainesville, GA; Guntersville, AL; Hammond, IN; Hazleton, PA; Hutchinson, KS; Iowa Falls, IA; Kansas City, MO; Lafayette, IN; Lansing, NY; Memphis, TN; Milwaukee, WI; Minneapolis, MN; Mount Joy, PA; Paris, IL; Sidney, OH; Sioux City, IA; St. Clair, MI; West Fargo, ND; West Lincoln, PA; Wichita, KS.

Responsibilities:

Co-ops will gain experience in either Operations Leadership or Maintenance & Reliability Engineering. Exposure to both technical and management aspects is a key goal. Potential career paths after the co-op include:

Production Management Engineers: Lead people, processes, and product flow in a plant setting. Responsibilities include daily supervision of operators, production management meetings, government regulations compliance (environmental, health, safety), team development (hiring, scheduling, motivation, employee relations), process optimization, equipment reliability, and capital projects.

Environmental Engineers: Work with various teams and systems (refrigeration, steam, water distribution, wastewater treatment) ensuring effective plant operation and environmental compliance. Responsibilities include supervision of operators and technicians, daily work planning, maintenance, capital projects, and process improvement.

Process/Project Engineers: Handle business case development, vendor selection, budget management, and project management for major projects. Involve innovation processes, reliability-centered design, and implementation of technical initiatives.

Maintenance & Reliability Engineers: Engage teams to improve processes and asset utilization for minimal downtime and repair costs. Supervise specialized teams, plan short and long-term activities, and utilize tools like RCM, FMEA, RCA, and 5S to prevent equipment failures.

The co-op involves:

• Working in a fast-paced, hands-on, team-oriented plant environment.
• Leading production or maintenance employees, project teams, or contractors.
• Executing critical initiatives and projects.
• Physical activity (bending, stooping, lifting up to 50+ pounds).
• Potential exposure to various environmental conditions (heat, cold, grain dust).
• Opportunities to showcase skills and work on projects involving system design, upgrades, and plant drawing reviews.

Compensation and Benefits:

• hourly rate: $25.00 – $34.70 per hour (dependent on graduation date and full-time eligibility).
• Housing assistance and relocation reimbursement (for qualifying candidates).
• Paid time off.
• Mental health and wellbeing program.
• Digital learning library.
• Access to volunteer and community outreach opportunities.
• Comprehensive benefits program (medical, etc., depending on position and hours).
• Networking opportunities and mentorship.

Currently pursuings:

Required: Right to work in the U.S. (not based on a student visa or third-party employer sponsorship); currently pursuing a bachelor’s or master’s in a relevant engineering discipline; degree completion between December 2025 and May 2028; ability to complete a 7-8-month co-op (May-December 2025); geographic flexibility and willingness to relocate; high initiative and resourcefulness.
Preferred: Previous plant/production experience; 2.7 GPA or higher; ability to apply technical knowledge; problem-solving skills; excellent communication skills; leadership experience.

Cargill is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including Disability/Vet.