Processing Plant Intern

Job Description

About the Company: Mountaire Farms

Mountaire Farms is a prominent agricultural food production and processing company, currently the fourth largest chicken company in the United States. Despite its size, it remains family-owned and maintains a strong family-focused work environment and culture, which it considers one of its greatest strengths and most valued assets. The company operates with a commitment to its core values, ensuring that employees, supervisors, and team members are genuinely invested in each other’s success and in delivering high-quality products to customers.

Mountaire employs almost 10,000 dedicated individuals across facilities in Arkansas, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina. Its culture is defined by mutual support, upliftment, and a shared goal of success, embodying “the Mountaire way.” The company’s vision is to provide growth, stability, and opportunities for its people, customers, and communities by profitably delivering wholesome, quality chicken. Mountaire is also deeply committed to giving back to the communities where it operates.

Mountaire offers an extensive total compensation package to its employees. This includes benefits such as:
• Eight paid holidays
• Medical Plans with free onsite Health and Wellness Centers
• Dental and Vision Programs
• Employee Assistance Program for employees and their families
• Retirement Planning with a 401(k)
• Profit Sharing
• Employee Discounted Chicken Sales
• Employee Discounts with various partners (e.g., car purchases, phone plans, shopping)
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Numerous career development programs

Job Description: Processing Plant Intern

The Processing Plant Intern at Mountaire Farms will engage in a hands-on learning experience focused on evaluating and optimizing processing systems within a fast-paced production environment. The primary goal of this internship is to identify opportunities for automation and technological enhancement, specifically by exploring how Artificial Intelligence (AI) and modern technology can be integrated to improve efficiency, accuracy, and overall plant performance.

Project Highlights:
• Review processing systems, with a particular focus on first processing, to assess current efficiency and identify areas ripe for automation.
• Pinpoint processes that can be practically enhanced through the application of AI and other technologies.
• Collect and analyze operational data to substantiate recommendations for system upgrades or new automation initiatives.
• Collaborate closely with engineers, maintenance teams, and plant leadership to evaluate the feasibility and potential impact of integrating new technologies.
• Support the development of detailed recommendations and reports, outlining findings, identified opportunities, and projected outcomes.
• Participate in various cross-functional plant projects, gaining insights into the interplay between operations, technology, and process improvement.
• Acquire practical experience with emerging technologies and understand their application in real-world production settings.

Qualifications:
• Must be currently enrolled and actively pursuing an associate or bachelor’s degree at an accredited college or university.
• Possession of a valid Driver’s License and ability to pass the Mountaire Motor Vehicle Record check.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Word and Excel.
• Academic background or strong interest in AI Computer Technology, Engineering, or Robotics.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively within a team environment.
• Demonstrated critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Willingness to work in a demanding processing plant environment, which may include exposure to cold/wet conditions and production equipment.
• Strong willingness to learn and keen attention to detail.
• Adaptable and flexible, open to rotating through various areas of the plant as needed.

Internship Program Requirements:
• Completion of an assigned project identified by the department mentor.
• Attendance at weekly seminar series held across different Mountaire facilities.
• Other duties as assigned by the mentor or supervisor.
• Availability to travel to Delaware during the last week of the program (August 3-7, 2026) for final presentations.
• Preparation and delivery of a 10-minute presentation on the completed project at the conclusion of the summer internship, to be held in Millsboro, DE at the Administrative Building during August 3-7, 2026.
• The anticipated weekly schedule for this internship is 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
• Housing is available upon request for interns.