PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT INTERN – SUMMER 2026

Job Description

About company

Lensa is a career site designed to help job seekers find employment opportunities in the US. It explicitly states that it is not a staffing firm or agency and does not hire directly for the jobs it promotes. Instead, Lensa advertises jobs on LinkedIn on behalf of its direct clients, recruitment ad agencies, and marketing partners. For this specific job, Lensa partners with DirectEmployers to promote it for Schwan’s. When users click “Apply Now” or “Read more” on Lensa, they are redirected to the job board or the employer’s own site, where any collected information is subject to that site’s terms and privacy notice.

Schwan’s Company is a U.S. affiliate of the global lifestyle company CJ CheilJedang Corporation. It stands as a leading U.S. manufacturer and marketer of quality food products, distributed through both retail-grocery and food-service channels. Schwan’s boasts a portfolio of many popular brands, including Red Baron®, Tony’s®, Big Daddy’s®, Villa Prima and Freschetta® pizza; Mrs. Smith’s® and Edwards® desserts; and Pagoda® and Bibigo Asian-style snacks. More information about Schwan’s is available on their website, www.schwanscompany.com. The employing subsidiaries of Schwan’s Company are Equal Employment Opportunity Employers, meaning all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination based on disability, age, race, color, religion, gender, vet status, national origin, or other protected classes.

Job description

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT INTERN – SUMMER 2026

Locations: Marshall, MN | La Palma, CA | Florence, KY

This internship at Schwan’s Company offers a dynamic and hands-on experience in product development within the food industry.

Your Internship Experience:

• Dynamic 12-Week Internship: Engage in a comprehensive, hands-on experience by working on real-world projects directly relevant to your academic studies, contributing to tangible impacts within the company.
• Take Charge of Strategic Projects: Be entrusted with exciting, high-stakes initiatives that have direct relevance to your coursework, providing invaluable experience beyond classroom learning.
• Exclusive Access to Leadership: Benefit from frequent interactions with company executives and senior leaders, gaining unique insights and career inspiration.
• A Culture of Care: Join a company environment that prioritizes the health, safety, and overall well-being of its team members.
• Guidance from Industry Experts: Receive mentorship and support from skilled, genuine, and good-natured team members who are genuinely invested in your professional success.
• Pathway to a Thriving Career: This internship serves as a potential foundation for your future career at a leading food company, as internships frequently lead to full-time roles upon graduation.

Your Impact (Key Responsibilities):

As a Product Development Intern, you will play a crucial role in various stages of food product innovation and improvement:

• Innovate & Renovate: Collaborate with Food Scientists to develop new food products, enhance existing product lines, and identify opportunities for improving processes and efficiencies.
• Experiment & Test: Under guidance, prepare experimental formulas, develop and refine processing techniques, and establish product specifications. You will also actively support laboratory and pilot plant test runs.
• Analyze & Document: Collect and organize data, accurately record observations, and ensure precise documentation of test results to support informed decision-making.
• Explore Ingredients: Assist in the evaluation of alternative ingredients, with the goal of improving product quality, reducing production costs, or strengthening supply chain resilience.
• Validate Quality: Verify preparation instructions for products and thoroughly document product performance, overall quality, and sensory attributes to ensure high consumer satisfaction.
• Research & Benchmark: Conduct comprehensive literature reviews and competitive product assessments to identify emerging industry trends, new technologies, and potential innovation opportunities.
• Support Commercialization: Provide assistance in scaling successful prototypes from the laboratory environment to full-scale production, ensuring technical feasibility and strict compliance with company standards.
• Safety & Compliance: Adhere strictly to all laboratory safety protocols and support the company’s commitment to food safety and regulatory requirements throughout the product development process.
• Communicate Insights: Clearly and professionally share test findings and recommendations through various formats, including reports, presentations, or demonstrations, for both technical and non-technical audiences.

What You Bring (Qualifications):

• Education: You must be currently enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program in Food Science or a closely related field such as Bakery Science, Meat Science, Dairy Science, or Culinary Science. An anticipated graduation date of December 2026 or May 2027 is required. A GPA of 3.0 or higher is preferred.
• Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:
• Possess a foundational understanding of food science or related disciplines, coupled with an awareness of product development processes, food safety standards, and quality control.
• Demonstrate strong analytical, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills, including the ability to effectively collect, interpret, and present data.
• Be proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, with experience using laboratory or statistical software being a valuable plus.
• Exhibit effective written and verbal communication skills, paying close attention to detail and capable of clearly documenting and sharing results.
• Possess strong organizational skills, with the capability to manage multiple tasks concurrently, diligently follow laboratory protocols, and meet project timelines.
• Maintain a collaborative mindset, showing eagerness to learn, adaptability within a fast-paced environment, and the ability to connect technical findings to broader consumer and business needs.

If you have questions about this job posting, please contact support@lensa.com.