Summer Engineering Intern

Job Description

About the Company

Mountaire Farms is a family-owned agricultural food production and processing company that ranks as the fourth largest chicken company in the United States. It operates through two affiliates: Mountaire Farms Inc. and Mountaire Farms of Delaware, Inc., employing almost 10,000 dedicated individuals across facilities in Arkansas, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina.

The company prides itself on a strong, family-focused culture that emphasizes support, upliftment, and mutual success among its employees. Its core values, maintained since its inception, define its unique identity. Mountaire’s vision is to achieve growth, stability, and opportunities for its people, customers, and communities by profitably delivering wholesome, quality chicken. Beyond business operations, Mountaire is deeply committed to giving back to the communities where it operates.

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

Job Description: Summer Engineering Intern

The Summer Engineering Intern position at Mountaire Farms offers a comprehensive opportunity to gain hands-on experience in project management, design, and implementation within a large-scale poultry processing and manufacturing environment. The internship is structured to expose students to the full lifecycle of an engineering project, from its initial concept through to execution, aligning with Mountaire Farms’ commitment to innovation, safety, and operational excellence.

Project Highlights (Key Responsibilities):

• Project Definition & Planning:
• Participate in kickoff meetings with stakeholders to define project objectives, deliverables, and expected outcomes.
• Develop a formal Project Scope of Work (SOW) detailing goals, timelines, and required resources.
• Create a work breakdown structure to establish milestones and assign tasks.
• Design & Documentation:
• Produce layout drawings using CAD or other engineering software to visualize project design and equipment placement.
• Prepare supporting documentation, including specifications and material requirements.
• Vendor Coordination & Bid Process:
• Draft bid packages for vendors and contractors.
• Request and review proposals, comparing costs, timelines, and compliance with specifications.
• Assist in vendor selection and recommendations to leadership.
• Project Reviews & Implementation Support:
• Conduct regular project update meetings with mentors and stakeholders to track progress and identify challenges.
• Present findings, design solutions, and project status updates to department leadership.
• Support on-site reviews and help coordinate project execution to ensure alignment with safety, quality, and operational standards.

Qualifications:

• Education: Must be currently enrolled and pursuing an associate or bachelor’s degree at an accredited college or university, specifically in an Engineering Major.
• Technical Skills:
• AutoCAD experience required.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Ability to take field measurements and verify data.
• Ability to develop drawings.
• Personal Attributes & Soft Skills:
• Motivated.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Communication skills for effective stakeholder and vendor relationships.
• Other:
• Valid Driver’s license.
• Must pass the Mountaire Motor Vehicle Record check.

Internship Program Requirements:

• Project Completion: Complete the assigned project identified by the department mentor.
• Seminars: Attend weekly seminar series across different Mountaire facilities.
• Travel: All interns must be available to travel to Delaware during the last week of the program (August 3 to 7, 2026) for final presentations.
• Final Presentation: Required to complete a 10-minute presentation on their project at the conclusion of the summer, to be held in Millsboro, DE at the Administrative Building during the week of August 3-7th.
• Schedule: Anticipated weekly schedule is 8 am – 5 pm.
• Housing: Housing is available upon request.
• Other: Other duties as assigned.