Engineering Co-Op

Sargento; Elkhart Lake (WI); On-site; USD 25,000 - 39,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Lead projects

Mentorship

Community service

Networking

Flexible schedule

Competitive pay

Relocation assistance

Unpaid days off interns

401(k) match

Cheese store discounts

Job summary

Sargento Foods, based in Plymouth, Wisconsin, offers engineering internships/co-ops to gain hands-on experience in manufacturing. You will work on real capstone projects, lead/assist with technical tasks, and learn from a team of engineers in a company that values family-like culture.

Participants will develop leadership, critical thinking, and collaboration while contributing to safety, quality, and productivity initiatives within the facility.

Qualifications

• Enrolled in a bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline with junior-year completion or pursuing a master’s degree.
• Proficient with MS Office (PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook).
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ethical conduct, integrity and positive team collaboration.
• Works well in cross-functional teams with technical and non-technical members.
• Demonstrates reliability and accountable work habits.
• Possesses a valid driver’s license and access to a vehicle.

Responsibilities

• Apply engineering skills to lead or support projects aimed at improving safety, quality, and productivity.
• Manage capstone project with guidance from a skilled team.
• Gain exposure to manufacturing, quality, and food safety aspects of the industry.
• Develop specifications, bids, purchase orders, and cost/schedule controls.
• Assist in continuous improvement initiatives and provide production support as needed.
• Build strong relationships and communicate across Engineering, Manufacturing, NPD, Procurement, and R&D teams.

Skills

Communication

Critical Thinking

Collaboration

Cross-Functional

Professionalism

Leadership

Technology

Time Management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in industrial, mechanical, electrical, or related engineering (junior year)

Pursuing master’s degree (accepted into program or year 1)

Tools

MS Office Suite (PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook)

Job description

Do you have a strong passion for engineering? We are looking for talented people like you to help provide technical support, project execution, and ideas and recommendations for this capstone project designed to give you a real-world work experience. You are a leader who has emotional intelligence, analytical skills and are a critical thinker. You are passionate about engineering, inquisitive about how things work, and excited to work with a team of engineers. You seek an opportunity to expand your skills and experiences in engineering within the manufacturing industry.

Your Story.

Do you have a strong passion for engineering? We are looking for talented people like you to help provide technical support, project execution, and ideas and recommendations for this capstone project designed to give you a real-world work experience. You are a leader who has emotional intelligence, analytical skills and are a critical thinker. You are passionate about engineering, inquisitive about how things work, and excited to work with a team of engineers. You seek an opportunity to expand your skills and experiences in engineering within the manufacturing industry.

Your Passion. Our Culture.

At Sargento, you work for a company you believe in, with a family of people who believe in you. Our culture stems from a simple premise: Hire good people and treat them like family. At Sargento, you can make decisions based on how they affect people as well as the long‑term health of our company. You will be encouraged to make a meaningful difference in the community, in the company and in your career. With diverse experiences and tools to learn and develop, you can transform your aspirations into reality. If you’re ready for the right place to belong and grow your career, you can find it here.

Benefits That Set Us Apart.

• Lead and own real and relevant projects aligned with business objectives
• Gain valuable skills and experiences to be prepared for entry level opportunities
• Mentorship and career development to learn and grow personally and professionally
• Volunteer in community service activities
• Social professional networking experiences
• Flexible work week onsite Mondays through Thursdays and optional remote Fridays; plus, half day Fridays
• Nationally competitive compensation
• Paid relocation and housing
• 5 unpaid days off for interns and 10 unpaid days off for co‑ops
• 401(k) employer contribution top 1% in the nation
• Discounts at the company cheese store and local attractions/events

Skills You Will Develop.

• Communication
• Critical Thinking
• Collaboration
• Cross-Functional
• Professionalism
• Leadership
• Technology
• Time Management

What You Do.

• Apply engineering skills while leading/supporting projects geared to improve human safety, food safety, quality, capacity expansion, and productivity.
• Manage capstone project with the support of our talented team to guide you through your hands‑on experience.
• Exposed to manufacturing, quality, and food safety aspects of industry.
• Provides project identification, concept development, estimate, design, financial/scope/schedule control, start‑up, training, and project closeout.
• Provides specifications, competitive bids, purchase order requests, invoice control, and other related activities.
• May be exposed to commercialization of new products/packaging.
• May be asked to provide continuous improvement initiatives and regular production support to continue improvement of COGS and provide a solid economic analysis for each initiative.
• Develop strong relationships and communicate effectively to manage projects with Engineering, Manufacturing, New Product Development (NPD), Procurement, vendors, Food Safety & Quality, Research & Development (R&D), and Supply Chain.
• Inventing may occur or be required as part of this position:
  • Invents or discovers new and useful processes, machines, manufactures, or compositions of matter, or any new and useful improvements thereof for the exclusive use by and ownership of Sargento.
  • Assigns all ideas and inventions conceived or developed while employed by Sargento or as a result of employment with Sargento.
  • Discloses to Sargento any inventions that are conceived or made.
  • Fully assists in making patent applications as well as refraining from disclosing inventions or ideas to others unless requested to do so by Sargento, and assigns any and all rights to Sargento.

Your Education And Qualifications.

• Seeking a bachelor’s degree in industrial, mechanical, electrical, or another related engineering field, having completed junior year prior to starting internship or seeking a master’s degree (either accepted into a program or completed year one in calendar year of co‑op)
• Proficiency in MS Office (PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook)
• Effective business writing skills, including the ability to provide concise synopses and recommendations
• Must operate in an ethical manner and exhibit self‑confidence, integrity, and a positive approach to conduct & communication.
• Must work well in a team environment consisting of technical and non‑technical members and strive to achieve team deliverables.
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills
• Confidentiality is required for all work
• Valid driver’s license, vehicle insurance, and vehicle required. There is no mass/public transit system to/from corporate housing location to company locations.

Our Story.

With over 2,400 employees and net sales of $1.8 billion, Sargento Foods is a family‑owned company that has been a leader in cheese for more than 70 years. We created the world’s first, successful pre‑packaged sliced and shredded natural cheeses. Sargento is based in Plymouth, Wisconsin, where we manufacture and market shredded, sliced and snack natural cheese products, as well as ingredients and sauces. Sargento is known for the exceptional quality of our products and for product design, packaging and merchandising innovations that have transformed our industry.

To learn more about our culture and values, please visit our website at https://careers.sargento.com/us/en.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.