Engineering Management Trainee (Pathways) Program – Engineering Leadership

Perdue Farms; Concord (NC); On-site; USD 52,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Perdue Farms is seeking an Engineering Management Trainee for a 24-month leadership development program. Trainees rotate across Perdue facilities, gaining hands-on experience in plant operations, project execution, and continuous improvement.

The program emphasizes safety, quality, and operational excellence while developing future engineering leaders. You will work on capital projects, participate in cross-functional teams, and build technical and leadership skills through mentorship and cohort

Qualifications

• Entry-level background; bachelor’s degree completed within 24 months of program start date (May 2025 – May 2027).
• Minimum GPA 3.0; demonstrated leadership potential and interest in engineering, project engineering, or project management.
• Willingness to travel to Perdue facilities and relocate for career opportunities.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office; AutoCAD experience.

Responsibilities

• Participate in structured rotations to understand plant operations and engineering work processes end-to-end.
• Coordinate activities, manage scope, schedule, budget, and deliverables for capital projects.
• Identify and lead continuous improvement opportunities focusing on safety, quality, reliability, cost, and capacity.
• Apply engineering knowledge to facility infrastructure, equipment, production systems, and maintenance support.
• Engage in leadership development, mentorship, and cohort learning to enhance communication and decision-making.

Skills

Strong communication

Interpersonal skills

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Organizational skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field

Tools

AutoCAD

Microsoft Office

Job description

Engineering Management Trainee | Perdue Farms

The Tone:This is a 24-month leadership development program at Perdue Farms, a fourth-generation, family-owned food and agricultural business dedicated to becoming the most trusted name in premium proteins. The company creates products for consumers, retail, and foodservice customers globally, while committed to changing the way animals are raised for food. This role is crucial for developing the next generation of engineering leaders, driving innovation, operational excellence, and continuous improvement across Perdue’s operations.

The TL;DR

• Role: Trainee (Pathways Program)
• Type: Full-time
• Location: Rotational across Perdue facilities, requiring travel and relocation
• Mission: To prepare future engineering leaders by providing hands-on experience in plant operations, engineering work processes, project management, and capital project execution to drive innovation, operational excellence, and continuous improvement.
• Tech Stack: AutoCAD, Microsoft Office

What You’ll Actually Do

• Build Foundational Knowledge: Participate in structured rotations to develop an end-to-end understanding of plant operations, engineering work processes, and the connection between engineering decisions and business results.
• Support Capital Projects: Coordinate project activities, manage scope, schedule, budget, and deliverables for capital projects using established engineering work processes.
• Drive Operational Improvement: Identify, support, and lead continuous improvement opportunities focusing on safety, quality, reliability, cost, and capacity.
• Develop Technical Expertise: Apply engineering knowledge to facility infrastructure, equipment, production systems, and technical maintenance support.
• Cultivate Leadership Skills: Engage in leadership development, mentorship, and cohort learning to enhance communication, business acumen, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities.

The Must-Haves

• Background: Entry-Level, with a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Mechanical, Electrical, Agricultural, Civil, Structural, Industrial, Manufacturing Engineering, Construction Management, Engineering Technology, or a related field, completed within 24 months of the program start date (May 2025 – May 2027).
• Experience: Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. Demonstrated leadership potential and interest in a career in engineering, project engineering, or project management. Willingness to travel to Perdue facilities and project sites and relocate for career opportunities.
• Skills: Strong written and verbal communication, interpersonal, analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills. Ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams and influence across business functions. Ability to work well within a team setting, as well as independently, and manage multiple priorities in a manufacturing and project environment. Working knowledge of Microsoft Office; AutoCAD experience.
• Bonus: Project management, construction, manufacturing, maintenance, or engineering-related experience.