Summer 2027 Mars Snacking Research and Development Internship

Mars; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 137,000 - 273,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary & benefits package

Pet-friendly offices

Mentor program

Mars University access

Job summary

Mars Snacking Research and Development Internship in Chicago offers exposure to compliance, product, process, or packaging development, science & technologу, sensory, with a day-to-day on-site mentor guiding you through the experience.

The program runs 10–11 weeks, is primarily in-person, and includes formal training from Mars University, ongoing coaching, and networking with peers and leaders; interns may receive full-time offers after completion.

Qualifications

• Curious and passionate with a results-driven mindset and ability to rapidly build cross-functional relationships.
• Enthusiastic about brands, research, innovation in consumer products.
• Pursuing degrees in Food Science, Environmental Science, Biological Systems, Packaging or Chemical Engineering; interested in data analytics, consumer insights, sensory.

Responsibilities

• Gain exposure to Compliance, Product/Process/Packaging development, Science & Technology, Sensory; work with a Functional Lead mentor on-site.
• Mars Internship Experience includes mentorship, Mars University training, and opportunities to grow into rotational programs.

Skills

Curiosity

Results-driven mindset

Cross-functional relationship building

Interest in data analytics / sensory

Education

Food Science, Environmental Science, Biological Systems, Packaging or Chemical Engineering

Job description

Job Description:

At Mars, we work together to build a better world for people, pets, and the planet. From being a socially responsible business, to investing in our Associates, we’re always looking at how we can make tomorrow brighter. As an Associate, you are empowered with the freedom and tools to be yourself, to forge your own path, to build relationships across our global community, to discover the right opportunities for you to grow — all with ample support. Here, you have our ongoing commitment to your growth and development as you work across our world-famous brands. Start your journey at Mars today!

Mars Snacking Research and Development Internship Experience

As a Mars Snacking Research and Development Intern, you will gain exposure to the following areas:

• Compliance functions including scientific and regulatory affairs
• Product, process, or packaging development
• Science & Technology
• Sensory
• Work with a Functional Lead who will serve as your day‑to‑day, on‑site mentor to provide guidance throughout the experience.

What we’re looking for:

• An individual that is curious, passionate, and has a results‑driven mindset with a hunger to learn and an ability to rapidly build strong cross‑functional relationships that support our strategic R&D priorities.
• Enthusiastic about our iconic brands, research, innovation, and the consumer products industry
• Pursuing degrees in Food Science, Environmental Science, Biological Systems, Packaging or Chemical Engineering. Interested in concentrations / minors in data analytics, consumer insights, sensory.
• Passionate about applying robust scientific and critical thinking to solve complex problems, generate insights, and inform data‑driven decisions.
• Eligible candidates will intern the summer prior to their final graduation date (typically rising seniors — May 2028 Graduation) or the summer prior to their junior year (rising juniors — May 2029 Graduation). Open to students legally authorized to work in the U.S. without the need for current or future work status authorization or visa sponsorship for employment.
• We leverage our intern program to feed our R&D Rotational Program post‑graduation and build our talent pipeline for future technical and people leaders. Some of our successful interns may receive full‑time offers to start their career with Mars!
• Some of the internship positions available might be located at a facility that processes nuts or allows dogs and cats on site. Please let us know if this raises any concerns so that we can address them.
• Employment is contingent upon successful completion of drug & background screening.
• Eligible candidates will be responsible for personal transportation to and from work site during duration of the internship program.

What can you expect from Mars?

• The Mars Internship Experience is a 10–11‑week summer program providing excellent depth of experience with real business problems and opportunities.
• Exciting professional and social engagement activities throughout the experience that provide opportunities to network with your intern peers all the way up to senior leaders.
• Best‑in‑class training and development from Day 1, including a formal mentor, access to our in‑house Mars University, and more.
• Ongoing coaching and mentorship to help you succeed and get the most out of your experience.
• The internship experience is designed to be primarily in‑person, providing interns with hands‑on learning opportunities, access to technical training, and meaningful exposure to our facilities, technologies, and ways of working. Being on‑site also enables interns to build relationships with our experts, expand their professional networks, and fully immerse themselves in the R&D environment.
• Some pretty sweet perks including competitive salary & benefits package, fun freebies, and pet‑friendly offices.
• Location of the internship will be focused in the Chicago area locations with potential short‑term travel to other sites including Battle Creek, Michigan.

About Mars, Incorporated

For more than a century, Mars, Incorporated has been driven by the belief that the world we want tomorrow starts with how we do business today. This idea is at the center of who we have always been as a global, family‑owned business. Today, Mars is transforming, innovating, and evolving in ways that affirm our commitment to making a positive impact on the world around us.

Across our diverse and expanding portfolio of Snacking, Food, and Petcare products and services, we employ over 140,000 dedicated Associates who are all moving in the same direction: forward. As a $65 billion family‑owned business, we produce some of the world’s best‑loved brands including ROYAL CANIN®, PEDIGREE®, WHISKAS®, CESAR®, M&M’S®, SNICKERS®, Pringles®, Cheez‑It®, and BEN’S ORIGINAL™. and take care of half of the world’s pets through our nutrition, health and services businesses, including AniCura, Banfield Pet Hospitals™, BluePearl®, Linnaeus, and VCA™.

We know we can only be truly successful if our partners and the communities in which we operate prosper as well. The Mars Five Principles — Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom — inspire our Associates to take action every day to help create a world tomorrow in which the planet, its people and pets can thrive.

The Mars Compass

Inspired by the Economics of Mutuality, is used to measure the company’s progress in service of its purpose; The world we want tomorrow starts with how we do business today.

For more information about Mars, please visit ++mars.com++. Join us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.