Product Development Intern
About the role
As an Intern/Coop in Research, Development & Innovation, you will have the unique opportunity to apply Food science principles to meet project objectives. Our team has deep technical expertise across a variety of packaging formats. You can expect a combination of: stimulating projects, exposure to industry experts, on-the-job learning alongside experienced professionals, continuous development opportunities, and much more. As an intern/coop, you will work independently and as part of various teams, working toward goals on project assignments with guidance provided as needed with the intent of offering opportunities to develop the knowledge and skills to prepare the intern/coop for a career as a Packaging Engineer after graduation.
Examples of projects
- New product development; concept/prototype work
- Cost savings initiatives; Optimization, quality improvements, material substitutions
- Product renovation which involves modifying existing product attributes to address operational issues or customer needs
- Ingredient exploration in testing out new options that could improve product performance or improved functionality
What you'll gain
- Skills in project leadership, project management, time management and organizational skills
- Understanding the function of ingredients within a formula
- Exposure to manufacturing equipment in understanding the impact of process conditions and controls
- Presentation skills as you present your findings to the cross functional team and R&D Leadership Team
- Experience in team collaboration as you work with a cross-functional team on delivering project objectives. This includes building skills in assessing how each role impacts the commercialization of a product and influencing and negotiating to align the team
Pay & schedule
Salary: $27.50 per hour, with an additional one-time lump sum payment to support expenses
Schedule: Hybrid (Monday and Friday remote, Tuesday-Thursday in office) — May to August 2027
Location: 2015 Spring Road Suite 400, Oak Brook, IL 60523