Processing Intern

Primary Purpose

To experience Mountaire's culture first-hand and provide additional exposure of Mountaire's family-oriented work environment. The intern will evaluate opportunities to expand or enhance automation within the processing mezzanine area. The project will focus on analyzing current workflows, material movement, labor utilization, safety considerations, and equipment performance to identify automation solutions that improve operational efficiency and reduce manual handling. The intern will collaborate with Processing, Engineering, Maintenance, and Operations leaders to assess existing processes, develop recommendations, and support feasibility evaluations for future automation initiatives.                       

Project Highlights

• Assess current mezzanine processes to identify automation opportunities that support continuous improvement initiatives.
• Analyze workflow efficiency, material movement, and labor utilization to identify process optimization opportunities.
• Collect and analyze operational data to develop recommendations and support automation feasibility assessments.
• Present data-driven findings and continuous improvement recommendations to Processing and Operations leadership.

Qualifications

• Must be currently enrolled and pursuing an Associate or Bachelor's degree at an accredited college or university.
• Valid Driver's license.
• Must pass the Mountaire Motor Vehicle Record check.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel for data analysis, Word for documentation, and PowerPoint for creating and delivering presentations.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with an interest in process improvement, manufacturing operations, and automation.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across Processing, Maintenance, Engineering, and Operations teams.
• Ability to collect, organize, and interpret data to support recommendations and decision-making.
• Demonstrated initiative, adaptability, and a commitment to safety, teamwork, and continuous improvement.

Internship Program Requirements

• Complete assigned project identified by department mentor
• Attend weekly seminar series across different Mountaire facilities
• Other duties as assigned
• All interns must be available to travel to Delaware during the last week of the program for final presentations (August 2 - 6, 2027)
• All interns are required to complete a 10-minute presentation on their project at the conclusion of summer. Presentations will take place in Millsboro, DE at the Administrative Building during the week of August 2-6.
• All interns must complete a mid-way evaluation (week 5) along with a final evaluation (week 10)
• Anticipated weekly schedule for this internship is M-F, 7:00 am to 4:00 pm 

#LI-DR1

Are you looking for more than just a job? The culture at Mountaire is one of our greatest strengths and most valued assets. We maintain the same core values and family-focused work environment that we’ve operated with since day one. You will find that your peers, supervisor and team members are genuinely committed to, not only your success, but also working together to provide high-quality products to our customers. We are a service to one another and to our customers, demonstrating operational excellence and outstanding performance. Mountaire Overview Mountaire Farms is an agricultural food production and processing company providing work for over 10,000 people at facilities in Arkansas, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina. Now the fourth largest chicken company in the United States, we are still family owned and fully committed to giving back to the communities where we do business. At Mountaire Farms, our culture is what defines us. It sets us apart from our competition and reinforces what we stand for. Supporting each other, uplifting each other, and helping each other succeed -- that’s the Mountaire way! Our vision is to provide growth, stability, and opportunities for our people, our customers, and our communities by profitably delivering wholesome quality chicken.
Total Compensation Mountaire also offers an amazing total compensation package! A few examples of our benefits that may be offered to you are:  eight paid holidays, Medical Plans with free onsite Health and Wellness Centers, Dental and Vision Programs, Employee Assistance Program for you and your family, Retirement Planning with 401(k),  Profit Sharing, Employee Discounted Chicken Sales, Employee Discounts with partners (Car Purchase, Phone Plans, & Shopping), Tuition Reimbursement and many exciting career development programs!