Job Summary
The intern will work closely with Operations, Maintenance, Quality, EHS, and external vendors to support project execution, data collection, troubleshooting, and documentation. This position provides exposure to real manufacturing challenges and professional engineering practices, including vendor walkdowns, MOC participation, and capital project support.ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Project & Continuous Improvement Support
Assist with execution of continuous improvement and capital projects, including data collection, analysis, documentation, and follow‑up.
Support development of project scopes, layouts, equipment requirements, and technical documentation.
Assist with root cause analysis (5‑Why, Fishbone, basic DMAIC) for process, equipment, or quality issues.
Track action items, timelines, and deliverables for active projects.
Hands‑On Plant & Process Support
Spend significant time on the production floor observing processes, identifying inefficiencies, and supporting troubleshooting activities.
Collect and analyze process, production, and equipment data to identify trends and improvement opportunities.
Support downtime, yield, and loss analysis for blending, conveying, and packaging equipment.
Assist with updating equipment documentation, SOPs, and standard work.
Management of Change (MOC)
Support Management of Change (MOC) activities by assisting with documentation, risk assessments, and follow‑up actions.
Ensure changes are properly reviewed, communicated, and documented in accordance with site procedures.
Assist in verifying post‑implementation effectiveness of approved changes.
Vendor & Contractor Coordination
Participate in vendor walkthroughs and on‑site visits for equipment evaluation, troubleshooting, and project scoping.
Assist engineers during vendor meetings, FAT/SAT preparation, and installation activities.
Support communication with vendors by gathering technical information, photos, measurements, and specifications.
Safety, Quality & Compliance
Follow all plant safety rules, food safety requirements, GMPs, and sanitation standards.
Support engineering activities that improve safety, food quality, and regulatory compliance.
Assist with identifying risks related to equipment design, material flow, and hygienic practices.
Required Qualifications
Recent grad in: Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Food Engineering, or related discipline
Strong interest in manufacturing, process engineering, or continuous improvement
Comfortable working in a plant environment (hands‑on, floor‑based role)
Strong critical thinking, problem‑solving, and observation skills
Ability to document information clearly and follow structured processes
Willingness to ask questions, learn quickly, and take initiative
Preferred Qualifications
Prior internship, co‑op, or hands‑on manufacturing experience
Exposure to Lean, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement concepts
Interest in powder processing, material handling, or food manufacturing
Basic proficiency with Excel, data analysis, or dashboards
Familiarity with technical drawings, layouts, or process flow diagrams
What Success Looks Like
Actively engaged on the plant floor and in engineering discussions
Provides reliable project and MOC support with attention to detail
Demonstrates strong ownership of assigned tasks and follow‑ups
Builds working relationships with operators, management team, and vendors
Develops real‑world understanding of manufacturing processes and project execution
Drive own projects
Why This Internship
Direct exposure to real manufacturing projects—not observation‑only work
Hands‑on involvement in capital projects, process transformation and vendor interactions
Opportunity to apply engineering fundamentals to real operational challenges
Strong foundation for future roles in process engineering, manufacturing, or CI
We are a global leader in taste, scent, and nutrition, offering our customers a broader range of natural solutions and accelerating our growth strategy. At IFF, we believe that your uniqueness unleashes our potential. We value the diverse mosaic of the ethnicity, national origin, race, age, sex, or veteran status. We strive for an inclusive workplace that allows each of our colleagues to bring their authentic self to work regardless of their religion, gender identity & expression, sexual orientation, or disability.
Visit IFF.com/careers/workplace-diversity-and-inclusion to learn more
Skills Required
- Recent grad in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Food Engineering, or related discipline
- Strong interest in manufacturing, process engineering, or continuous improvement
- Comfortable working in a plant environment (hands‑on, floor‑based role)
- Strong critical thinking, problem‑solving, and observation skills
- Ability to document information clearly and follow structured processes
- Willingness to ask questions, learn quickly, and take initiative
- Prior internship, co‑op, or hands‑on manufacturing experience
- Exposure to Lean, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement concepts
- Interest in powder processing, material handling, or food manufacturing
- Basic proficiency with Excel, data analysis, or dashboards
- Familiarity with technical drawings, layouts, or process flow diagrams
IFF Family of Companies Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about IFF Family of Companies and has not been reviewed or approved by IFF Family of Companies.
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Fair & Transparent Compensation — Pay is considered competitive in many roles and locations, and compensation is often described as good.
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Parental & Family Support — A global minimum of 16 weeks of fully paid parental leave for all new parents is in place. This policy is positioned as a notable component of the overall package.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Core offerings include paid time off, sick days, holidays, and sabbatical leave. Flexible scheduling options such as compressed workweeks and hybrid/remote arrangements are available where feasible.
IFF Family of Companies Insights
What We Do
Meet IFF: We boldly bring together science and creativity to create what the world needs. An industry leader in food, beverage, health and biosciences, we create essential solutions – from global icons to unexpected innovations and experiences. Equal parts outspoken and analytical, our international collective of thinkers working with customers to bring scents, tastes, experiences, ingredients and solutions for products people crave. With 24,000 employees across 65 countries, more than 110 manufacturing facilities, 100 R&D centers, and 33,000 customers across the world, we’re poised to make a difference on an unprecedented scale. Without our boundary-pushing passion and end-to-end expertise, the future wouldn’t be the same. Visit us at www.iff.com to learn more about how our talented people and new technology are challenging the expected, championing creators and doing more good for people and planet. Explore what sets us apart.
