TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT INTERN – SUMMER 2027
Salina, KS
CJ Schwan’s, a U.S. affiliate of the global lifestyle company CJ CheilJedang Corporation, is a leading U.S. manufacturer and marketer of quality foods offered through retail-grocery and food-service channels. Its many popular brands include Red Baron®, Tony’s®, Big Daddy’s®, Villa Prima™ and Freschetta® pizza; Mrs. Smith’s® and Edwards® desserts; and Pagoda® and Bibigo Asian-style snacks. To learn more about Schwan’s, visit www.schwanscompany.com.
Your Internship Experience:
- Dynamic 12-Week Internship (May 24 – August 13, 2027): Dive into a hands-on experience with real-world projects that align with your studies and make a real impact.
- Take Charge of Strategic Projects: Own exciting, high-stakes initiatives with direct relevance to your coursework and gain invaluable experience that goes beyond the classroom.
- Exclusive Access to Leadership: Engage with company executives and senior leaders through frequent interactions that offer unique insights and career inspiration.
- A Culture of Care: Join a company that prioritizes health, safety, and well-being, fostering a supportive environment.
- Guidance from Industry Experts: Receive guidance from skilled, genuine, and good-natured team members who are invested in your success.
- Pathway to a Thriving Career: Build your future with a leading food company where internships often pave the way to full-time roles after graduation.
Your Impact:
- Innovate & Renovate: Partner with Food Scientists to develop new products, enhance existing ones, and identify opportunities to improve processes and efficiencies. This internship will focus on innovation within frozen desserts (including pies), with an emphasis on protein enhancements.
- Experiment & Test: Prepare experimental formulas, processing techniques, and product specifications under guidance, while actively supporting lab and pilot plant test runs.
- Analyze & Document: Collect data, record observations, and ensure accurate documentation of test results to drive informed decision-making.
- Explore Ingredients: Assist in evaluating alternative ingredients that can improve product quality, reduce costs, or strengthen supply resilience.
- Validate Quality: Verify preparation instructions and document product performance, quality, and sensory attributes to ensure consumer satisfaction.
- Research & Benchmark: Conduct literature reviews and competitive product assessments to identify emerging trends, technologies, and innovation opportunities.
- Support Commercialization: Assist in scaling successful prototypes from lab to production, ensuring technical feasibility and compliance with company standards.
- Safety & Compliance: Follow laboratory safety protocols and support adherence to food safety and regulatory requirements throughout development.
- Communicate Insights: Share test findings and recommendations in clear, professional formats (reports, presentations, or demonstrations) for technical and non-technical audiences.
What You Bring:
- Education: Current enrollment in bachelor’s degree Food Science program or related field such as Bakery Science, Meat Science, Dairy Science, or Culinary Science with an anticipated graduation date of December 2027 or May 2028. GPA of 3.0+ preferred.
- Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:
- Foundational understanding of food science or related disciplines, with awareness of product development, food safety, and quality standards.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills with the ability to collect, interpret, and present data.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite; experience with lab or statistical software is a plus.
- Effective written and verbal communication skills, with attention to detail and the ability to clearly document and share results.
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks, follow laboratory protocols, and meet project timelines.
- Collaborative mindset with eagerness to learn, adaptability in a fast-paced environment, and the ability to connect technical findings to consumer and business needs.
Skills Required
- Currently enrolled in a bachelor's degree program in Food Science or a related field such as Bakery Science, Meat Science, Dairy Science, or Culinary Science
- Anticipated graduation date of December 2027 or May 2028
- GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Foundational knowledge of food science, product development, food safety, and quality standards
- Analytical, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple tasks and meet project timelines
- Ability to follow laboratory protocols and work collaboratively in a fast-paced environment
Schwan's Company Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Schwan's Company and has not been reviewed or approved by Schwan's Company.
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Healthcare Strength — Healthcare coverage includes multiple plan options, including some no‑deductible choices, plus dental and vision. Benefits in this area are frequently regarded as a major strength for full‑time employees.
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Retirement Support — Retirement benefits include a 401(k) plan with company match and immediate vesting for eligible employees. This feature is viewed as a meaningful part of the total package.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Paid time off includes vacation that scales with tenure, paid holidays, and personal days. New hires can begin accruing PTO early in their employment.
Schwan's Company Insights
What We Do
As one of the fastest-growing leaders and producers in North America’s food industry, Schwan’s Company is dedicated to bringing people and cultures together through global flavors and delicious ethnic cuisine. Our commitment to this is reflected in the innovative foods we produce, our iconic brands and through a team of exceptional talent. Today, as a subsidiary of CJ CheilJedang, Schwan’s is a fast-paced, forward-thinking company that’s on its way to bigger and better things. We are a leading food marketer, with trusted brands like RED BARON®, FRESCHETTA®, BIG DADDY'S™ and TONY'S™ pizza, EDWARDS® and MRS. SMITH'S® desserts, and BIBIGO® and PAGODA® Asian-style foods. And, with manufacturing operations in California, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Texas, we are well-prepared to deliver a great experience to our consumers wherever they shop and eat.
