Description

Engineering Co-op
Our Engineering Co-ops have the opportunity to work in one of Cargill’s many production facilities located in communities across the United States. These facilities support a variety of Cargill’s diverse businesses, including Food North America (Edible Oils, Salt, Beef, Value Added Protein, Starches and Sweeteners, Cocoa and Chocolate), Ag and Trading North America (AGTNA), and our Specialized Portfolio (Cargill BioIndustrial, Beauty, Deicing Technology). In this role, you will gain hands-on experience leading production or maintenance teams, project groups, contractors, or technical operations teams as they execute critical initiatives in a fast-paced manufacturing environment. While business processes may vary, the role is designed to provide exposure to both the technical and people-management aspects of engineering. The primary intent of the Engineering Co-op program is to give individuals meaningful experience in technical and leadership responsibilities, helping you explore and develop interest in long-term career opportunities within Cargill.
Your Work
Our Engineer Co-ops will gain experience in Operations Leadership and/or Maintenance & Reliability Engineering role. What lies ahead as a full-time engineer could be a career path in any of the following:

Production Management Engineers - Lead people, process, and input/product in a plant environment. They will be involved in day-to-day direct supervision of operators and production activities and participate in daily production management meetings. Engineers will learn how to comprehend and handle all aspects of government regulations and compliance programs including environmental, health, safety, maintenance, and housekeeping. Production Management Engineers typically develop teams of production employees within the first two years of their careers and have responsibility for hiring, scheduling, motivating, and handling employee relation issues. They will also be involved in process optimization, equipment, and process reliability, and may run capital projects
Environmental Engineers - Work with various teams, processes and assets related to the effective operation of refrigeration, steam, freshwater distribution, hot water, and compressed air systems in a plant environment. As well as the operation of a large-scale Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) and be responsible for the programs related to environmental compliance and regulatory permitting. They will be involved in the day-to-day supervision of operators and technicians, have responsibility over their daily work and planning activities. This could include weekly maintenance, capital projects and process improvement
Process/Project Engineering - Responsible for business case development, vendor selection, budget management, and project management responsibilities for major projects and improvements involving process optimization, safety, quality, infrastructure, and energy use. They have heavy involvement with various innovation processes, idea generation systems, and reliability centered design, and they help implement technical initiatives driven from global Process Development Groups, Centers of Excellence, and Research & Development
Maintenance & Reliability Engineers – Engage teams, improve processes, and utilize assets related to the effective operation of facility production to ensure downtime and repair costs are minimal. Supervise specialized teams and work activities related to runtime. Lead short- and long-term planning activities including weekly maintenance activities, capital projects and process improvement utilizing tools such as: Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM), Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA), Root Cause Analysis (RCA), 5S and 5-Why to the prevention of equipment failures
Our Programming
 

With comprehensive learning resources at your disposal, you can take your learning in any direction
As employees, co-ops receive access to volunteer and community outreach opportunities and paid time off for volunteer activities
Interns and co-ops are invited to participate in events throughout their intern/co-op that will give exposure to leadership, provide development opportunities, and offer the ability to network with cross-functional interns/co-ops/associates across the U.S
Co-op details
Co-ops are typically 7-8 months in duration
Co-ops are paid hourly for time worked
Co-ops are responsible for transportation to and from work
Various plant locations across the U.S.- must be open to relocation
The plant environment is team oriented, fast paced, and hands-on
Our environment will focus on employee engagement, inclusion, and innovation
Co-ops are given the opportunity to showcase their skills and gain hands-on experience working on different projects from designing and upgrading current systems, to reviewing and updating plant drawings
This job involves physical activity which generally requires a moderate amount of exertion on a regular basis – involving bending, stooping, squatting, twisting, reaching, working on irregular surfaces, occasional lifting of objects weighing over 50 pounds and frequent lifting of 10-25 pounds. The work may also involve other exertions, conditions, or exposures (i.e.- heat, cold, grain dust, etc.)
Co-ops who demonstrate outstanding performance and a curiosity to learn more may be offered an internship, another co-op or full-time position to return the following year
Our Benefits
No matter who you are or where you are, we have resources to meet your needs. As a co-op, you’ll have access to a wide variety of programs to support you and help you succeed. Eligible programs and incentives include:

Paid time off
Mental Health and Wellbeing program
Digital Learning Library
Housing and Relocation Assistance for those that qualify
*Minnesota-based employees: Minnesota Sick and Safe Leave accruals of one hour for every 30 worked, up to 48 hours per calendar year unless otherwise provided by law.
Compensation
The expected hourly rate for this position is $25.70 - $35.50 per hour. Compensation decisions are dependent on graduation date and eligibility for full-time employment

Requirements

Required Qualifications
Currently pursuing a bachelor’s or a master’s degree in Chemical Engineering (ChE), BioChemical Engineering (BChE), Mechanical Engineering (ME), Biosystems Engineering (BSE), Agricultural Engineering (AgE), Electrical Engineering (EE), Industrial Engineering (IE), Environmental Engineering, Packaging or other related engineering discipline
Bachelor’s/master’s degree to be/recently completed between December 2027 – May 2030
Right to work in the U.S. that is not based solely on possession of a student visa or a visa sponsored by a third-party employer
Able to complete a 7-8 month co-op in the Spring and Summer (January-August 2027)
Candidates must be geographically flexible and willing to relocate for a co-op/internship opportunity anywhere in the U.S
Proven ability to work optimally with individuals from a diverse set of backgrounds and cultures
Must possess a high degree of initiative and resourcefulness in completing work with limited guidance