Food & Beverage F-1 STEM OPT Sponsorship Jobs in North Carolina

Position

Engineering Intern – Food Safety & CIP Optimization

Department

Engineering

Job Type

Hourly Internship

Location

Burlington, NC

Duration

10-12 Week (Summer Internship)

Job Details

Company Background

Alamance is recognized as a leading manufacturer of aerosol whipped cream, flavored drinks, freeze pops, and bottled water, offering beloved brands like Classic Cream, Fun Pops, Coffee Toppers, Whipt, and Groovy Glacier. We produce, pack and ship private labels based on customer specific needs. An innovative company with proven experience in creating exciting new products that redefine what is possible in the food and beverage manufacturing industry.

Position Opportunity

We are seeking a highly motivated Engineering Intern to support a critical initiative focused on Food Safety and Clean-In-Place (CIP) system optimization within our processing operations.

This is a hands-on, field-based role where you will work directly with engineering, maintenance, and operations teams to evaluate how our systems are cleaned, identify risks, and recommend improvements that enhance both food safety and operational efficiency.

Project Overview

CIP Coverage Validation & Optimization Study

You will be responsible for analyzing selected processing systems to determine:

• Whether cleaning systems are performing effectively
• Where potential food safety risks exist (e.g., poor coverage, low flow areas)
• Opportunities to reduce cleaning time, water usage, and chemical consumption

Key Responsibilities

• Map and document CIP circuits for selected systems (tanks, piping, heat exchangers)
• Develop simplified process flow diagrams based on field observations
• Collect and analyze operating data (flow rates, cycle times, temperatures)
• Evaluate system performance against basic hygienic design principles
• Identify potential issues such as low flow velocity, poor drainability, or complex flow paths
• Conduct field walkthroughs to validate system design and operation
• Summarize findings and develop practical, prioritized recommendations

What You Will Learn

• Fundamentals of Clean-In-Place (CIP) systems in food manufacturing
• Hygienic design principles aligned with industry standards such as 3-A Sanitary Standards
• Real-world application of fluid flow concepts in industrial systems
• Cross-functional collaboration in a manufacturing environment
• How engineering decisions impact food safety, quality, and efficiency

Final Deliverables

By the end of the internship, you will present:

• A mapped overview of selected CIP systems
• A data-driven assessment of current cleaning effectiveness
• A ranked list of risks and improvement opportunities
• Actionable recommendations for both safety and efficiency improvements

Basic Qualifications

• Pursuing a degree in Mechanical, Chemical, Food, or related Engineering field
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced, hands-on environment
• Interest in food manufacturing, process systems, or operations
• Comfortable working on the production floor and interacting with cross-functional teams

Preferred Qualifications

We are looking for someone who is:

• Curious and willing to learn by doing
• Detail-oriented but able to see the bigger picture
• Comfortable asking questions and challenging assumptions
• Focused on delivering practical, real-world solutions

Why This Role Matters

This project directly supports our company’s focus on Food Safety and Operational Excellence. Your work will contribute to identifying risks, improving system performance, and helping establish standards that can be applied across multiple facilities.

Physical Requirements:

• Standing
• Walking
• Sitting
• Use of hands, fingers
• Reaching with hands and arms
• Climb and balance
• Stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl
• Talk and hear
• Distance vision (clear vision at 20 feet or more)
• Color vision (ability to identify and distinguish colors)
• Peripheral vision (ability to observe an area that can be seen up and down or to the left and right while eyes are fixed on a given point)
• Depth perception (three-dimensional vision, ability to judge distances and spatial relationships)

Alamance Foods Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against persons because of age, race, color, creed, religion, disability, gender, ethnic or national origin, or veteran status. Alamance Foods Inc. prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities and will reasonably accommodate applicants with a disability, upon request, and will also ensure reasonable accommodation for employees with a disability.

Employment Eligibility:

Alamance Foods Inc. participates in the federal E-Verify program. All employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a Form I-9 and verification of authorization to work in the United States.