2026 Summer Intern: Innovation Process Engineering

Description

We are a global leader in food & beverage ingredients. Pioneers at heart, we operate at the forefront of consumer trends to provide food & beverage manufacturers with products and ingredients that will delight their consumers. Making a positive impact on people and planet is all part of the delight. With a deep-rooted presence in the countries where our ingredients are grown, we are closer to farmers, enabling better quality, and more reliable, traceable and transparent supply. Supplying products and ingredients at scale is just the start. We add value through our unique, complementary portfolio of natural, delicious and nutritious products. With our fresh thinking, we help our customers unleash the sensory and functional attributes of cocoa, coffee, dairy, nuts and spices so they can create naturally good food & beverage products that meet consumer expectations. And whoever we’re with, whatever we’re doing, we always make it real.

About the Role

ofi’s internship program is a great way to gain relevant experience and jump-start your career. You will work closely with exceptional talent, building on ofi’s purpose to “Be the Change for Good Food and a Healthy Future” and contributing to critical work for the business. As a Summer 2026 Intern, you will learn and contribute to a global organization, build a robust network, demonstrate leadership skills, and have some fun along the way.

This internship will provide an opportunity to work in innovation for a global food company and develop an understanding of the equipment and processes that contribute to new product development and process optimization.

Reporting to the Senior Manager for Innovation Process Engineering, the Innovation Process Engineering Intern will learn about the spices, edible nuts, cocoa, and coffee businesses as they contribute to developing the next generation of food processing at ofi. They will conduct research for process design and/or optimization as well as work hands-on with our factory and innovation teams to run trials, collect processing data, and implement their solutions. This work will support the ofi Innovation team to identify new technologies and products to meet our customers’ expectations for innovation. This position is based out of our Olde Thompson operations office in Oxnard, California.

An ideal candidate should enjoy learning about food processing technology and getting hands-on with data collection & analysis. A good fit would be an individual who is a good collaborator with a high level of curiosity, a drive to improve equipment and process designs, and a keen attention to detail.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct research and hands-on testing for new technology development.
• Work closely with innovation teams to develop new product prototypes and define the equipment required for industrial scale production.
• Work closely with factory operations teams to collect process data and perform analysis to identify areas that can be improved.
• Collect and analyze production and trial data and make appropriate observations/recommendations to project team.
• Collaborate with cross-functional team members to review process performance and implement improvements.
• Design an end-to-end process for a new product platform.
• Support design and development of new processing equipment.

What You’ll Bring

• Currently enrolled in an accredited BS or MS degree program, and majoring in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Food Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or other related program.
• Proficient skills in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, etc.)
• Basic understanding of engineering software or simulation tools (AutoCAD, Solidworks, ANSYS, ProSIM, etc)
• Strong data analysis skills
• Ability to work both within a team environment and independently
• Strong interest to learn about food processing and technology
• Travel is project dependent but will average 25%.

What You’ll Gain

At ofi, we don’t just offer an internship, we provide an engaging summer experience built on impact, inclusion, and innovation. Come grow with us!

Hands-on Experience – contribute to high-impact projects at a global organization

Professional development – continuous learning & development opportunities, mentorship, and exposure to leadership and cross-functional teams.

Inclusive Culture – join a diverse global team that values curiosity, collaboration, innovation, and sustainability – bring your authentic self to work every day.

The pay for this role is $22-32 /hour and is based on position responsibilities and geographic location.

** Interns with a permanent address more than 35 miles from the work location are eligible to receive a stipend to offset relocation and housing costs.

Note: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employee may perform other related duties as negotiated to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.

ofi provides equality of opportunity for all persons with respect to hiring without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, age, disability, veteran status, or sexual orientation. All employment will be decided on the basis of qualifications, merit and business need. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us for support at: US-Talent.Acquisition@ofi.com

At ofi, we celebrate our diversity. Olam Americas Inc. is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.