Manufacturing Engineering Intern

Location: Elk River, MN
Status: Internship (College Junior/Senior)

Who We Are

At JonnyPops, our team is empowered to make an impact every day—from producing high‑quality, innovative frozen novelties to spreading kindness one pop at a time. We look for bright, curious individuals who enjoy learning, thrive in fast‑paced environments, and want to see their work make a real‑world impact.

Based in Elk River, MN, JonnyPops develops, manufactures, distributes, and markets frozen novelties nationwide. Our products can be found at retailers across the country including Target, Costco, Publix, Kroger, Cub, and thousands of regional and local grocers.

Founded in a dorm room in 2012, our mission is simple: “A Better Pop for a Better World.” We lead the frozen novelties space in innovation, use simple ingredients with no artificial dyes, and spread kindness through every pop stick message.

Joining JonnyPops as an intern is an opportunity to gain hands‑on experience in a high‑growth manufacturing environment while contributing to meaningful, real‑world projects.

Internship Summary

We are seeking Manufacturing Engineering Interns who are currently pursuing a degree in Engineering and are eager to gain hands‑on experience in a fast‑paced food manufacturing environment. This internship provides exposure to manufacturing equipment, process improvement, automation, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Interns will work closely with Manufacturing, Engineering, Maintenance, and Quality teams to support production efficiency, equipment reliability, and process optimization—while learning best practices in food safety and manufacturing operations.

Key Learning Opportunities & Responsibilities

• Support production teams with process improvement and efficiency initiatives
• Assist with identifying opportunities to reduce downtime, scrap, or bottlenecks
• Participate in equipment, tooling, and automation improvement projects
• Help document engineering changes, standard work, and process updates
• Assist with basic data collection, analysis, and reporting related to manufacturing performance
• Support continuous improvement activities focused on yield, throughput, and cycle time
• Observe and participate in root cause analysis (RCA) and problem‑solving activities
• Gain exposure to error‑proofing, FMEA, and food safety considerations
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams on facility and production line improvements

This role is designed to learn by doing—interns will be guided and mentored by experienced engineers and leaders.

Food Safety & Quality Exposure

• Learn and follow Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs)
• Understand sanitary design principles used in food manufacturing
• Participate in food safety and quality discussions as appropriate
• Support documentation and compliance efforts as directed

Qualifications

Required:

• Currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering
  (Mechanical Engineering preferred)
• College Junior or Senior status
• Strong interest in manufacturing, engineering, or automation
• Willingness to learn in a hands‑on, fast‑paced environment
• Strong communication, organization, and teamwork skills

Preferred (Not Required):

• Coursework or exposure to:
  • Manufacturing processes
  • Automation or robotics
  • CAD / SolidWorks
  • PLCs or controls
• Interest in food manufacturing or consumer packaged goods

No prior food manufacturing experience is required.

What You’ll Gain

• Hands‑on manufacturing engineering experience
• Exposure to real production equipment and processes
• Experience working in a high‑growth organization
• Mentorship from experienced engineers and leaders
• A strong foundation for future engineering or manufacturing roles

Expected Pay Range 

$18-$20/hr

JonnyPops offers a competitive benefits package which includes the following:

• Medical/Health Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• HSA
• FSA
• DCFSA
• Life & AD&D Insurance
• Short & Long Term Disability
• FTO/PTO
• EAP Programs
• Paid Holidays
• Employee Referral Program
• Sick & Safe Leave
• 401k
• Company Sponsored Meal Plan

* Hired candidates may be eligible to receive additional compensation in the form of bonuses and/or commissions.