Pilot Flying J · 1 month ago
Program Intern, Food and Beverage Innovation
Knoxville, TN
Internship
Onsite
Intern
Start in 2026 SummerPilot Company is an industry-leading network of travel centers seeking a Deli Team Innovation Intern for the summer of 2026. This role involves supporting the innovation and development team in projects related to food product development, enhancing current processes, and contributing fresh ideas.
Oil and GasTravel
Responsibilities
Support the full development cycle: Follow the written stage gate process to bring a product or service from concept to a final presentation to the category team
Conduct research: Work with the innovation team to conduct online research, competitive shopping, and vendor discussions to identify trends and understand customer needs
Develop prototypes: Work with the product developer and R&D Chef to source ingredients, create concepts, and build products, ensuring they can be replicated at the store level
Test and analyze: Work with the innovation and insights teams to schedule and execute Central Location Tests (CLTs)
Provide strategic insights: Bring new ways of thinking and fresh ideas that will enhance our current development and stage gate processes
Qualification
Required
A student in the later years of a 2- or 4-year program in Culinary Arts, Food Science, or Product Development
Basic culinary skills, knowledge of food science and process development are essential
Comfortable with the Microsoft Suite
Strong collaboration, written and verbal communication, and problem-solving skills
Comfortable working both on a team and autonomously
Flexibility to pivot
Big-picture strategic thinker who can connect the dots
Company
Pilot Flying J
Company Overview Headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, Pilot Flying J is the largest operator of travel centers in North America with more than 750 locations throughout the United States and Canada and employs more than 24,000 Team Members.
Founded in 1958
10001+ employees
H1B Sponsorship
Pilot Flying J has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (29)
2024 (48)
2023 (28)
2022 (29)
2021 (40)
2020 (11)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
$1.48MKey Investors
U.S. Department of AgriculturePennDOTIllinois Environmental Protection Agency
2025-01-10Grant· $0.19M
2023-08-15Grant· $0.81M
2023-06-05Grant· $0.48M
Leadership Team
Joe Lillo
Chief Financial Officer
Amanda Whitlow
Director, Human Resources Business Partner
Recent News
Business Wire
2026-01-08
DBusiness Magazine
2025-10-22
Company data provided by crunchbase