Careers in Manufacturing

By Willy Franzen

Looking for an entry level job or internship in manufacturing? This is an overview of how to approach the search and a list of companies that might have relevant entry level and internship opportunities.

Photo Credit: Flickr user NASA Goddard Photo and Video

Manufacturing deals with the creation of goods by using people, machines, and other technologies. Manufacturing jobs can be found in a variety of businesses, from cars to pharmaceutical goods.

Not every manufacturing job is on the line working with the products. A few manufacturing jobs that you may want to consider as a recent grad include:

Production Manager: Oversee the manufacturing process. As a recent grad you may be an assistant to the production manager.
Engineers: Design the products or make the manufacturing process more efficient
Buyer: Buy materials to be used in manufacturing
Quality Assurance: Check the steps of the manufacturing process for quality
Quality Control: Test products to make sure they work properly and are not defective

While many jobs dealing directly with the products require more hands-on experience than education, most of the jobs listed above require a bachelor’s degree, a possible exception being quality assurance and control. You’ll also need an ability to pay attention to detail.

Companies with Entry Level Jobs and Internships in Manufacturing

BioLite - BioLite is a Brooklyn based company that develops "products that make cooking with wood as clean safe and easy as modern fuels while also providing electricity.”

See the complete BioLite profile

Goodweave - Goodweave is a Washington, DC based non-profit that “is helping to combat this problem and transform the rug industry by certifying child-labor-free rugs."

See the complete Goodweave profile

Spatial - Spatial is a Broomfield, CO based company that is “the leading provider of 3D components for technical application development across a broad range of industries.”

See the complete Spatial profile

StoveTeam International - StoveTeam International is a Eugene, OR non-profit that's making cooking safer in the developing world by helping people produce safe, affordable, fuel-efficient cookstoves.

See the complete StoveTeam International profile

Shapeways - Shapeways is a New York, NY based company that has built “the world’s leading 3D Printing marketplace and community.”

See the complete Shapeways profile

FATHOM - FATHOM is an Oakland, CA studio that uses its “expertise in 3D printing and additive manufacturing to help customers innovate faster and more efficiently.”

See the complete FATHOM profile

Shinola - Shinola is a Detroit, MI based company that is all about bringing back the strength of American manufacturing by producing watches, bicycles, leather, and journals.

See the complete Shinola profile

Maker’s Row - Maker's Row is a New York, NY based startup that wants “to make the manufacturing process simple to understand and easy to access.”

See the complete Maker’s Row profile

Beyond Meat - Beyond Meat is a Manhattan Beach, CA based company “focused on perfectly replacing animal protein with plant protein" to create "nutritional value at lower cost.”

See the complete Beyond Meat profile

Annin Flagmakers - Annin Flagmakers is based in Roseland, NJ and is America’s oldest and largest flag manufacturer.

See the complete Annin Flagmakers profile

Watchfire - Watchfire is a Danville, IL based company that provides businesses with cost-effective, long lasting LED signage that can be updated easily.

See the complete Watchfire profile

Advantage Business Media - Advantage Business Media is a Rockaway, NJ based “digital business-to-business information company” that “has successfully transitioned" from print to digital.

See the complete Advantage Business Media profile

Campbell Soup Company - It’s nearly impossible to think about soup without thinking about Campbell’s. They're a billion dollar brand.

See the complete Campbell Soup Company profile

GTM Sportswear - GTM Sportswear is a Manhattan, KS based company that helps athletes perform better by looking better.

See the complete GTM Sportswear profile

Velcro - Velcro is a Manchester, NH based company that makes hook-and-loop fasteners (you knew they were called that, right?), and they're hiring.

See the complete Velcro profile

Amy’s Kitchen - Amy's Kitchen is a Petaluma, CA based natural frozen foods company that is all vegetarian and mostly organic. They have some great jobs for new grads.

See the complete Amy’s Kitchen profile

Specialized - Specialized is based in Morgan Hill, CA and they are one of the market leaders in the cycling industry. They have a ton of job openings for those who love bikes.

See the complete Specialized profile

MakerBot Industries - 3D printing is about to get really big, and MakerBot Industries is at the forefront on the consumer side. Take a look at their job opportunities.

See the complete MakerBot Industries profile

Crain Communications - Crain Communications is a publisher that covers all kinds of different business niches, and they have some really exciting career opportunities.

See the complete Crain Communications profile

Octopart - Octopart is a NYC based company that has developed a search technology to help engineers and scientists build the next generation of electronic devices.

See the complete Octopart profile

SCOTTEVEST - Do you love the idea of clothing that can store all of your gadgets? If so, then a career with SCOTTEVEST is well worth investigating.

See the complete SCOTTEVEST profile

Niner Bikes - Niner Bikes is a company full of bikers, so if you’re into bikes, you have to check out their Jobs page.

See the complete Niner Bikes profile

Quickparts - Quickparts is an Atlanta, GA based company that offers custom manufacturing, and they have a number of job opportunities available.

See the complete Quickparts profile

OpGen - If you are interested in genetics and the science behind Optical Mapping, then you may want to consider check out Jobs at OpGen.

See the complete OpGen profile

Jaguar Land Rover - Jaguar doesn’t offer much information about their company or their careers on their website, but there is a bit of info on U.S. opportunities.

See the complete Jaguar Land Rover profile

Russell Stover - I have to admit that Russell Stover doesn't always do it for me at Easter time, but working for them would still be a delicious opportunity.

See the complete Russell Stover profile

American Greetings - American Greetings seems to keep on growing, and that means lots of hiring at their headquarters in Cleveland, OH and elsewhere.

See the complete American Greetings profile

Nissan - Despite Nissan’s claim that they “have many exciting opportunities for recent undergrads,” I don’t see them posted. Here's what I was able to come up with.

See the complete Nissan profile

Necco - Can you craft your entire resume out of Conversation Hearts? If so, then Necco in Rever, MA might be the perfect place for your first job.

See the complete Necco profile

Nestle Purina - The Nestle Purina Management Trainee Program offers a variety of opportunities in three locations: Jefferson, WI; Davenport, IA; and Bloomfield, MO.

See the complete Nestle Purina profile

IGT - IGT is really big on campus recruiting, and they seem to put a lot of effort into their University Relations presence.

See the complete IGT profile

Anti-eco - Anti-eco's goal is to "create a product that is as planet-conscious as it is cheeky." They do just that, and they're hiring to help grow the business.

See the complete Anti-eco profile

Vibram - I’ve been meaning to feature Vibram for at least a year, but only now have I found enough information to give you a good start on learning about jobs with them.

See the complete Vibram profile

Advanced BioHealing - Once you get a feel for how Advanced BioHealing works and operates, then you can check out their Careers page.

See the complete Advanced BioHealing profile

General Mills - Because General Mills is such a large company, they have a very strong Campus Recruiting Program for a wide variety of entry level positions.

See the complete General Mills profile

Hostess Brands - If it sounds like a brand that you might want to be a part of, then you can check out Hostess Brands’ Jobs page.

See the complete Hostess Brands profile

RKS - I’m not sure what it takes to get an entry level job at RKS, but you can be sure that you have to be very good at what you do.

See the complete RKS profile

Berry Plastics - Berry Plastics is the company behind bomb proof wallpaper, and they have plenty of job opportunities for interested college grads.

See the complete Berry Plastics profile

Mars - If you’d like to be part of this true American success story, then you need to check out Mars’ Careers page.

See the complete Mars profile

Kiva Systems - Kiva Systems is one of the most fascinating companies that I’ve come across, and they’re looking to hire lots of entry level talent.

See the complete Kiva Systems profile

Liberty Tire Recycling - Liberty Tire Recycling is a Pittsburgh, PA based company that does all kinds of cool things with used tires. They're growing, so they might be hiring.

See the complete Liberty Tire Recycling profile

W.L. Gore & Associates - The good news on Gore is that beyond making amazing products, they’re also an amazing place to work—and they have lots of entry level jobs for new college grads

See the complete W.L. Gore & Associates profile

New Leaf Paper - New Leaf Paper, a sustainable paper company, recently landed a $5 million equity investment, and we think they might be hiring soon.

See the complete New Leaf Paper profile

Rawlings - It's Opening Day, and since we’ve already covered jobs with Major League Baseball and its teams, we’re looking at St. Louis based Rawlings and their jobs today.

See the complete Rawlings profile

Alcoa - We at One Day, One Job have worked directly with Alcoa to bring you the inside scoop on their top entry-level career opportunities.

See the complete Alcoa profile

Sun Microsystems - Sun Microsystems is certainly a technology company at heart, but because of their size, their entry-level job offerings extend well beyond technical positions.

See the complete Sun Microsystems profile

Check out the latest job and internship postings in manufacturing.

Careers in Manufacturing

Companies with Entry Level Jobs and Internships in Manufacturing

See more companies with entry level jobs and internships in manufacturing: