Job Description

Are you a proactive and analytical student with a passion for process improvement and strategic problem-solving? Pilot Company is seeking an Operations Excellence, Continuous Improvement Intern to join our team in Knoxville, Tennessee, for the summer of 2026. This is a unique opportunity to directly accelerate our strategic objective of enhancing organizational efficiency and resolving complex process issues across the business.

In this role, you will be an integral part of our Continuous Improvement team. Your work will involve providing data-driven insights to support rapid, sustainable improvements, which will have a direct impact on high-impact initiatives. This is an ideal position for someone who is a true thought partner, can solve problems differently, and wants to make a tangible impact on a company-wide scale.

What You’ll Do

• Drive operational efficiency: Help enhance organizational efficiency by supporting data-driven insights and resolving complex process issues.
• Accelerate project completion: Assist with essential data tasks, enabling deeper analysis of ongoing projects and supporting evidence for new initiatives.
• Analyze and inform: Contribute to actionable data insights that directly inform process redesign and automation efforts.
• Support key projects: Work with our team on projects that lead to quantifiable improvements like reduced cycle times and enhanced data quality.
• Collaborate and problem-solve: Work autonomously as a proactive, reliable, and authentic thought partner, collaborating with stakeholders at all levels of the business.

Qualifications

• Education: The ideal candidate is a rising junior, senior, or graduate student, with a major in Industrial Engineering being preferred.
• Technical Skills: Extensive experience with Excel and PowerPoint is required. Knowledge of Lean Six Sigma systems is a plus.
• Soft Skills: A dynamic thinker who can solve problems creatively. We're looking for someone who is a true thought partner, a team player, and can work with stakeholders at different levels. The ability to work autonomously and be proactive is crucial.
• Experience: Previous professional experience is preferred, and some extracurricular activities are a plus.
• Qualities: We value individuals who are driven, reliable, authentic, and welcoming.

Additional Information

This is a full-time, in-person internship, running from June 1-August 6, 2026 You’ll be working alongside our team at our headquarters in Knoxville, where you’ll have the opportunity to build meaningful relationships and experience the full scope of life at Pilot Company.

Our culture is built on four core virtues: Driven, Reliable, Authentic, and Welcoming. As an intern, you will see these values in action every day. You'll be part of a team that is driven to deliver results, reliable in its commitment to continuous improvement, authentic in its communication, and welcoming to new ideas and perspectives.

If you're ready to take on a challenging and rewarding internship with a leading company, please submit your application. The interview process will include a screening with a recruiter, followed by a one-hour interview with the hiring manager. We look forward to hearing from you!