Civil Engineering Intern Jobs in Illinois
Civil Engineering Intern jobs in Illinois are concentrated in transportation infrastructure, municipal water systems, and large-scale urban development, with demand anchored in Chicago, Rockford, and Peoria. Major employers with a lasting Illinois presence include AECOM, Burns & McDonnell, and the Illinois Department of Transportation, all of which run active internship programs. The most in-demand specialties are structural design, stormwater management, and transportation planning, reflecting the state's ongoing investment in transit and flood-resilient infrastructure. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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Calling all undergrad civil engineering students!
Collins is offering an opportunity for a civil engineering student to gain meaningful work experience with our civil group in Chicago, IL for Summer 2027. The Civil Engineering Summer Intern will support the Civil Team on roadway and transportation infrastructure projects, primarily for agencies such as IDOT, the Illinois Tollway, CDOT, and local municipalities. The intern will work alongside project engineers and designers to gain hands-on experience with the development of Phase I and Phase II engineering deliverables.
Who we are:
Collins Engineer, Inc., provides design and analysis services coupled with field experience to the transportation, marine, construction, and land development industries. We pride ourselves in fostering collaboration and an environment where each employee is an integral part of a team, not just another number.
Click HERE to see the variety of benefits Collins has to offer.
Education and/or Experience:
- Junior or senior working towards a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from an accredited university.
- Previous software experience in AutoCAD, MicroStation, Blue Beam, or Civil 3D is a plus.
- Previous software experience in Microsoft Office Suite and Adobe PDF or other PDF editing software is a plus.
- A valid driver's license.
Physical Demands:
- The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms.
- The employee frequently is required to talk or hear.
- The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
- The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
- Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
Calling all undergrad civil engineering students!
Collins is offering an opportunity for a civil engineering student to gain meaningful work experience with our civil group in Chicago, IL for Summer 2027. The Civil Engineering Summer Intern will support the Civil Team on roadway and transportation infrastructure projects, primarily for agencies such as IDOT, the Illinois Tollway, CDOT, and local municipalities. The intern will work alongside project engineers and designers to gain hands-on experience with the development of Phase I and Phase II engineering deliverables.
Who we are:
Collins Engineer, Inc., provides design and analysis services coupled with field experience to the transportation, marine, construction, and land development industries. We pride ourselves in fostering collaboration and an environment where each employee is an integral part of a team, not just another number.
Click HERE to see the variety of benefits Collins has to offer.
Education and/or Experience:
- Junior or senior working towards a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from an accredited university.
- Previous software experience in AutoCAD, MicroStation, Blue Beam, or Civil 3D is a plus.
- Previous software experience in Microsoft Office Suite and Adobe PDF or other PDF editing software is a plus.
- A valid driver's license.
Physical Demands:
- The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms.
- The employee frequently is required to talk or hear.
- The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
- The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
- Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
See All 23 Civil Engineering Intern Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Civil Engineering Intern JobsCivil Engineering Intern Jobs by City in Illinois
Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Civil Engineering Intern Job Market in Illinois
A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Consulting & Professional Services
What Illinois Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in civil engineering intern jobs across Illinois.
- Current enrollment in an ABET-accredited civil engineering bachelor's or master's program
- Completion of core coursework in structural analysis, fluid mechanics, or transportation engineering
- Proficiency in AutoCAD, Civil 3D, or comparable engineering design software
- Ability to work on active construction or field sites in compliance with Illinois safety standards
- Familiarity with Illinois Department of Transportation project specifications and documentation
- Strong written communication skills for preparing technical reports and agency submittals
Civil Engineering Intern Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a civil engineering intern in Illinois?
The most direct path is enrollment in an ABET-accredited civil engineering program at an Illinois university, such as the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Illinois Tech, or Purdue University Northwest. Most employers require completion of at least one year of core engineering coursework before hiring. While a full Professional Engineer license is not required at the intern stage, passing the NCEES Fundamentals of Engineering exam, administered in Illinois through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, strengthens your candidacy significantly.
Which companies hire civil engineering interns in Illinois?
Employers hiring civil engineering interns in Illinois right now include WSP, IMEG, and RS&H, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Illinois's concentration of infrastructure-focused firms, municipal agencies, and engineering consultancies means opportunities are spread from the Chicago metropolitan area to mid-size downstate cities.
Which Illinois cities have the most civil engineering intern jobs?
The cities with the most civil engineering intern openings in Illinois are Chicago, Lisle, and Saint Charles. Chicago dominates due to its dense concentration of engineering consultancies, transit agencies, and large municipal projects, while cities like Rockford and Peoria attract intern demand through regional infrastructure work tied to manufacturing corridor upgrades and water system improvements.
Are there remote civil engineering intern jobs in Illinois?
Yes, but they're rare. Civil engineering intern work is largely hands-on, involving field visits, site assessments, and lab work that cannot be done remotely. About 50% of civil engineering intern openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, and these tend to be concentrated in GIS analysis, CAD drafting, and data-heavy transportation planning tasks that don't require a physical presence on site.
How can I get hired as a civil engineering intern in Illinois with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying directly to structured internship programs run by the Illinois Department of Transportation or large Illinois-based consultancies like AECOM and Kimley-Horn, which recruit students as early as their sophomore year. Campus chapters of the American Society of Civil Engineers at Illinois universities connect students to regional firms before graduation. Candidates who pass the Fundamentals of Engineering exam early or complete AutoCAD and Civil 3D training gain a clear edge over applicants without those credentials.
Where can I find and apply to civil engineering intern jobs in Illinois?
You can find and apply to civil engineering intern jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings. Search the listings for roles that match your program, coursework, and availability, then apply directly to the positions that fit.
See All 23 Civil Engineering Intern Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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