Civil Engineering Intern Jobs in Iowa
Civil Engineering Intern jobs in Iowa concentrate in transportation infrastructure, municipal water systems, and land development, with demand steadily active across a state that consistently funds highway and bridge projects through the Iowa Department of Transportation. Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Ames are the largest hiring metros, anchored by employers like AECOM, HDR Engineering, and the Iowa Department of Transportation, which maintain lasting civil engineering pipelines. The most in-demand specialties are transportation design, stormwater management, and structural drafting. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Bolton & Menk is now accepting applications for our 2027 summer internship season. As a Top Workplace, this is a fantastic chance to work with a talented team of professionals and make a lasting impact on the communities we serve. With over 75 years of experience, Bolton & Menk specializes in providing community infrastructure solutions across the Midwest, Southeast, and beyond.
As a Civil Engineering Intern, you'll gain real-world experience supporting municipal infrastructure projects while working alongside engineers, project managers, and construction professionals. You'll spend much of your summer in the field assisting with construction phase activities for transportation projects while also building technical and professional skills that will prepare you for a successful engineering career. This internship opportunity is for our Municipal service group during the 2027 Summer season.
What You Will Be Doing:
- Assist on civil engineering projects with tasks involving civil engineering, planning and design.
- Assists with the preparation of reports, of plans, specifications, and cost estimates.
- Assists with construction observation, performing construction staking, performing construction administration duties
- Some internship opportunities may also include working on various reports, completing design calculations, writing specifications, and reviewing shop drawings.
What We Are Looking for:
- Degree Programs: Selected candidates will be enrolled in a Civil Engineering degree program or closely related program from an accredited post-secondary institution.
- Minimum Cumulative GPA: 2.8 GPA; Desired GPA 3.2 or above
- Current Status: Desired is Sophomore or above with completed coursework in general surveying and AutoCAD drafting.
- Students must have the ability to work in extended outdoor conditions and be physically capable of navigating rugged terrain for the purpose of performing the construction observation duties.
- Students must possess a valid driver’s license and their own transportation or have ability to use public transportation. You will be reimbursed for business-related travel.
Each year we look for variety of experience, education, and ability for our student intern pool. Some positions may be filled with students who have experience depending on the level of complexity a project or client may require. Preference may be given to students who have completed a previous internship with Bolton & Menk.
Relocation and housing are not included.
Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis, part-time basis or internship for any employer without restriction. Bolton & Menk does not provide visa sponsorship or immigration support for this position.
WHY BOLTON & MENK?
Bolton & Menk, Inc. specializes in providing community infrastructure solutions. Since 1949, we have been committed to improving quality of life through engineering excellence and client satisfaction. From advocating for our communities to designing their dreams to finding funding; we take pride in our work because we live in these same communities. Today, Bolton & Menk has more than 1,000 employees throughout more than 40 locations in Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Colorado, North Carolina and South Carolina providing services to more than 400 communities and agencies. Learn more about our history here: https://www.bolton-menk.com/about-us/ (https://www.bolton-menk.com/about-us/)
We thank all applicants in advance for their interest in this position, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
Bolton & Menk does not accept unsolicited resumes from individual recruiters or third-party agencies in response to Bolton & Menk job postings. No fee will be paid to third parties who submit unsolicited candidates directly to our hiring managers. Pre-approval from the Bolton & Menk Talent Acquisition team is required before any external candidate can be submitted and such candidate must be submitted to the Bolton & Menk Talent Acquisition team.
It is our responsibility and privilege to embrace the diversity of people, thoughts, and experiences necessary to develop infrastructure systems that serve all people. Bolton & Menk, Inc., is an Equal Employment Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer including disability and vets.
Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights (https://www.eeoc.gov/poster) notice from the Department of Labor.
Bolton & Menk is now accepting applications for our 2027 summer internship season. As a Top Workplace, this is a fantastic chance to work with a talented team of professionals and make a lasting impact on the communities we serve. With over 75 years of experience, Bolton & Menk specializes in providing community infrastructure solutions across the Midwest, Southeast, and beyond.
As a Civil Engineering Intern, you'll gain real-world experience supporting municipal infrastructure projects while working alongside engineers, project managers, and construction professionals. You'll spend much of your summer in the field assisting with construction phase activities for transportation projects while also building technical and professional skills that will prepare you for a successful engineering career. This internship opportunity is for our Municipal service group during the 2027 Summer season.
What You Will Be Doing:
- Assist on civil engineering projects with tasks involving civil engineering, planning and design.
- Assists with the preparation of reports, of plans, specifications, and cost estimates.
- Assists with construction observation, performing construction staking, performing construction administration duties
- Some internship opportunities may also include working on various reports, completing design calculations, writing specifications, and reviewing shop drawings.
What We Are Looking for:
- Degree Programs: Selected candidates will be enrolled in a Civil Engineering degree program or closely related program from an accredited post-secondary institution.
- Minimum Cumulative GPA: 2.8 GPA; Desired GPA 3.2 or above
- Current Status: Desired is Sophomore or above with completed coursework in general surveying and AutoCAD drafting.
- Students must have the ability to work in extended outdoor conditions and be physically capable of navigating rugged terrain for the purpose of performing the construction observation duties.
- Students must possess a valid driver’s license and their own transportation or have ability to use public transportation. You will be reimbursed for business-related travel.
Each year we look for variety of experience, education, and ability for our student intern pool. Some positions may be filled with students who have experience depending on the level of complexity a project or client may require. Preference may be given to students who have completed a previous internship with Bolton & Menk.
Relocation and housing are not included.
Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis, part-time basis or internship for any employer without restriction. Bolton & Menk does not provide visa sponsorship or immigration support for this position.
WHY BOLTON & MENK?
Bolton & Menk, Inc. specializes in providing community infrastructure solutions. Since 1949, we have been committed to improving quality of life through engineering excellence and client satisfaction. From advocating for our communities to designing their dreams to finding funding; we take pride in our work because we live in these same communities. Today, Bolton & Menk has more than 1,000 employees throughout more than 40 locations in Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Colorado, North Carolina and South Carolina providing services to more than 400 communities and agencies. Learn more about our history here: https://www.bolton-menk.com/about-us/ (https://www.bolton-menk.com/about-us/)
We thank all applicants in advance for their interest in this position, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
Bolton & Menk does not accept unsolicited resumes from individual recruiters or third-party agencies in response to Bolton & Menk job postings. No fee will be paid to third parties who submit unsolicited candidates directly to our hiring managers. Pre-approval from the Bolton & Menk Talent Acquisition team is required before any external candidate can be submitted and such candidate must be submitted to the Bolton & Menk Talent Acquisition team.
It is our responsibility and privilege to embrace the diversity of people, thoughts, and experiences necessary to develop infrastructure systems that serve all people. Bolton & Menk, Inc., is an Equal Employment Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer including disability and vets.
Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights (https://www.eeoc.gov/poster) notice from the Department of Labor.
See All 9 Civil Engineering Intern Jobs in Iowa
Find roles in Iowa that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Civil Engineering Intern JobsCivil Engineering Intern Jobs by City in Iowa
Where Iowa roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Civil Engineering Intern Job Market in Iowa
A snapshot from current Iowa openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
What Iowa Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in civil engineering intern jobs across Iowa.
- Currently enrolled in an ABET-accredited civil engineering or civil engineering technology program
- Proficiency in AutoCAD or Civil 3D for design drafting and site plan development
- Familiarity with Iowa DOT design standards and project documentation requirements
- Coursework completed in structural analysis, fluid mechanics, or transportation engineering
- Strong written and verbal communication skills for client and agency correspondence
- Ability to work on-site in Iowa field conditions including construction observation and survey support
Civil Engineering Intern Jobs in Iowa: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a civil engineering intern in Iowa?
To become a civil engineering intern in Iowa, you need to be enrolled in or have completed a civil engineering or related degree program at an accredited university such as Iowa State University, the University of Iowa, or the University of Northern Iowa. While Iowa does not require licensure to work as an intern, candidates who have passed the NCEES Fundamentals of Engineering exam and registered as an Engineer Intern with the Iowa Engineering and Land Surveying Examining Board stand out strongly to employers.
Which companies hire civil engineering interns in Iowa?
Employers hiring civil engineering interns in Iowa right now include Bolton & Menk, The Foth Companies, and IMEG, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Iowa's consistent infrastructure investment through state and municipal programs means firms with long-standing DOT contracts and municipal engineering contracts tend to hire interns on recurring seasonal cycles.
Which Iowa cities have the most civil engineering intern jobs?
The cities with the most civil engineering intern openings in Iowa are Des Moines, Ames, and Spencer. Des Moines dominates as the state capital with the highest concentration of consulting firms, municipal engineering departments, and state agency offices, while Cedar Rapids and Ames draw volume from regional infrastructure projects, private development, and proximity to Iowa State University's engineering programs.
How can I get hired as a civil engineering intern in Iowa with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying directly to Iowa DOT district offices or mid-size Iowa consulting firms that run structured summer intern programs for students after their first or second year of engineering coursework. Iowa State University and the University of Iowa both coordinate employer recruiting events where firms like HDR and Snyder and Associates actively target students with no prior work history. Passing the Fundamentals of Engineering exam early and building a portfolio of AutoCAD or Civil 3D coursework projects gives candidates a clear edge over peers with identical academic records.
Where can I find and apply to civil engineering intern jobs in Iowa?
You can find and apply to civil engineering intern jobs in Iowa on Migrate Mate, which lists current Iowa openings across transportation, municipal, and private-sector employers. Find roles that fit your experience and location and apply directly to the employers posting them.
See All 9 Civil Engineering Intern Jobs in Iowa
Find roles in Iowa that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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