CPT Plant Engineer Jobs
Plant Engineer CPT jobs put F-1 students on the floor of real manufacturing and process operations, where coursework in mechanical systems, production efficiency, or industrial engineering maps directly to daily responsibilities. Your DSO must authorize each CPT position before you start, and the role must connect to your program's curriculum.
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Get Access To All JobsAre you looking for an exciting job where you can put your skills and talents to work at a company you can feel proud to be a part of? Do you want a workplace that will challenge you and offer you opportunities to learn and grow? A position at Xcel Energy could be just what you’re looking for.
At Xcel Energy, our employees are the driving force behind our success. So we make sure that, here, you can be your best. Doing work that makes a difference for neighbors and communities. Working with a team you can count on to push you. Expanding skills, staying ready for change, and capturing opportunities to grow. All with the support, rewards and recognition you need to thrive – during your internship and beyond.
Xcel Energy is seeking candidates to support the Performance Optimization Organization, specifically, within the Reliability Engineering department at the Riverside Generating Plant in Minneapolis, MN. The paid internship provides an opportunity to showcase your abilities in one of our engineering groups that supports power plant operation and maintenance, small project development, and improving equipment reliability. The program provides practical work experience to develop your existing skillset, obtain real world engineering experience, and collaborate with many internal organizations. Each intern will be relied upon to play a role in achieving department objectives and goals. The program will allow you to apply what you’ve learned in school and further enhance your knowledge through hands-on training and provide opportunities to network and learn with other interns across the engineering organization.
Typical intern responsibilities may include but are not limited to:
- Responsibilities include working with the Engineering staff to support plant projects, both capital and ops/maintenance.
- Performance/efficiency analysis
- Emissions control
- Contract and project management
- Specifying new and replacement equipment
- Making process improvement recommendations
- Supporting technical requests from operations and maintenance
This position is for a May 24, 2027 start date. This position may have the possibility to extend beyond the internship’s initial term based on the candidate’s successful performance and Xcel Energy’s business needs.
Minimum Requirements:
- Current student, Junior or higher
- Enrolled in an ABET accredited college or university and pursuing a degree in engineering, studying areas such as electrical, mechanical, civil, and chemical engineering.
- Able to work full-time during the summer (up to 40 hours a week) and commuting to the designated work location in-person, per our hybrid work policy.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Completed coursework in power generation or project management and an interest in the power industry
- Proficiency with writing technical reports and evaluating technical documentation.
As a leading combination electricity and natural gas energy company, Xcel Energy offers a comprehensive portfolio of energy-related products and services to 3.4 million electricity and 1.9 million natural gas customers across eight Western and Midwestern states. At Xcel Energy, we strive to be the preferred and trusted provider of the energy our customers need. If you’re ready to be a part of something big, we invite you to join our team.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.
Individuals with a disability who need an accommodation to apply please contact us at recruiting@xcelenergy.com.
Non-Bargaining
The anticipated starting base pay for this position is: $23.10 to $24.60 per hour
This position is eligible for the following benefits: Pension, 401(k) plan, Paid time off (PTO), Holidays
Benefit plans are subject to change and Xcel Energy has the right to end, suspend, or amend any of its plans, at any time, in whole or in part.
In any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information including but not limited to dates of school attendance and graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.
Deadline to Apply: 10/15/26
EEO is the Law | EEO is the Law Supplement | Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination | Equal Opportunity Policy (PDF) | Employee Rights (PDF)
All Xcel Energy employees and contractors share responsibility for protecting the company's information and systems by adhering to cybersecurity policies, standards, and best practices, recognizing that cybersecurity is everyone's responsibility.
ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT
Xcel Energy endeavors to make https://www.xcelenergy.com/ accessible to any and all users. If you would like to contact us regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process, please contact Xcel Energy Talent Acquisition at recruiting@xcelenergy.com. This contact information is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.
Are you looking for an exciting job where you can put your skills and talents to work at a company you can feel proud to be a part of? Do you want a workplace that will challenge you and offer you opportunities to learn and grow? A position at Xcel Energy could be just what you’re looking for.
At Xcel Energy, our employees are the driving force behind our success. So we make sure that, here, you can be your best. Doing work that makes a difference for neighbors and communities. Working with a team you can count on to push you. Expanding skills, staying ready for change, and capturing opportunities to grow. All with the support, rewards and recognition you need to thrive – during your internship and beyond.
Xcel Energy is seeking candidates to support the Performance Optimization Organization, specifically, within the Reliability Engineering department at the Riverside Generating Plant in Minneapolis, MN. The paid internship provides an opportunity to showcase your abilities in one of our engineering groups that supports power plant operation and maintenance, small project development, and improving equipment reliability. The program provides practical work experience to develop your existing skillset, obtain real world engineering experience, and collaborate with many internal organizations. Each intern will be relied upon to play a role in achieving department objectives and goals. The program will allow you to apply what you’ve learned in school and further enhance your knowledge through hands-on training and provide opportunities to network and learn with other interns across the engineering organization.
Typical intern responsibilities may include but are not limited to:
- Responsibilities include working with the Engineering staff to support plant projects, both capital and ops/maintenance.
- Performance/efficiency analysis
- Emissions control
- Contract and project management
- Specifying new and replacement equipment
- Making process improvement recommendations
- Supporting technical requests from operations and maintenance
This position is for a May 24, 2027 start date. This position may have the possibility to extend beyond the internship’s initial term based on the candidate’s successful performance and Xcel Energy’s business needs.
Minimum Requirements:
- Current student, Junior or higher
- Enrolled in an ABET accredited college or university and pursuing a degree in engineering, studying areas such as electrical, mechanical, civil, and chemical engineering.
- Able to work full-time during the summer (up to 40 hours a week) and commuting to the designated work location in-person, per our hybrid work policy.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Completed coursework in power generation or project management and an interest in the power industry
- Proficiency with writing technical reports and evaluating technical documentation.
As a leading combination electricity and natural gas energy company, Xcel Energy offers a comprehensive portfolio of energy-related products and services to 3.4 million electricity and 1.9 million natural gas customers across eight Western and Midwestern states. At Xcel Energy, we strive to be the preferred and trusted provider of the energy our customers need. If you’re ready to be a part of something big, we invite you to join our team.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.
Individuals with a disability who need an accommodation to apply please contact us at recruiting@xcelenergy.com.
Non-Bargaining
The anticipated starting base pay for this position is: $23.10 to $24.60 per hour
This position is eligible for the following benefits: Pension, 401(k) plan, Paid time off (PTO), Holidays
Benefit plans are subject to change and Xcel Energy has the right to end, suspend, or amend any of its plans, at any time, in whole or in part.
In any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information including but not limited to dates of school attendance and graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.
Deadline to Apply: 10/15/26
EEO is the Law | EEO is the Law Supplement | Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination | Equal Opportunity Policy (PDF) | Employee Rights (PDF)
All Xcel Energy employees and contractors share responsibility for protecting the company's information and systems by adhering to cybersecurity policies, standards, and best practices, recognizing that cybersecurity is everyone's responsibility.
ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT
Xcel Energy endeavors to make https://www.xcelenergy.com/ accessible to any and all users. If you would like to contact us regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process, please contact Xcel Energy Talent Acquisition at recruiting@xcelenergy.com. This contact information is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.
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Get Access To All JobsPlant Engineer CPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a plant engineer role qualify for CPT authorization?
Yes, if your academic program includes engineering, manufacturing systems, industrial technology, or a related field, and the role's duties connect to your coursework. Your DSO makes the final determination. Roles involving process optimization, equipment maintenance planning, or production efficiency analysis typically align well with mechanical or industrial engineering curricula.
Can I do CPT at a plant or manufacturing facility that operates 24/7 shifts?
CPT has no restriction on employer operating hours, but your authorization is tied to the specific employer and position listed on your I-20. If your shift schedule changes or you're reassigned to a different facility under the same employer, confirm with your DSO whether your CPT authorization still covers the updated arrangement before the change takes effect.
How do I find plant engineer employers familiar with CPT hiring?
Use Migrate Mate to identify manufacturers and industrial companies with a track record of hiring F-1 students. Employers who have sponsored work visas before are far more likely to understand CPT authorization requirements and have HR processes in place to onboard students without delays.
Does full-time CPT affect my OPT eligibility as a plant engineer student?
Full-time CPT for 12 months or more eliminates your OPT eligibility entirely. Part-time CPT, regardless of total duration, does not affect OPT. If you're weighing a full-time plant engineer CPT placement against preserving OPT for post-graduation H-1B visa purposes, discuss the timeline carefully with your DSO before accepting.
Can I switch plant engineer employers mid-semester on CPT?
CPT authorization is employer-specific. If you change employers, your DSO must issue a new I-20 authorizing the new company before you begin work there. You can't carry one employer's CPT authorization to a different plant or company, even within the same industry or for an identical role.