Environmental Services Specialist Internships
Environmental services specialist internships give university students, recent graduates, and early-career switchers hands-on project experience managing compliance documentation, site assessments, and remediation work alongside working environmental scientists and engineers, and, at many employers, a path toward a full-time offer. Demand is strongest across {{top_industries_phrase}}, with Burns & McDonnell, Crothall Healthcare, and CDM Smith among the employers posting roles now.
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Join Us! CDM Smith – where amazing career journeys unfold.
Imagine a place committed to offering an unmatched employee experience. Where you work on projects that are meaningful to you. Where you play an active part in shaping your career journey. Where your co-workers are invested in you and your success. Where you are encouraged and supported to do your very best and given the tools and resources to do so. Where it’s a priority that the company takes good care of you and your family.
Our employees are the heart of our company. As an employer of choice, our goal is to provide a challenging, progressive and inclusive work environment which fosters personal leadership, career growth and development for every employee. We value passionate individuals who challenge the norm, deliver world-class solutions and bring diverse perspectives. Join our team, and together we will make a difference and change the world.
- Research and evaluate engineering solutions to support project analyses, reporting, and design.
- Assist with the development of engineering calculations, technical reports, project documentation, and presentations.
- Gain hands-on experience using tools such as ArcGIS, HEC-RAS, SWMM, CADD, Excel, and other engineering software.
- Work alongside senior engineers and multidisciplinary teams to support project deliverables and solve engineering challenges.
- Participate in team meetings and gain exposure to client and project interactions.
- Assist with fieldwork and construction management activities, providing a firsthand look at projects throughout the full project lifecycle.
- Build your professional network while developing technical skills that complement your academic experience.
Our interns are encouraged to ask questions, take on meaningful responsibilities, build their professional networks, and explore potential career paths within CDM Smith. Whether working in the office, in the field, or alongside multidisciplinary project teams, the program provides a well-rounded experience designed to prepare students for a successful engineering career.
Join Us! CDM Smith – where amazing career journeys unfold.
Imagine a place committed to offering an unmatched employee experience. Where you work on projects that are meaningful to you. Where you play an active part in shaping your career journey. Where your co-workers are invested in you and your success. Where you are encouraged and supported to do your very best and given the tools and resources to do so. Where it’s a priority that the company takes good care of you and your family.
Our employees are the heart of our company. As an employer of choice, our goal is to provide a challenging, progressive and inclusive work environment which fosters personal leadership, career growth and development for every employee. We value passionate individuals who challenge the norm, deliver world-class solutions and bring diverse perspectives. Join our team, and together we will make a difference and change the world.
- Research and evaluate engineering solutions to support project analyses, reporting, and design.
- Assist with the development of engineering calculations, technical reports, project documentation, and presentations.
- Gain hands-on experience using tools such as ArcGIS, HEC-RAS, SWMM, CADD, Excel, and other engineering software.
- Work alongside senior engineers and multidisciplinary teams to support project deliverables and solve engineering challenges.
- Participate in team meetings and gain exposure to client and project interactions.
- Assist with fieldwork and construction management activities, providing a firsthand look at projects throughout the full project lifecycle.
- Build your professional network while developing technical skills that complement your academic experience.
Our interns are encouraged to ask questions, take on meaningful responsibilities, build their professional networks, and explore potential career paths within CDM Smith. Whether working in the office, in the field, or alongside multidisciplinary project teams, the program provides a well-rounded experience designed to prepare students for a successful engineering career.
Environmental Services Specialist Internship Market
Who's Hiring
- Burns & McDonnell33
- Crothall Healthcare16
- CDM Smith12
- Stantec2
- BGE2
Tips for Your Environmental Services Specialist Internship Search
Apply in the fall for summer roles
Large environmental consulting firms and federal agencies recruit summer interns the preceding fall, with many programs closing before winter break. Smaller companies and co-op programs post closer to start dates, so check for openings throughout the year rather than waiting for a single window.
Build a project portfolio before you apply
Hiring teams for environmental services specialist interns expect limited work history, so give them something concrete to assess. Document field studies, GIS mapping exercises, water quality lab reports, or Phase I assessment write-ups with the tools and methods you used. A linked portfolio or PDF of your two strongest projects outweighs a long list of coursework on its own.
Work your campus network and apply directly at the same time
Campus career fairs surface structured programs tied to your university, and professors or career center staff often know which environmental employers recruit from your school before roles post publicly. Applying directly to smaller consulting firms and municipal agencies running their own cohorts alongside campus activity widens the pool you reach without duplicating effort.
Practice your technical screen out loud
Environmental services specialist intern screens often include a scenario-based or technical component, such as walking through a site assessment approach, interpreting regulatory data, or demonstrating familiarity with environmental software. Practice answering these out loud and explaining your reasoning step by step, since interviewers weigh your thought process as much as the final answer.
Target structured environmental internship programs early
Many large environmental consulting firms and government agencies run formal internship cohorts designed to train people new to the field, covering compliance, remediation, and fieldwork in a structured sequence. These programs recruit early and fill fast, so identify the ones that fit your interests and apply in the first wave of their cycle.
Set your work-type filter before you start
On-site roles are 100% of the environmental services specialist internships listed here. Decide what you can realistically commit to before you start sorting through listings. Filtering by location and work type upfront means you spend your time on roles you can actually take, not ruling them out after reading the full description.
Environmental Services Specialist Internships: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get an environmental services specialist internship?
Lead with coursework and projects rather than work history, since hiring teams expect limited experience at the intern level. Document two or three field studies, lab reports, or compliance exercises with the tools and methods you used, and bring that portfolio to campus career fairs, where recruiters often move faster for students they meet in person. Apply directly to employers running smaller cohorts to widen your reach.
Can an environmental services specialist internship turn into a full-time job?
Many employers extend return offers to strong interns, but conversion is never guaranteed. What actually drives it is consistent performance on real project work, available headcount on the team, and understanding when the employer makes return-offer decisions. Position yourself by treating every deliverable as a writing sample and asking your supervisor early what a successful intern looks like to them.
When should I apply for environmental services specialist internships?
Earlier than most students expect. Large employers in environmental consulting and government agencies recruit summer interns the preceding fall, often closing applications by November or December. Smaller firms, nonprofits, and co-op programs post closer to start dates, so openings appear year-round. Set a saved search and check it regularly rather than waiting for a single application season.
Are environmental services specialist internships paid?
Most professional environmental services specialist internships in the United States are paid. Compensation varies by company size, industry, and location, and listings show it where the employer discloses it. Government and nonprofit roles sometimes offer stipends rather than hourly wages. Reviewing each listing carefully gives you the clearest picture of what a specific employer offers.
What should an environmental services specialist internship resume include?
Lead with projects, not work history. Include two or three documented projects showing the environmental tools, software, or field methods you used, such as GIS mapping exercises, water quality analyses, or Phase I site assessment write-ups, with links to reports or case studies wherever possible. Add relevant coursework in environmental science, regulations, or chemistry, and keep everything to one page.
Are there remote environmental services specialist internships?
Yes. Remote and hybrid roles make up 0% of the environmental services specialist internship listings here, with the rest on-site. Remote cohorts fill fast because they draw applicants from across the country, so apply early once you find a fit. Use the work-type filter to see only the format you can commit to before sorting through the full list.
Can international students get environmental services specialist internships?
Yes. F-1 students can intern through CPT while enrolled or through OPT work authorization after finishing a degree, and the employer does not have to file anything for either, so many companies are open to international interns. Confirm your eligibility and timing with your university's international student office before accepting an offer.
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