Substation Electrical Engineer Internships
Substation electrical engineer internships give university students, recent graduates, and early-career switchers hands-on project experience working on real power system infrastructure, mentorship from working engineers, and, at many employers, a path toward a full-time offer. Openings are concentrated across Consulting & Professional Services, with WSP, Burns & McDonnell, and HDR among the employers posting roles now.
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Showing 5 of 23+ Substation Electrical Engineer Internships
This Opportunity
WSP USA hosts hundreds of interns across the United States to gain hands-on, meaningful work experience to enhance their education and professional aptitude. Our interns gain exposure to real projects while working side by side with senior staff. Through our Developing Professionals Network, interns gain mentorship, networking opportunities and lifelong career connections.
Our Substation team is seeking a Electrical Engineering Intern (Substation) to work out of our Burnsville, MN office. The following locations will also be considered: Burnsville, MN and Minneapolis, MN. This temporary position is seeking individuals currently enrolled in an Undergraduate or Graduate degree program.
This internship will be part of the WSP Summer Internship Program. As a summer intern, you have the opportunity to participate in our 12-week program scheduled to start on May 17th, 2027. The individual start date of the internship may be flexible.
WSP brings global expertise in power delivery, power generation, and program management—anchored by the acquisition of POWER Engineers, Inc. TRC Companies have now joined WSP, deepening our power practice and expanding our energy advisory and intelligent grid services. We're partnering with clients to shape how energy systems evolve around the world—and we need your help.
Your Impact
- Support a variety of engineering tasks with the goal to develop technical, social, and ethical skills.
- Learn basic principles of Electrical Engineering.
- Assist with project research, field work, and preliminary design calculations and analysis.
- Support preparation of final design plans, special provisions, and cost estimates.
- Assist in collecting and maintaining project documentation.
- Complete training on assigned tasks.
- Exercise responsible and ethical decision-making regarding company funds, resources and conduct, and adhere to WSP’s Code of Conduct and related policies and procedures.
- Perform additional responsibilities as required by business needs.
- Please note that there is no relocation or housing assistance associated with this internship.
Who You Are
Required Qualifications
- Actively enrolled in an accredited Electrical Engineering or related Undergraduate program with an anticipated graduation date of August 2027 or later.
- Must be 18 or older.
- Demonstrated interest in Electrical Engineering or related field and have a strong desire to advance skills related to WSP’s work and projects.
- Competent interpersonal and communication skills when interacting with others, expressing ideas effectively and professionally to an engineering and non-engineering audience.
- Capable of taking direction from leadership, mentors, and managers to executive projects.
- Basic proficiency with technical writing, office automation, software, spreadsheets, technology, and tools.
- Proven track record of upholding workplace safety and ability to abide by WSP’s health, safety and drug/alcohol and harassment policies.
- Authorization to work in the United States at the start of the internship
Preferred Qualifications
- Actively enrolled in an accredited Electrical Engineering or related Masters or PhD program with an anticipated graduation date of August 2027 or later.
Prior internship and leadership involvement on campus
Compensation:
Expected Pay: $23.03 - $29.96 per hour
WSP USA is providing the compensation range that the company in good faith believes it might pay and offer for this position, based on the successful applicant’s education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities in addition to internal equity and specific geographic location. WSP USA reserves the right to ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and offer additional benefits and other compensation, depending on circumstances not related to an applicant’s sex or other status protected by local, state, and/or federal law.
WSP USA is the U.S. operating company of WSP, one of the world's leading engineering and professional services firms. Dedicated to serving local communities, we are engineers, planners, technical experts, strategic advisors and construction management professionals. WSP USA designs lasting solutions in the buildings, transportation, energy, water and environment markets. With more than 15,000 employees in over 300 offices across the U.S., we partner with our clients to help communities prosper.
www.wsp.com
WSP provides a flexible and agile workplace model while meeting client needs. Employees are also afforded a comprehensive suite of benefits including medical, dental, vision, disability, life, and retirement savings focused on providing health and financial stability throughout the employee’s career.
At WSP, we want to give our employees the challenges they seek to grow their careers and knowledge base. Your daily contributions to your team will be essential in meeting client objectives, goals and challenges. Are you ready to get started?
WSP USA (and all of its U.S. companies) is an Equal Opportunity Employer Race/Age/Color/Religion/Sex/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/National Origin/Disability or Protected Veteran Status.
The selected candidate must be authorized to work in the United States.
NOTICE TO THIRD PARTY AGENCIES:
WSP does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters, employment agencies, or other staffing services. Unsolicited resumes include any resume or hiring document sent to WSP in the absence of a signed Service Agreement where WSP has expressly requested recruitment/staffing services specific to the position at hand. Any unsolicited resumes, including those submitted to hiring managers or other business leaders, will become the property of WSP and WSP will have the right to hire that candidate without reservation – no fee or other compensation will be owed or paid to the recruiter, employment agency, or other staffing service.
This Opportunity
WSP USA hosts hundreds of interns across the United States to gain hands-on, meaningful work experience to enhance their education and professional aptitude. Our interns gain exposure to real projects while working side by side with senior staff. Through our Developing Professionals Network, interns gain mentorship, networking opportunities and lifelong career connections.
Our Substation team is seeking a Electrical Engineering Intern (Substation) to work out of our Burnsville, MN office. The following locations will also be considered: Burnsville, MN and Minneapolis, MN. This temporary position is seeking individuals currently enrolled in an Undergraduate or Graduate degree program.
This internship will be part of the WSP Summer Internship Program. As a summer intern, you have the opportunity to participate in our 12-week program scheduled to start on May 17th, 2027. The individual start date of the internship may be flexible.
WSP brings global expertise in power delivery, power generation, and program management—anchored by the acquisition of POWER Engineers, Inc. TRC Companies have now joined WSP, deepening our power practice and expanding our energy advisory and intelligent grid services. We're partnering with clients to shape how energy systems evolve around the world—and we need your help.
Your Impact
- Support a variety of engineering tasks with the goal to develop technical, social, and ethical skills.
- Learn basic principles of Electrical Engineering.
- Assist with project research, field work, and preliminary design calculations and analysis.
- Support preparation of final design plans, special provisions, and cost estimates.
- Assist in collecting and maintaining project documentation.
- Complete training on assigned tasks.
- Exercise responsible and ethical decision-making regarding company funds, resources and conduct, and adhere to WSP’s Code of Conduct and related policies and procedures.
- Perform additional responsibilities as required by business needs.
- Please note that there is no relocation or housing assistance associated with this internship.
Who You Are
Required Qualifications
- Actively enrolled in an accredited Electrical Engineering or related Undergraduate program with an anticipated graduation date of August 2027 or later.
- Must be 18 or older.
- Demonstrated interest in Electrical Engineering or related field and have a strong desire to advance skills related to WSP’s work and projects.
- Competent interpersonal and communication skills when interacting with others, expressing ideas effectively and professionally to an engineering and non-engineering audience.
- Capable of taking direction from leadership, mentors, and managers to executive projects.
- Basic proficiency with technical writing, office automation, software, spreadsheets, technology, and tools.
- Proven track record of upholding workplace safety and ability to abide by WSP’s health, safety and drug/alcohol and harassment policies.
- Authorization to work in the United States at the start of the internship
Preferred Qualifications
- Actively enrolled in an accredited Electrical Engineering or related Masters or PhD program with an anticipated graduation date of August 2027 or later.
Prior internship and leadership involvement on campus
Compensation:
Expected Pay: $23.03 - $29.96 per hour
WSP USA is providing the compensation range that the company in good faith believes it might pay and offer for this position, based on the successful applicant’s education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities in addition to internal equity and specific geographic location. WSP USA reserves the right to ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and offer additional benefits and other compensation, depending on circumstances not related to an applicant’s sex or other status protected by local, state, and/or federal law.
WSP USA is the U.S. operating company of WSP, one of the world's leading engineering and professional services firms. Dedicated to serving local communities, we are engineers, planners, technical experts, strategic advisors and construction management professionals. WSP USA designs lasting solutions in the buildings, transportation, energy, water and environment markets. With more than 15,000 employees in over 300 offices across the U.S., we partner with our clients to help communities prosper.
www.wsp.com
WSP provides a flexible and agile workplace model while meeting client needs. Employees are also afforded a comprehensive suite of benefits including medical, dental, vision, disability, life, and retirement savings focused on providing health and financial stability throughout the employee’s career.
At WSP, we want to give our employees the challenges they seek to grow their careers and knowledge base. Your daily contributions to your team will be essential in meeting client objectives, goals and challenges. Are you ready to get started?
WSP USA (and all of its U.S. companies) is an Equal Opportunity Employer Race/Age/Color/Religion/Sex/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/National Origin/Disability or Protected Veteran Status.
The selected candidate must be authorized to work in the United States.
NOTICE TO THIRD PARTY AGENCIES:
WSP does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters, employment agencies, or other staffing services. Unsolicited resumes include any resume or hiring document sent to WSP in the absence of a signed Service Agreement where WSP has expressly requested recruitment/staffing services specific to the position at hand. Any unsolicited resumes, including those submitted to hiring managers or other business leaders, will become the property of WSP and WSP will have the right to hire that candidate without reservation – no fee or other compensation will be owed or paid to the recruiter, employment agency, or other staffing service.
Substation Electrical Engineer Internship Market
Who's Hiring
- WSP12
- Burns & McDonnell5
- HDR2
- Stanley Consultants2
- Ulteig1
Top Industries Hiring
- Consulting & Professional Services
Tips for Your Substation Electrical Engineer Internship Search
Apply in the fall for summer roles
Large utilities, engineering consultancies, and power companies fill summer intern cohorts the preceding fall, often closing applications before winter. Smaller firms and co-op programs post closer to start dates. Starting your search early in the academic year puts you in front of the structured programs before spots disappear.
Build a portfolio before you apply
Hiring teams for substation electrical engineer interns expect limited work history, so your projects carry the most weight. Document two or three complete designs, protection studies, or CAD layouts with the tools you used. A linked portfolio or design file gives recruiters something tangible to evaluate when your resume is otherwise short.
Work your campus network alongside direct applications
Campus career fairs surface structured programs tied to your university, and professors or career center staff often know which employers recruit from your school before roles post publicly. Applying directly to companies running smaller cohorts at the same time widens the pool you reach and increases your chances of landing an offer.
Practice your technical screen out loud
Substation electrical engineer intern interviews typically include a technical screen covering circuit analysis, protection relay concepts, or power systems fundamentals. Practice solving problems out loud and explaining your reasoning step by step, since interviewers weigh how you approach a problem as much as the final answer. Run through problems with a classmate or record yourself.
Target structured rotational and university programs
Many large utilities and engineering firms run rotational intern programs built specifically to train people new to substation engineering. These cohort programs move candidates through multiple project areas and recruit early, often filling in the fall. Identify the programs that match your interests and get your application in during the first wave.
Set your work-type filter before you start
On-site roles are 50% of the substation electrical engineer internships listed here. Decide what you can commit to before you start sorting, then filter by location and work type on Migrate Mate so you are only reviewing roles you can actually accept.
Substation Electrical Engineer Internships: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a substation electrical engineer internship?
Lead with coursework and personal projects rather than work history, since hiring teams expect limited experience at the intern level. A design portfolio, CAD drawings, or a documented power systems project gives recruiters something concrete to assess. Apply directly to companies posting openings and attend campus career fairs, where recruiters often move faster for students they meet in person.
Can a substation electrical engineer internship turn into a full-time job?
Many employers extend return offers to strong interns, but conversion is never guaranteed. What drives it for substation electrical engineer interns is performance on real project work, available headcount on the team, and how early you have the return-offer conversation. Treat the internship as an audition, deliver on your assignments, and ask your manager about the timeline, without counting on the outcome.
When should I apply for substation electrical engineer internships?
Earlier than most expect. Large utilities and engineering firms recruit summer interns the preceding fall, often wrapping cohorts before the new year. Smaller companies and co-op programs post closer to start dates, so openings appear year-round. Checking listings regularly means you catch both waves instead of arriving late to the structured programs.
Are substation electrical engineer internships paid?
Most professional substation electrical engineer internships in the U.S. are paid. Compensation varies by company size, industry, and location. Where an employer discloses pay, it appears directly on the listing, so you can compare offers as you apply without having to ask upfront.
What should a substation electrical engineer internship resume include?
Lead with two or three complete, documented projects, naming the tools used and linking to the work where possible, such as a CAD portfolio, circuit design files, or a power systems analysis write-up. Add relevant coursework in electrical engineering, protection systems, or relay coordination. Keep the whole document to one page so reviewers can scan it quickly.
Are there remote substation electrical engineer internships?
Yes. Remote and hybrid roles make up 50% of the substation electrical engineer internship listings here, with the rest on-site. Remote cohorts fill fast, so apply early and filter by work type to see them before they close.
Can international students get substation electrical engineer 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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