Water Engineer Internships
Water engineer internships give university students, recent graduates, and early-career switchers hands-on project experience across water systems design, infrastructure assessment, and environmental compliance, alongside mentorship from working engineers, and, at many employers, a path toward a full-time offer. Openings are concentrated in Consulting & Professional Services, with Black & Veatch, Arcadis, and Bartlett & West among the employers posting roles now.
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Together, we own our company, our future, and our shared success.
As an employee-owned company, our people are Black & Veatch. We put them at the center of everything we do and empower them to grow, explore new possibilities and use their diverse talents and perspectives to solve humanity's biggest challenges in an ever-evolving world. With over 100 years of innovation in sustainable infrastructure and our expertise in engineering, procurement, consulting and construction, together we are building a world of difference.
Company : Black & Veatch Corporation
Req Id : 117940
Opportunity Type : College Intern
Relocation eligible : Yes
Full time/Part time : Full-Time
Project Only Hire : No
Visa Sponsorship Available: No
Why Black & Veatch?
At Black & Veatch, you’ll be part of work that matters—designing, creating, and building the infrastructure communities rely on every day, from concept through execution.
We care about how the work gets done as much as what we build. Safety is built into every decision, and people look out for each other—speaking up, collaborating, and doing the right thing because it affects real lives.
You’ll work alongside teams solving complex challenges and turning ideas into solutions that perform in the real world—gaining hands-on experience across projects, technologies, and disciplines.
Ownership shows up in how we work. We take responsibility for outcomes, follow through on commitments, and take pride in what we deliver. As a 100% employee-owned company, employees share in the long-term success we build together.
With flexible ways of working and meaningful development opportunities, you’ll build a career you can be proud to stand behind.
Job Summary
As a Summer Intern at Black & Veatch, you will play a meaningful role in addressing some of the world’s most critical infrastructure challenges. This internship offers the opportunity to contribute to diverse, impactful projects that support our clients’ goals while fostering your professional growth and advancing the success of Black & Veatch.
Key Responsibilities
- Develops familiarity by reading, understanding and applying departmental design guides, standards, systems, applicable engineering codes and Black and Veatch policies and procedures
- Coordinates with multidisciplinary project teams to support design and construction of water and wastewater infrastructure projects.
- Performs routine research and develops recommendations for equipment and/or materials selection
- Prepares basic engineering calculations following standard methods and principles used in similar engineering analysis
- Assists with development of project schedules, cost estimates, and engineering deliverables to support successful project execution.
- Focuses on the needs of internal clients (project team leadership) while attempting to gain basic understanding of external client's main interests and drivers
- Develops and applies knowledge of engineering software, design tools, and digital delivery methods.
Preferred Qualifications
- Water/wastewater, hydraulics, and fluid mechanic courses preferred.
- 3.0 GPA preferred.
- Basic knowledge of engineering design principles and applicable design guides and standards related to assigned engineering discipline
- Basic industry knowledge and technology trends
- Basic knowledge of construction and constructability practices and principles
Minimum Qualifications
Certifications
Work Environment/Physical Demands
Competencies
Salary Plan
Job Grade
Black & Veatch endeavors to make www.bv.com/careers 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 because of a disability, please contact the Employee Relations Department at +1-913-359-1622 or via our accommodations request form. This contact information is for disability accommodation requests only; you may not use this contact information to inquire about the status of applications. General inquiries about the status of applications will not be returned.
Black & Veatch is committed to being an employer of choice by creating a valuable work experience that keeps our people engaged, productive, safe and healthy.
Our comprehensive benefits portfolio is a key component of this commitment and offers an array of health care benefits including but not limited to medical, dental and vision insurances along with disability and a robust wellness program.
To support a healthy work-life balance, we offer flexible work schedules, paid vacation and holiday time, sick time, and dependent sick time.
A variety of additional benefits are available to our professionals, including a company-matched 401k plan, adoption reimbursement, tuition reimbursement, vendor discounts, an employment referral program, AD&D insurance, pre-taxed accounts, voluntary legal plan and the B&V Credit Union. Professionals may also be eligible for a performance-based bonus program.
We are proud to be a 100 percent ESOP-owned company. As employee-owners, our professionals are empowered to drive not only their personal growth, but the company's long-term achievements - and they share in the financial rewards of the success through stock ownership.
By valuing diverse voices and perspectives, we cultivate an authentically inclusive environment for professionals and are able to provide innovative and effective solutions for clients.
BVH, Inc., its subsidiaries and its affiliated companies, complies with all Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) laws and regulations. Black & Veatch does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, religion, color, sex, national origin, marital status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender Identity and expression, disability, veteran status, pregnancy status or other status protected by law.
Notice to External Search Firms: Black & Veatch does not accept unsolicited resumes and will not be obligated to pay a placement fee for unsolicited resumes. Black & Veatch Talent Acquisition engages with search firms directly for hiring needs.
In accordance with local law, the following Hourly compensation range is applicable for the job and location associated with this requisition: $18.72 - $36.27
Nearest Major Market: Richmond
Job Segment: Civil Engineer, Construction, Entry Level Engineer, Wastewater, Water Treatment, Engineering
Water Engineer Internship Market
Who's Hiring
- Black & Veatch11

- Arcadis5

- Bartlett & West2

- Dewberry1

- Merrick & Company1

Top Industries Hiring
- Consulting & Professional Services
Tips for Your Water Engineer Internship Search
Apply earlier than the posting suggests
Large engineering firms, federal agencies, and water utilities recruit summer interns the preceding fall, often closing applications before winter break. Smaller companies and co-op programs post closer to start dates. Check listings in September and October for summer roles, and revisit throughout the year for rolling openings.
Build a project portfolio before you apply
Water engineer intern recruiters expect limited work history, so your portfolio is what gets assessed. Document two or three projects, hydraulic models, stormwater designs, or GIS analyses, naming the tools used (HEC-RAS, ArcGIS, AutoCAD, EPA SWMM) and linking to the output. A visible artifact replaces the work history you don't have yet.
Combine campus fairs with direct applications
Campus career fairs surface structured internship programs tied directly to your university, and recruiters there often move faster for students they meet in person. Your professors and career center staff frequently know which water and civil engineering employers recruit from your school before roles post publicly. Applying directly to smaller cohorts alongside campus activity widens your reach.
Practice your technical screen out loud
Water engineer intern interviews typically include a technical screen covering hydraulics, hydrology fundamentals, or design problem-solving, sometimes with a short take-home exercise. Practice answering out loud, explaining your reasoning step by step, because interviewers weigh how you work through a problem as much as the final answer.
Target structured rotational and university programs early
Larger engineering consultancies, federal agencies like the Army Corps of Engineers, and major utilities run cohort-based or rotational intern programs built to train people new to the field. These programs recruit early and fill fast. Identify the ones aligned with your interests, note their application windows, and apply in the first wave.
Set your work-type filter before you start
On-site roles are 33% of the water engineer internships listed here. Decide what you can commit to, on-site, hybrid, or remote, before searching, then filter by location and work type so you're not sorting through roles you can't take. Migrate Mate's work-type filter lets you narrow the list in one step.
Water Engineer Internships: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a water engineer internship?
Lead with coursework and projects rather than work history, hiring teams expect limited experience at the intern level. A portfolio of documented design exercises, hydraulic modeling outputs, or CAD drawings gives recruiters something concrete to assess. Pair direct applications with campus career fairs, where water resources and civil engineering recruiters often move faster for students they meet in person.
Can a water engineer internship turn into a full-time job?
Many employers extend return offers to strong interns, but conversion is never guaranteed. What drives it most is the quality of your work on real deliverables, available headcount on the team, and whether you express interest before the return-offer window closes. Treat the internship as an extended audition without counting on the outcome.
When should I apply for water engineer internships?
Earlier than most expect. Large municipal agencies, engineering consultancies, and federal programs often recruit summer interns the preceding fall, with applications closing before winter break. Smaller firms and co-op positions post closer to start dates, so openings appear year-round. Checking listings regularly means you catch both waves.
Are water engineer internships paid?
Most professional water engineer internships in the U.S. are paid. Compensation varies by company size, sector, and location, federal agency internships, large engineering firms, and utility companies tend to pay more than smaller municipal offices or nonprofits. Listings show compensation where the employer discloses it, so you can compare before applying.
What should a water engineer internship resume include?
Lead with two or three complete projects, not work history. For each, name the tools used, AutoCAD, ArcGIS, EPA SWMM, HEC-RAS, and what you produced. Link to a portfolio, GitHub repository, or design document where the work is visible. Add relevant coursework in hydrology, fluid mechanics, or environmental engineering, and keep the whole document to one page.
Are there remote water engineer internships?
Yes. Remote and hybrid roles make up 67% of the water engineer internship listings here, with the rest on-site. Remote cohorts fill fast because they draw applicants across the country, so apply early and filter by work type to see those openings before they close.
Can international students get water 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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