Water Resources Specialist Internships
Water resources specialist internships give university students, recent graduates, and early-career switchers hands-on project experience in hydrology and water management, mentorship from working water resources engineers and scientists, and, at many employers, a path toward a full-time offer. Demand is concentrated in Consulting & Professional Services, with WSP, Dewberry, and RS&H among the employers posting roles now.
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Bolton & Menk is now accepting applications for our 2027 summer internship season in our Oakdale and Rochester locations. 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 will learn practical on-the-job experience serving our municipalities and will spend the majority of your time working with construction phase activities for water resources projects related to stream and wetland restorations, stormwater design, watershed management, and flood studies. This internship opportunity is for our Water Resources 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: Sophomore or above desired, 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.
Bolton & Menk will currently not be providing visa sponsorship or Optional Practical Training Extensions for STEM Students. Individuals must be legally authorized to work in the US at the start of employment without a need for current or future visa sponsorship.
Hourly Range: $18.00 - $24.00/hr depending on years of experience and credentials
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, 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.
Education
Preferred- Bachelor of Science or better in Civil Engineering or related field
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 in our Oakdale and Rochester locations. 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 will learn practical on-the-job experience serving our municipalities and will spend the majority of your time working with construction phase activities for water resources projects related to stream and wetland restorations, stormwater design, watershed management, and flood studies. This internship opportunity is for our Water Resources 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: Sophomore or above desired, 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.
Bolton & Menk will currently not be providing visa sponsorship or Optional Practical Training Extensions for STEM Students. Individuals must be legally authorized to work in the US at the start of employment without a need for current or future visa sponsorship.
Hourly Range: $18.00 - $24.00/hr depending on years of experience and credentials
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, 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.
Education
Preferred- Bachelor of Science or better in Civil Engineering or related field
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.
Water Resources Specialist Internship Market
Who's Hiring
- WSP13
- Dewberry5
- RS&H4
- Baxter & Woodman4
- GPD3
Top Industries Hiring
- Consulting & Professional Services
Tips for Your Water Resources Specialist Internship Search
Apply in the fall for summer roles
Large engineering consultancies, federal agencies, and utilities open summer intern cohorts the preceding September through November and close them well before spring. Smaller firms and co-op programs post closer to start dates, so check listings regularly through the year rather than waiting for a single hiring season.
Build a project portfolio before you apply
Hiring teams for water resources specialist interns expect limited work history, so a documented portfolio of coursework projects carries the most weight. Include two or three completed analyses, GIS maps, hydrological models, or water quality assessments with the tools used, such as ArcGIS, HEC-RAS, or EPA SWMM, and note where the work can be reviewed.
Combine campus fairs with direct company applications
Campus career fairs surface structured intern programs tied to your university, and recruiters there often move faster for students they meet in person. Professors and career center staff frequently know which water resources employers recruit from your school before roles post publicly. Applying directly to firms running smaller cohorts alongside campus activity widens the pool you reach.
Practice your technical screen out loud before applying
Water resources specialist intern interviews commonly include a technical screen covering hydrological concepts, GIS problem-solving, or data interpretation, depending on the role. Practice explaining your reasoning on sample problems aloud, not just arriving at an answer, since interviewers weigh how you think through a problem as much as the final result.
Target structured rotational and cohort programs early
Larger agencies and engineering firms run formal water resources internship cohorts designed to train people new to the field, often rotating interns across hydrology, water quality, and infrastructure planning teams. These programs recruit months before smaller employers and fill quickly, so identify the ones that match your interests and apply in the first wave.
Set your work-type filter before you start
On-site roles are 13% of the water resources specialist internships listed here, reflecting how much of the work involves field visits, lab analysis, and site assessments. Decide what you can commit to before sorting listings, then filter by location and work type so you spend your time on roles you can actually take.
Water Resources Specialist Internships: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a water resources specialist internship?
Lead with coursework and projects rather than work history, since hiring teams expect limited experience at the intern level. The concrete artifact that gives recruiters something to assess is a portfolio of completed hydrological analyses, GIS mapping projects, or water quality reports with the tools and methods documented. Combine direct applications with campus career fairs, where recruiters often move faster for students they meet in person.
Can a water resources specialist internship turn into a full-time job?
Many employers extend return offers to strong interns, but conversion is never guaranteed. What drives it for water resources specialist interns is consistent performance on real project work, team headcount at the end of the internship, and how early you signal interest in returning. Position for a return offer by delivering on your assigned work and communicating clearly, without counting on the outcome.
When should I apply for water resources specialist internships?
Earlier than most students expect. Large federal agencies, engineering consultancies, and utilities recruit summer interns the preceding fall, often wrapping up offers before winter break. Smaller firms and co-op programs post closer to start dates, so openings appear year-round. Checking listings regularly and applying as soon as a role posts puts you ahead of candidates who wait for peak season.
Are water resources specialist internships paid?
Most professional water resources specialist internships in the United States are paid. Compensation varies by company size, industry, and location, with federal agency internships often following published pay schedules and private consulting firms setting their own rates. Where an employer discloses pay, it appears directly in the listing, so you can compare opportunities as you apply.
What should a water resources specialist internship resume include?
Lead with projects, not work history. Include two or three complete, documented projects showing the tools you used, such as ArcGIS, HEC-RAS, or Python for hydrological modeling, and link to or reference where the work can be reviewed, whether that is a published report, a GitHub repository, or a design portfolio. Add relevant coursework in hydrology, environmental engineering, or water quality, and keep the resume to one page.
Are there remote water resources specialist internships?
Yes. Remote and hybrid roles make up 87% of the water resources specialist internship listings here, with the rest on-site. Because field data collection and site visits are core to much of the work, fully remote roles are more common on the data analysis and modeling side of the discipline. Remote cohorts fill fast, so apply early and filter by work type to see them.
Can international students get water resources 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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