Summer Internship in Design & Construction Unit 2 Civil Engineering

Summer Internship in Design & Construction Unit 2 Civil Engineering

Valley Water

Salary: $28.27 Hourly

Job Type: Internship/Temporary Worker

Job Number: 00287-SI

Location: CA, CA

Department: Watersheds Summer Internship Program

Closing: 2/15/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Description

SUMMER INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY!

Summer Internship in Design & Construction Unit 2 - Civil Engineering

Location: Valley Water Headquarters (5700 Almaden Expy. San Jose, CA)

1 Internship Available!

OVERVIEW

Do you want to make a difference in your community while also gaining priceless career experience? Do you want to expand your network and build your resume while learning about the water industry? If so, a summer internship with Valley Water may be the best choice for you! Join us and use your talents to help maintain safe and clean water for a healthy environment.

Our Commitment:

We are committed to building and sustaining a working environment where all individuals are respected and valued. We believe every member of our team brings unique perspectives that enhance our ability to serve the public effectively. By fostering a workplace with employees from the communities we serve, we broaden our collective understanding of the world around us and strengthen our mission to equitably provide safe, clean water, natural flood protection, and environmental stewardship.

About Valley Water:

Valley Water is a public agency with an operating and capital budget of $964 million, and over 900 employees. With headquarters in San Jose, Valley Water provides water supply, enhances streams and watersheds through creek restoration and habitat protection, provides flood protection for homes, schools, businesses and roadways, and partners with other agencies to provide trails and open space for the community.

About Next Gen Career Pathway's Summer Internships:

The 2026 College Summer Internship Program offers students nationwide a chance to gain practical experience while exploring careers in the water industry. Each intern will have a Valley Water staff mentor and will receive professional development training, participate in networking events, and prepare a capstone presentation at the end of the program. Although some positions in the program will follow a hybrid format, with a mix of in-office and remote work based on business needs, other roles may require interns to work on-site full-time in a lab, office, or field setting, as specified in the job postings.

About Design & Construction Unit 2:

Design & Construction Unit 2 is responsible for the planning, design, and construction of watershed and water resource stewardship capital improvement projects, as well as repair and rehabilitation of existing watershed facilities. The unit supports Valley Water's flood protection, instream habitat restoration, groundwater recharge, and infrastructure resilience efforts through the delivery of complex public works projects.

The unit works collaboratively across engineering, environmental, and construction disciplines to advance projects from planning through design and construction. Engineering interns will gain hands-on exposure to civil engineering practices in a public sector setting, including design review, technical analysis, permitting, construction coordination, and project documentation, under the guidance of an Associate Civil Engineer.

Key projects include the Stevens Creek Evelyn Fish Passage Project, Regnart Creek Rehabilitation Project, Lower Berryessa Creek Phase II (including Lower Calera Creek) Project, Coyote Percolation Dam Replacement Project, and the Palo Alto Flood Basin Tide Gate Structure Replacement Project, each focused on improving flood protection, instream habitat, fluvial geomorphology, stream bank protection, operational reliability, and long-term watershed management.

INTERNSHIP LOCATION STATUS: This internship position is eligible for a hybrid telework schedule, typically working 20% remote and 80% onsite. Or, the intern can choose to work fully in person, reporting 100% onsite. For hybrid work, intern must perform their work in the state of California within 150 miles of their primary physical work location located in (San Jose, California) by their start date.

Required License or Certificate

DESIRED SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

- Students pursuing a bachelor's degree in civil engineering, environmental engineering, construction management, or a related engineering discipline.

- Coursework completed, in progress, or interest in learning about civil engineering principles related to flood protection, hydraulics, ecohydraulics, structures, geotechnical engineering, surveying, or water resources.

- Interest in supporting engineering planning, design, permitting, and construction activities, including reviewing drawings, specifications, and basic engineering calculations under staff guidance.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND INTERNSHIP TASKS (Representative duties include, but are not limited to):

- Support civil engineering staff with planning, design, permitting, and construction activities for flood protection facilities and systems under staff guidance.

- Assist with collecting data, conducting basic engineering analyses, hydraulic modeling, and supporting studies or investigations used to evaluate project alternatives.

- Help prepare, update, and organize engineering documents such as CADD drawings, specifications, calculations, cost estimates, schedules, and project files.

- Assist with reviewing plans, drawings, and technical documents submitted by consultants or contractors for completeness and conformance with established standards.

- Support quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) activities by assisting with document checks and ensuring materials follow established procedures.

- Participate in construction support activities such as attending site visits, observing inspections, tracking submittals, and assisting with documentation related to construction progress.

- Assist with preparing technical summaries, reports, and administrative correspondence related to engineering projects.

- Support coordination activities related to regulatory, environmental, or construction permits by organizing information and assisting with agency communications.

- Collaborate with engineers, inspectors, planners, biologists, and project team members across disciplines to support assigned work and project objectives.

- Perform other related tasks that support engineering projects and learning objectives.

Selection Process

ELIGIBILITY:

- Undergraduate applicants must be enrolled in an accredited community college or college/university and have completed at least two full-time years of study (i.e., entering their third/rising third or fourth year) by Fall 2026, or have graduated within the past six months.

- Graduate applicants must be enrolled in an accredited graduate program at a college or university in Fall 2026 or have completed their degree within the past six months.

- Proof of enrollment will be required prior to the start of the assignment.

- Applicants must be able to work full-time (40 hours/week) during the College Summer Internship Program.

- Only applicants who have not participated in a Valley Water College Summer Internship Program before will be considered.

- Valley Water requires interns to work within 150 miles of the Valley Water office they are to report to by their start date. The intern must perform their work in the State of California, not more than 150 miles from Valley Water's Headquarters' (5700 Almaden Expressway, San Jose, CA, or Valley Water's Sacramento Office: 1121 L Street, Suite 1000, Sacramento, CA) for the duration of their internship.

- Selected candidates must pass a pre-employment screening process, which includes reference and background/criminal checks.

APPLICATION PROCESS:

Applications will be accepted February 2 through February 15, 2026.

To apply, applicants must submit the following through the online application system:

- A fully completed online Employment Application with all required questions answered. We encourage applicants to share details about relevant work experience, academic projects, volunteer activities, and/or extracurricular involvement.

- Complete the supplemental questions in the job application with detail and honesty. These questions help us better understand your interests and experiences. If you are applying to multiple internships, please tailor your answer to every internship you are applying for. Please ensure your supplemental responses are specific to each internship job posting. Do not indicate "see resume" as a response to any of the questions.

- Resumes and cover letters are optional but are helpful and appreciated by the Mentors reviewing the applications. Please label and include these documents in the "Attachments" section.

- Former participants in Valley Water's Summer Internship or Water Works Program are not eligible to apply.

To apply, please visit https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/scvwd/jobs/5212670/summer-internship-in-design-construction-unit-2-civil-engineering

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