Job Details

Summer Internship in Watersheds Design and Construction Unit 5 Engineering

Position Number: 6895927
Location: San Jose, CA
Position Type: Engineering - Civil and Environmental

Summer Internship in Watersheds Design and Construction Unit 5 Engineering

Valley Water

Salary: $28.27 Hourly

Job Type: Internship/Temporary Worker

Job Number: 00291-SI

Location: CA, CA

Department: Watersheds Summer Internship Program

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

Description

SUMMER INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY!

Summer Internship in Watersheds Design and Construction Unit 5 - 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 The Design and Construction Unit:

Design and Construction Unit 5 is responsible for capital improvement projects in flood protection and creek restoration, with a focus on small to medium sized projects under the Watersheds Asset Restoration Program (WARP). The unit manages the WARP program, providing flood protection, erosion repair, and creek restoration projects across all phases of work. This includes managing the environmental phase for CEQA clearance and permitting, as well as the planning and design phases to produce construction bid documents, which consist of plans, specifications, and cost estimates. Additionally, the unit offers construction support and management for the projects it designs.

INTERNSHIP LOCATION STATUS:

This position is eligible for a hybrid telework schedule, typically working 20% remote and 80% onsite, or sometimes 40% remote and 60% 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 or related field at an accredited college or university.
Completed coursework in Water Resources, Hydrology/Hydraulics, Construction management, Intro Structural Engineering (design electives a plus), Intro Geotechnical Engineering, and Fluid Mechanics.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, MS Project, etc.) or equivalent
Experienced with using GIS, AutoCAD, Google Earth, and/or HEC-RAS a plus but not required.
Strong problem-solving skills and effective communication abilities.

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

Assist with preparation of engineering plans and specifications, and environmental permits
Support the team with engineering support during planning, design and construction
Attend weekly design and/or construction progress meetings
Perform quantity take-offs for watershed flood protection projects
Create maps and layers in GIS
Assist with project management tasks
Assist with stakeholder coordination
Assist with site visits and measurement, and community engagement

Perform other related tasks that support program and project goals.

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/5221038/summer-internship-in-watersheds-design-and-construction-unit-5-engineering