What are the responsibilities and job description for the COLLEGE CO-OP (WASTEWATER TREATMENT) (ENGINEERING & SCADA) position at City of Cincinnati?
The Metropolitan Sewer District posted a number of College Co-Op Job Postings for the Spring Semester beginning May 11, 2026. Please read through all Job Postings and apply for the position(s) you would like to be evaluated for and/or interviewed for as a Co-Op student.
The Project plans are included in the Job Postings. For more information about the different projects please contact jerrold.ware@cincinnati-oh.gov.
The Priority Deadline for applications is March 24, 2026. Applications submitted by this date will be reviewed by MSD hiring managers before the posting closes on April 04, 2026. If selected for an interview, students will be notified via email as early as the week of March 30, 2026. All applications are accepted through the posting close date.
If selected for an interview, you will be contacted via the email provided during the application process. All applicants should have availability for work scheduled 32 - 40 hours per week.
TO APPLY:
Applicants must first create an account through govenmentjobs.com to apply for this position.
Please click here to create your applicant profile and apply for the College Co-Op/Student Intern opportunity.
If you are experiencing technical difficulties with completing your application, please call the NEOGOV Help Line at 855-524-5627.
**Applicants with student visa and OPT, CPT, and current valid EAD at time of hire, are welcome to apply.
Interns/Co-ops/Externs for the City of Cincinnati may be performing duties in any potential field within the City's structure. These fields may include office-level work/assignments, fieldwork, and/or civic services. The nature of the work will be based on areas of interest, degree programs, or organizational needs. Candidates should have the ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment.
Mission:
To establish a partnership with colleges and universities, exposing as many undergraduate engineering students to employment opportunities in the Wastewater Industry, with an emphasis in the mechanical or electrical engineering discipline and to help them gain professional experience for a professional engineer’s license and for the next generation workforce.
Throughout the course of the year several college students will join MSD’s staff for a cooperative experience. Under direct supervision of the project manager or a member of WWT staff, the Co-Op will perform assigned work by applying established engineering principles and theories to practical applications. The co-op will interact with other plant personnel including management, administrative, operations, maintenance, and plant engineering staff.
Learning Purpose:
Co-ops will aid Wastewater Treatment Maintenance division engineers on a variety of efforts ranging from supporting operations/maintenance staff; process equipment and system design, startup, and project management; capital project review, drafting/solid modeling and field investigations; contractor field coordination, including:
Project coordination, planning, or design for capital wastewater treatment projects and smaller divisional asset management projects for process improvements and replacements involving HVAC, pump systems, compressed air, liquid and solids conveyance and management, electrical improvements, and wastewater treatment plant facility infrastructure. Specific tasks can include: Work in AutoCAD to update underground piping dwgs, potable water line surveys, and utility investigation at the former grit bldg.; work in AutoCAD to update CIP reference map & index to contract map; Incineration access door skin temperature insulation calculation, Mill Creek grit bldg. skimmings bag drainage design upgrade, Incinerator or centrifuge support systems upgrades, Mill Creek dewatering collection bin camera specification and installation; field coordination of process improvement projects at any of the 9 District WWTPs, pump stations and wet weather facitliites.
WWTP walkdowns and inspects, identifies, and addresses wastewater process equipment and electrical service requests, preventative and/or corrective actions, installation or repair facilitation, startup, and closeout for mechanical and electrical facility systems. This may include both design and process support tasks in the areas of Electrical or Mechanical Engineering disciplines that manifest during day-to-day routine operation or preventative maintenance performance testing.
Provides work outcomes that correspond to the student’s level of education and prior experience under professional engineering supervision. Apply knowledge and reasoning skills to analyze and solve practical engineering problems in the mechanical or electrical engineering disciplines.
CO-OP LEARNING & DELIVERABLES:
Budget:
Desk phone, computer
Salary of student for the duration of their semester (roughly 15 weeks)
Logistics:
Student’s work station will be in the Mill Creek WWTP CMF Building or adjacent offices.
Training:
The student must be trained in MSD and City policies, rules, and regulations
Orientation (week #1)
Needs Assessment (week #2)
Begin Project Work (weeks #1 - 3)
Project Manager and co-op will work together to develop a working document that defines projects and timelines that ensures that project goals and objectives will be achieved. The projects will be tailored to suit the student’s interests as available.
Continuation of Project Work (weeks #4 - 14)
Investigate solutions, gather information from various sources, and work as necessary to complete project deliverables as well as possible additional ideas on project solutions.
Perform mid-term review of project schedule and timeline at week #8. Make necessary adjustments to meet project objectives and project manager’s expectations.
Prepare Final Documentation and Report Out (weeks #15 - 16)
Conclude projects, where possible.
Provide documentation and discuss with necessary parties to enable continuation of unfinished work.
Summarize and evaluate lessons learned.
Must currently be a college student actively taking college classes in a Mechanical or Electrical Engineering.
HR Contact: Jerrold Ware, Jerrold.Ware@cincinnati-oh.gov
- Be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or a non-citizen with proof of eligibility to work in the United States
- Individuals under eighteen will require a work permit
- Submit a City job application for employment
- Must pass a drug screen and background check
Salary : $16 - $22