Drainage Operations Intern

Position Description

About Seattle Public Utilities

Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) is a Community Centered Utility whose mission is to foster healthy people, environment, and economy by partnering with our community to equitably manage water and waste resources for today and future generations. We deliver high quality, vital services across four major lines of business: providing water, solid waste, drainage, and wastewater services for Seattle residents and businesses. SPU commits to Our City Values and Race and Social Justice as core principles that guide our work, actively taking steps to dismantle systemic racism and increase service equity.

Job Responsibilities

As a Drainage Operations Intern, you will be on the front lines of municipal infrastructure management within the Drainage & Wastewater (DWW) System Management division. You will balance active field investigations with technical data analysis to ensure the safety and efficiency of SPU's stormwater infrastructure.

Field Operations & Investigation

• Infrastructure Inspection: Conduct site visits to critical drainage assets, including surface water ponds, water quality assets, detention facilities, and drainage outfalls.
• Asset Management: Gain a hands-on understanding of different drainage assets used for flow control and water quality treatment.
• Field Documentation: Gain experience with field work by documenting and reporting findings from site investigations.
  
  

Technical Documentation & Mapping

• Technical Updates: Utilize VISIO to update hydraulic profiles and SharePoint to maintain the Facility Manual Site.
• Permitting Support: Assist in the preparation of Environmental Permit Applications for maintenance or capital work, coordinating with agencies such as the Corps of Engineers and Fish and Wildlife.
• Geospatial & Design Support: Use GIS and AutoCAD to support infrastructure management and review design drawings and specifications.
• Data Analysis: Leverage professional tools including Excel, Tableau, FlowWorks, and Maximo for complex data management tasks.
  
  

Learning Objectives

Through this role, you will bridge the gap between classroom theory and engineering and environmental practice that affect public health and safety. By the conclusion of this term, you will have:

• Developed a comprehensive understanding of municipal drainage and wastewater infrastructure and function.
• Gained mastery in environmental permitting processes and drainage operations best practices.
• Achieved proficiency in industry-standard software like ArcGIS, VISIO, CAD, and Tableau.
  
  

Enhanced technical writing, organizational, and professional communication skills for government stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Education: Currently enrolled in an Engineering Undergraduate (Sophomore, Junior, Senior) or Graduate program.
• Undergraduate engineering students are required to maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5, and graduate students a minimum GPA of 3.0, throughout the duration of the internship.
• Educational Background: Must have demonstrated interest in stormwater management, hydraulics, data analysis, civil engineering, and environmental related fields.
• Technical Skills: Familiarity with or willingness to learn GIS and AutoCAD; strong data analysis skills (Advanced Excel; Tableau is a plus).
  
  

Exception: Students are not required to be enrolled during summer sessions but must provide documentation of continued full-time Fall enrollment.

License/Certification:

• Current valid driver license from any state at time of application
• Candidates must obtain a Washington State driver license on or before the date of hire.
• Candidates must provide proof of driving record by submitting their Full Abstract Driving Record as part of the application material.
• Your Full Abstract Driving Record must not be older than 30 days from the date of application submission.
• DO NOT submit the Employment Driver Abstract. Order a copy of your Full Abstract Driving Record here.
  

Example of your CORRECT Abstract of Driving Record - Full:

DO NOT submit the following abstracts:

• Abstract of Driving Record – Employment
• Abstract of Driving Record – Assessment
  
  

Examples of INCORRECT Abstracts:

Additional Information

• Work Location: Seattle Municipal Tower.
• Duration: 1 year minimum, up to 2 years.
• Hours: * School Session:up to 20 hours per week.
• Summer/Breaks: Up to 40 hours per week.
• Salary: $27.36 - $30.79 an hour.
  
  

How To Apply

To be considered for this position, you must attach all of the following:

• Resume clearly identifying how you meet the qualifications.
• Cover Letter indicating your interest in this internship.
• Unofficial Transcript from your college/university.
• Full Drivers abstract
  
  

All 4 attachments (Resume, Cover Letter, Unofficial Transcript, and Full Drivers abstract) must be attached to your application to be considered a complete application.

Only complete applications will be considered.

Who may apply: The City of Seattle encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with diverse life experience.