What are the responsibilities and job description for the Civil Engineering Internships: Summer 2026 position at State of Wisconsin?
Introduction
Your Future starts here!
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) is currently recruiting for Engineering Internship and Co-Op opportunities for the summer of 2026. These production-oriented positions offer excellent "real world" work experience for future engineering graduates.
Civil Engineering interns will be headquartered in our North Central Regional offices in Rhinelander or Wisconsin Rapids.
WisDOT is a great place to work! In addition to meaningful and rewarding work, we provide:
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation is an organization dedicated to creating transportation solutions through innovation and exceptional service. We are committed to fostering an environment rooted in Integrity, Diversity, Excellence, and Accountability. Click here to learn more about how we apply these values in our work.
Every day, WisDOT’s Division of Transportation System Development plays the leading role in the upkeep and improvement of nearly 12,000 miles of state highways and bridges used by millions of people. You’ll find that behind every barrel is a dedicated team from a wide array of backgrounds including engineering, planning, environmental services, public outreach, real estate, finance and many more. It can be a challenging job, but we think you’ll find it’s an awfully rewarding one, too.
We’re looking for detail-oriented critical thinkers to help deliver a quality program to build, improve and maintain transportation infrastructure throughout the state. We encourage anyone at any point in any career to take a look at WisDOT opportunities and give some thought to how your skills and resume line up. Having a good attitude, a willingness to learn and a passion for creating lasting, impactful work will go a long way here. It’s a big system with lots of opportunity and responsibilities.
Are you up for it? At WisDOT, you can Build the Future – NOW.
Position Summary
Engineering interns are responsible for performing technical and/or engineering support duties related to the functions of the multi-modal transportation systems, in such areas as project development, construction, design, traffic, systems planning and operations, hydraulics, structures, highway maintenance, materials, environmental, geotechnical and related programs. The range of duties provides an opportunity to apply basic engineering principles in a work environment!
Internship positions are for the full summer and some may have the opportunity to extend through the school year. Selected students are expected to be available during the full summer months.
Examples of duties one may perform include, but are not limited to:
Pay for engineering internship positions is based on experience and year in school as a masters or doctoral program student.
WisDOT does not sponsor work visas. Any appointment made will be contingent on the applicant being able to prove valid status to work in the United States. WisDOT is not an E-verify employer.
Prior to any appointments for position(s) filled from this announcement, candidates may be subject to a comprehensive criminal background check which may include FBI fingerprinting.
This is a Limited Term Employment (LTE) position and limited to 1,039 hours in 26 consecutive pay periods (1 year).
Limited Term Employment (LTE) positions are not civil service classified positions, do not give any rights to permanent civil service classified positions and do not lead to permanent status.
Certain positions within this Department may allow remote/work from home flexibility for a portion of their work schedule, depending on the needs of the position and the work unit. This topic and any remote work flexibility that may be available will be discussed in more detail in the interview process. It is not anticipated that working outside of Wisconsin (or bordering cities) will be allowed because positions may at times need to report to office locations in Wisconsin on short notice.
Qualifications
Eligible students must meet the following requirements to be considered for a WisDOT Engineering Internship:
Apply online! To apply, click “Apply for Job” to start the application process. Then, you will access your existing account or to create a new account if you don’t have an account. Once you are logged in, click “Apply for Job.” Follow the steps outlined in the application process and submit your application.
Attachments required - Resume and an unofficial transcript. If you are a first year student and do not have an unofficial transcript, a class schedule will be accepted. You will not be eligible if you do not submit both documents.
Your resume must include all past and current engineering internships. Transcripts must include Fall 2025 schedule (class schedule will be accepted for first year students). If you wish to submit a letter of qualification, please upload the document in the “Supporting Documentation” section.
You must answer all the questions in the application.
Submitted materials will be evaluated by a panel of job experts and the most qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the next step of the selection process. For general wisc.jobs user information and if you are experiencing issues and need technical assistance, please see the wisc.jobs Frequently Asked Questions page. Questions related to obtaining the job description and details about this specific job posting can be directed to Benjamin Harwell at BenjaminK.Harwell@dot.wi.gov or 608-266-8665.
Deadline to Apply
Applications will be reviewed on a biweekly basis starting on Monday, January 5th, until positions are filled. Applications must be received by 11:59 PM on the day prior to the review date to be considered for that biweekly review period.
Your Future starts here!
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) is currently recruiting for Engineering Internship and Co-Op opportunities for the summer of 2026. These production-oriented positions offer excellent "real world" work experience for future engineering graduates.
Civil Engineering interns will be headquartered in our North Central Regional offices in Rhinelander or Wisconsin Rapids.
WisDOT is a great place to work! In addition to meaningful and rewarding work, we provide:
- A casual office atmosphere, flexible work schedules, and telework options depending on the position’s requirements
- A free and confidential employee assistance program that offers employees and their immediate family dependents a variety of tools, resources, and professional consultation services to support their health, goals and overall well-being
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation is an organization dedicated to creating transportation solutions through innovation and exceptional service. We are committed to fostering an environment rooted in Integrity, Diversity, Excellence, and Accountability. Click here to learn more about how we apply these values in our work.
Every day, WisDOT’s Division of Transportation System Development plays the leading role in the upkeep and improvement of nearly 12,000 miles of state highways and bridges used by millions of people. You’ll find that behind every barrel is a dedicated team from a wide array of backgrounds including engineering, planning, environmental services, public outreach, real estate, finance and many more. It can be a challenging job, but we think you’ll find it’s an awfully rewarding one, too.
We’re looking for detail-oriented critical thinkers to help deliver a quality program to build, improve and maintain transportation infrastructure throughout the state. We encourage anyone at any point in any career to take a look at WisDOT opportunities and give some thought to how your skills and resume line up. Having a good attitude, a willingness to learn and a passion for creating lasting, impactful work will go a long way here. It’s a big system with lots of opportunity and responsibilities.
Are you up for it? At WisDOT, you can Build the Future – NOW.
Position Summary
Engineering interns are responsible for performing technical and/or engineering support duties related to the functions of the multi-modal transportation systems, in such areas as project development, construction, design, traffic, systems planning and operations, hydraulics, structures, highway maintenance, materials, environmental, geotechnical and related programs. The range of duties provides an opportunity to apply basic engineering principles in a work environment!
Internship positions are for the full summer and some may have the opportunity to extend through the school year. Selected students are expected to be available during the full summer months.
Examples of duties one may perform include, but are not limited to:
- Providing assistance on construction projects including maintain project records and documentation, assisting in the preparation and completion of reports, project exhibits, plans, specifications and contract documents; and inspecting structures, paving, grading, and roadway drainage.
- Providing assistance on design projects including assisting with plan preparation, data collection, design field review, and writing reports.
- Assisting with land use and access studies, and other transportation studies including the appropriate public involvement, environmental documentation, agency coordination, and preliminary highway design.
- Assisting in the preparation of initial designs for traffic signals engineers.
- Assisting in the inspection, maintenance and inventory of highway structures.
- Assisting with various materials sampling and testing.
Pay for engineering internship positions is based on experience and year in school as a masters or doctoral program student.
- $23.75/hour - no prior engineering internship experience
- $24.50/hour - 1 year engineering internship/co-op experience
- $25.25/hour - 2 year engineering internship/co-op experience
- $26.00/hour - 3 year engineering internship/co-op experience
- $26.00/hour - Master's/Doctorate Programs
WisDOT does not sponsor work visas. Any appointment made will be contingent on the applicant being able to prove valid status to work in the United States. WisDOT is not an E-verify employer.
Prior to any appointments for position(s) filled from this announcement, candidates may be subject to a comprehensive criminal background check which may include FBI fingerprinting.
This is a Limited Term Employment (LTE) position and limited to 1,039 hours in 26 consecutive pay periods (1 year).
Limited Term Employment (LTE) positions are not civil service classified positions, do not give any rights to permanent civil service classified positions and do not lead to permanent status.
Certain positions within this Department may allow remote/work from home flexibility for a portion of their work schedule, depending on the needs of the position and the work unit. This topic and any remote work flexibility that may be available will be discussed in more detail in the interview process. It is not anticipated that working outside of Wisconsin (or bordering cities) will be allowed because positions may at times need to report to office locations in Wisconsin on short notice.
Qualifications
Eligible students must meet the following requirements to be considered for a WisDOT Engineering Internship:
- Student must be enrolled in an engineering related program.
- Student must be enrolled in a 4-year degree program with a freshman, Sophomore, Junior, Senior, Masters or Doctorate status as of Fall 2025.
- Students at Junior/Senior and Masters/Doctorate status must be enrolled in an ABET accredited college or university.
- Student must have a good academic standing.
- Students who have already graduated or will be graduating from a college/university program in May 2026 are not eligible for an internship.
Apply online! To apply, click “Apply for Job” to start the application process. Then, you will access your existing account or to create a new account if you don’t have an account. Once you are logged in, click “Apply for Job.” Follow the steps outlined in the application process and submit your application.
Attachments required - Resume and an unofficial transcript. If you are a first year student and do not have an unofficial transcript, a class schedule will be accepted. You will not be eligible if you do not submit both documents.
Your resume must include all past and current engineering internships. Transcripts must include Fall 2025 schedule (class schedule will be accepted for first year students). If you wish to submit a letter of qualification, please upload the document in the “Supporting Documentation” section.
You must answer all the questions in the application.
Submitted materials will be evaluated by a panel of job experts and the most qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the next step of the selection process. For general wisc.jobs user information and if you are experiencing issues and need technical assistance, please see the wisc.jobs Frequently Asked Questions page. Questions related to obtaining the job description and details about this specific job posting can be directed to Benjamin Harwell at BenjaminK.Harwell@dot.wi.gov or 608-266-8665.
Deadline to Apply
Applications will be reviewed on a biweekly basis starting on Monday, January 5th, until positions are filled. Applications must be received by 11:59 PM on the day prior to the review date to be considered for that biweekly review period.
Salary : $24 - $26