2027 Summer Internship - Geotechnical Engineering & Water Resources - TCLW - Hybrid

Freeport-McMoRan Inc.; Phoenix (AZ); Hybrid; USD 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hands-on internship experience

Meaningful projects

Site exposure across North America

Job summary

Freeport-McMoRan Inc. in Phoenix, AZ, offers a 2027 Summer Internship in Geotechnical Engineering & Water Resources. This hybrid role runs May through August for full‑time students or recent graduates in Civil Engineering.

You will support TSF and water dam projects, field programs, data analysis, and cross‑functional collaboration at our Phoenix Collaboration Hub and Tucson area sites. The program provides hands‑on geotechnical and water resources experience, with opportunities to work in field

Qualifications

• Enrolled full-time at a four-year university or recent graduate in Civil Engineering or related field.
• Experience with Microsoft Office and geotechnical software is preferred.
• Strong data analysis, communication, and teamwork skills.

Responsibilities

• Assist with geotechnical and water management projects related to TSFs, HLPs, and water dams.
• Support field investigations, CPT, drilling, and pit sampling activities.
• Generate sections, profiles, maps, and figures using survey and instrumentation data.
• Contribute to QA/QC activities, bathymetric and drone surveys, and data validation.
• Prepare technical inspection reports and summaries for stakeholders.
• Collaborate with site operations and engineering teams to apply geotechnical concepts.

Skills

Microsoft Office

AutoCAD Civil 3D

MineSight

Power BI

GIS software

Education

Bachelor’s or higher in Civil Engineering

Master's degree (preferred)

Tools

ArcGIS

HEC-HMS

HEC-RAS

MIKE-11

GoldSim

Geotechnical instrumentation

Job description

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Title: 2027 Summer Internship - Geotechnical Engineering & Water Resources - TCLW - Hybrid

Why You Should Apply for This Internship

At Freeport-McMoRan, we are committed to providing internship opportunities that recognize excellence and encourage safe production with a culture supported by our core values. You'll be part of a collaborative environment, gaining the skills and experience to set you on the path to a successful future.

Our internship program is designed for full‑time students currently enrolled at an accredited four‑year university and recent graduates in North America. These are temporary full‑time paid positions that usually run from May through August.

This position may be eligible for Freeport-McMoRan immigration work visa sponsorship:

• A foreign national working in a full‑time status on an F-1 visa may be considered for H-1B visa sponsorship based on business needs, meeting company performance and safety expectations and with site approval.
• A foreign national working in a full‑time status may be considered for employment‑based permanent residency sponsorship, based on business needs, completion of six (6) months of employment, meeting company performance and safety expectations and with site approval.

Where You Will Work

Freeport-McMoRan is a leading international metals company with global headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona. Several hundred employees support our operations in accounting and finance, human resources, health and safety, information technology, planning, engineering, and more. Our hybrid internship program allows interns to work virtually as well as come together in person regularly at our Collaboration Hub in Phoenix and/or our office/site locations. For this position, interns will be expected to live within a reasonable commuting distance – 50 miles one‑way – from Freeport's Resource Management Center Tucson officeto ensure availability when meeting attendance/collaboration is needed. Interns living more than 50 miles away would be required to relocate and would be eligible for travel and housing assistance.

What You Will Do

Under close supervision, the Geotechnical & Water Resource (Civil) Engineer Intern applies principles of soil mechanics, hydrology, hydrogeology, hydraulics, slope stability analysis, and related disciplines to support technical functions and/or projects related to the safe and efficient operation of tailings storage facilities (TSFs), heap leach pads (HLPs), and/or water dams.

This internship provides hands‑on exposure to geotechnical and water resources engineering in a mining environment, with opportunities to support field activities, engineering analysis, data review, and collaboration with site‑based teams. Support activities may include:

• Assist with geotechnical and water management projects related to TSFs, HLP and/or water dams,
• Support geotechnical monitoring programs by collecting, organizing, and analyzing data from various instrumentation systems
• Support field investigation programs, including drilling programs, Cone Penetrometer Testing (CPT), test pits, sampling activities, and related field work.
• Generate cross sections, profiles, maps, and engineering figures using survey data, instrumentation data, and geological information.
• Support beach profiling campaigns, bathymetric surveys, drone surveys, and other QA/QC activities related to tailings deposition and earthworks.
• Perform field inspections of slopes, embankments, beaches, drainage systems, ponds, and other operational areas to identify and document geotechnical observations.
• Support field data collection and verification for water management and support water balance modeling tasks.
• Prepare technical inspection reports, summaries, and presentations materials.
• Support cross‑functional collaboration with site operations, engineering, environmental, and water resources teams to gain exposure to real‑world mining and tailings management practices.
• Assist with data validation, trend reviews, and preparation of clear technical summaries to support engineering decisions.
• Perform other duties and special projects as required.

What You Bring To Freeport

• Currently enrolled full‑time at an accredited four‑year university pursuing a degree, bachelor’s or higher, in Civil Engineering or closely related field; OR
• Recent graduate (within 12 months prior to internship start date) with a degree, bachelor’s or higher, in Civil Engineering or closely related field.
• Experienced in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), and familiar with AutoCAD Civil 3D, MineSight, Power BI, or GIS‑related software.
• Strong data analysis and problem‑solving skills.
• Highly accurate and detail oriented.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Demonstrates initiative, organizational skills, and the ability to work well under pressure.
• Ability to collaborate and work effectively in a team environment.
• Ability to follow all health, safety, and environmental procedures while working in active mining and tailings management environments.
• Willingness to learn, ask questions, and apply engineering concepts in both office and field settings.
• Interest in mining, tailings management, water resources, or geotechnical engineering.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree student in Geotechnical Engineering or Civil Engineering (with emphasis on Geotechnical, Geological or Water Resources sub‑disciplines).
• Registered Engineering Intern (EI) or Engineer‑in‑Training (EIT); passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Exam.
• Knowledge of geotechnical instrumentation installation, operation and monitoring systems and associated data.
• Knowledge of geotechnical cross sections and stratigraphy development using AutoCAD or MineSight. Knowledge of geotechnical site investigations, including drilling and Cone Penetrometer Testing (CPT).
• Knowledge of soil characterization, interpretation of geotechnical lab tests, and geotechnical engineering analysis.
• Knowledge of water resources engineering, including hydrology, hydrogeology, hydraulics, and sediment transport.
• Knowledge of hydro‑modeling tools such as HEC‑HMS, HEC‑RAS, MIKE‑11.
• Knowledge of GoldSim software for application in water balance modeling.
• Ability to use ArcGIS tools for data visualization and analysis.
• Interest in applying engineering analysis to support safe, sustainable, and responsible resource development.

What We Offer:

• The estimated pay range for this role is currently $29.00 - $36.00/hour. Individual pay rates will be based on level of education and relevant experience.
• Hands‑on experience in a dynamic and innovative environment.
• Opportunity to work on meaningful projects and initiatives that drive impact across the organization.
• Exposure to various aspects of business operations across our North America sites.
• Ability to develop and enhance technical and analytical skills.
• Mentorship and professional development opportunities.

What We Require:

• Ability to understand, apply and communicate verbal and written work and safety‑related instructions, procedures, job assignments and applicable safety standards in English.
• Must be able to multi‑task, work under pressure, and meet time‑sensitive deadlines.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, sit, demonstrate manual dexterity, talk, hear, and see.
• Occasionally may be required to lift moderately heavy objects up to thirty (30) pounds during the workday.
• Freeport‑McMoRan promotes a drug/alcohol free work environment through the use of mandatory pre‑employment drug testing and on‑going random drug testing as per applicable state laws.

Equal Opportunity Employer