5382Student Design Trainee III Arch Engr Planning

City and County of San Francisco; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 34,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

City and County of San Francisco invites applications for a Mechanical Engineering student intern in the Utilities group of the Engineering Division. You will assist with field inspections, data collection, and project documentation for maritime, waterfront, and industrial facilities.

Learn to analyze equipment performance, develop cost estimates, and contribute to design concepts under professional engineers' mentorship.

Qualifications

• Must be enrolled in an accredited university or community college in Mechanical, Electrical, Civil, Environmental Engineering, Architecture, and related fields.
• Must be returning to undergraduate or entering Fall 2026 graduate program.
• No prior internship required; on‑the‑job training provided.
• Willing to learn architectural, engineering, environmental and planning practices.

Responsibilities

• Assist with field inspection of pumps, HVAC systems, electrical systems, cranes, and other waterfront mechanical and electrical equipment.
• Contribute to engineering drawings, design concepts, and technical documentation.
• Perform real engineering calculations and help develop project cost estimates.
• Visit active construction sites and learn how a project moves from design to reality.
• Support improvements focused on sustainability, climate resilience and long-term asset reliability.
• Work alongside experienced engineers who will mentor you and support your growth.

Skills

AutoCAD

Microsoft Office

Education

Mechanical Engineering

Electrical Engineering

Civil Engineering

Environmental Engineering

Job description

Job Description

The Port is seeking a motivated Mechanical Engineering student intern to join Engineering Division’s Utilities group that supports engineering, maintenance, and capital improvement project across Port facilities. This position offers hands‑on experience with mechanical and electrical systems used in maritime, waterfront, commercial buildings and industrial infrastructure. The intern will work under the guidance of Port professional engineers to assist with field inspections, data collection, design support and project documentation.

What You will Do

• Assist with field inspection of pumps, HVAC systems, electrical systems, cranes, and other waterfront mechanical and electrical equipment.
• Contribute to engineering drawings, design concepts, and technical documentation.
• Perform real engineering calculations and help develop project cost estimates.
• Visit active construction sites and learn how a project moves from design to reality.
• Support improvements focused on sustainability, climate resilience and long-term asset reliability.
• Work alongside experienced engineers who will mentor you and support your growth.

What You will Learn

• How mechanical and electrical systems operate in a maritime environment.
• How to assess equipment performance and plan preventative maintenance.
• How public infrastructure projects are designed, permitted and delivered.
• How to collaborative with multidisciplinary teams, including electrical engineer, civil engineer, structural engineer, architects and contractors.
• How mechanical systems are designed, maintained and managed in a maritime and industrial setting.

Why Intern with the Port of San Francisco Utilities Engineering Team?

• Unique experience working along a historic, working waterfront.
• Opportunities you cannot get in typical student internships like inspecting real infrastructure and supporting public projects.
• Mentorship from seasoned engineers invested in developing early-career talent.
• A supportive team committed to community service, environmental stewardship, and engineering excellence.

Education

At the time you submit your application, you must be enrolled in an accredited university or a community college in the following related fields: Mechanical, Electrical, Civil, or Environmental Engineering, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Interior Architecture, Architectural Technology, Architectural Engineering, Geography, Planning, Urban Planning, City Planning, Regional Planning, Computer Science/Information Services Program, Cybersecurity Program, Cloud Security, Digital Forensics, Mathematics, Biology, Natural Resources, Environmental Horticulture.

• You must be returning to your undergraduate program or entering/continuing a graduate program in the Fall 2026.

Experience

No previous experience is necessary. However, previous internship experience may be used to determine the possible level of classification into which you are hired.

• Candidates must be willing to learn architectural, engineering, environmental, and planning practices depending on the various city departments and area of interest.
• Candidates must be prepared to receive on-the-job training to acquire the ability to apply professional standards and develop architectural, engineering, engineering, and planning skills.

The Ideal Candidate

• Student currently studying Mechanical Engineering (sophomore -level or higher preferred).
• Someone excited to work both in the field and in the office.
• A problem-solver who pays attention to details and enjoys hand‑on work.
• Familiarity with AutoCAD and Microsoft Office.
• A positive attitude, wiliness to learn and curiosity about how things work.

Additional Information Regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco

• Information About the Hiring Process
• Conviction History
• Employee Benefits Overview
• Equal Employment Opportunity
• Disaster Service Worker
• ADA Accommodation
• Right to Work
• Copies of Application Documents
• Diversity Statement

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.