Controls Project Management Intern (Summer 2027)

ARCO/Murray; Downers Grove (IL); On-site; USD 37,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive hourly rate

One-on-one mentorship

Structured training program

Travel opportunities

Discretionary bonus

Housing assistance provided for non-lU

$5,000 bonus after graduation

Job summary

ARCO/Murray, a leading construction company, is seeking a highly motivated Controls Project Management Intern for our Chicago, IL team. You will assist with all phases of a project from preconstruction through closeout, gaining hands-on experience in controls design, PLC/DDC/SCADA programming, and field integration.

We offer mentorship, structured training, potential travel, and a path to full-time opportunities after graduation.

Qualifications

• Minimum GPA 3.0 out of 4.0.
• Currently enrolled in a Bachelor’s or Master’s of Engineering program or related field of study.
• Prior internship experience is a plus.
• Extracurricular involvement is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Assist with all aspects of a project from earliest stages of preconstruction through project closeout, including controls design, buyout, installation and commissioning.
• Oversee DDC, PLC, and SCADA programming efforts and field integration support.
• Gain experience with control narratives, shop drawings, and as-built documentation to verify accuracy and constructability.
• Support equipment and controls buyout and procurement planning.
• Participate in field installation activities for low-voltage controls systems and ensure alignment with project scope.
• Collaborate with clients and design teams to deliver ARCO’s integrated model on complex projects.

Education

GPA 3.0/4.0

Engineering program enrollment

Job description

About You

Are you a passionate problem solver? Do you act with integrity and hold yourself and others to the highest standard? If the answer is, “Yes!” then we have an opportunity that will impress you. Who are we? We are ARCO, a Family of Construction Companies.

About You

Are you a passionate problem solver? Do you act with integrity and hold yourself and others to the highest standard? If the answer is, “Yes!” then we have an opportunity that will impress you. Who are we? We are ARCO, a Family of Construction Companies.
Second Order Controls – a division of ARCO/Murray National Construction – is seeking a highly-motivated Controls Project Management Intern to join our team based in Chicago, IL. At ARCO, every associate is empowered to drive their success. At ARCO, every associate is empowered to drive their success. You’ll be responsible for project performance and profit from day one!

A DAY IN THE LIFE

• Assist with all aspects of a project from earliest stages of preconstruction through project closeout. This includes controls design, buyout, installation, and commissioning activities.
• Oversee DDC, PLC, and SCADA programming efforts, including point mapping, sequence implementation, testing strategy, graphics coordination, and field integration support.
• Gain experience with control narratives, shop drawings, panel layouts, submittals, and as-built documentation to confirm accuracy, constructability, and compliance with project scope.
• Support equipment and controls buyout, including instrumentation selection, controller architecture, vendor evaluations, and procurement planning.
• Held direct field installation activities for low-voltage controls systems, including device placement, wiring coordination, control panel installation, communications infrastructure, and point-to-point verification.
• Work closely with clients and design team to deliver ARCO’s fully integrated model on ARCO’s most complex projects.
• Operate as a contributor in growing ARCO’s self-perform controls services.
• Troubleshooting is a major element in this role. Candidate will not only be responsible for identifying issues, but also guiding issues from discovery, through troubleshooting/root cause analysis, to final issue resolution.
• Project types include Mission Critical, Advanced Manufacturing, Power & Gas Infrastructure, Municipal and Private Water Treatment, Waste-to-Value, Commercial, Controlled Environments Agriculture, and more.
• Most importantly…find a way to make the construction process FUN for your clients and trade partners without sacrificing on QUALITY or SAFETY!!

Necessary Qualifications

• Minimum GPA of 3.0 out of 4.0
• Currently enrolled in a Bachelor’s or Master’s of Engineering program or related field of study
• Prior industry internship experience is a plus
• Extracurricular involvement is a plus

At ARCO, our first core value is to treat people fairly and do the right thing. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment.

From recruiting, training, and hiring practices to selecting our subcontractors, we understand that diversity of all those involved in the construction process enhances our ability to deliver the best solutions to our customers. We hire the best and the brightest from across the country – constructing a team of experts in architecture, design, engineering, project management, and business services.

What We Can Offer You

• Competitive hourly rate (with overtime possible)
• One-on-one mentorship
• Structured training program
• Opportunity to travel
• Opportunity for term-end discretionary bonus
• Housing assistance provided for non-local interns
• A $5,000 bonus should you join ARCO/Murray fulltime after graduation

At ARCO, our first core value is to treat people fairly and do the right thing. We are committed to building and sustaining a culture that supports diversity and inclusion. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment.

From recruiting, training, and hiring practices to selecting our subcontractors, we understand that diversity of all those involved in the construction process enhances our ability to deliver the best solutions to our customers. We hire the best and the brightest from across the country – constructing a team of experts in architecture, design, engineering, project management, and business services.

This represents typical base compensation for the role. Candidates with extensive experience may exceed this range. In addition to base salary, the role is eligible to receive discretionary bonus compensation based on individual and company performance.

Pay Range

$27 - $28 USD

MAKE YOUR MOVE

We are proud to be one of the fastest-growing, privately-owned companies in America, celebrating over 30 years of experience as design-build experts. We have completed over 7,500 design-build projects nationwide. We ranked #9 on ENR’s Design-Build Firms list and #34 on ENR's Top 400 Contractors list of 2026. Most importantly, our clients like us, trust us, and want to do business with us. We are looking for people with the same enthusiasm, passion, and respect for the hard work that brought us to where we are today. Are you a person who can make a difference at ARCO? If the answer is “Yes!” we look forward to meeting you.

ARCO does not accept unsolicited resumes from individual recruiters or third-party recruiting agencies without pre-approval from ARCO’s Human Resources team. Pre-approval is required before any external candidate can be submitted. ARCO will not be responsible for fees related to unsolicited resumes and for candidates who are sent directly to our hiring managers. Agencies must have a fully executed vendor agreement in place as well as written approval to submit candidates from an ARCO TA Manager for a specific position before submitting candidates.

LEGAL DISCLAIMER

EOE, including disability/vets