Electrical Engineering (ESSP) Intern - Summer 2027

WSP in the U.S.; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 32,000 - 43,000; Full time

Job summary

WSP USA is seeking a Full-Time Electrical Engineering (ESSP) Intern to work out of our Phoenix, AZ office, with San Diego, CA also considered. This internship starts May 17, 2027 and runs 12 weeks; open to Undergraduate or Graduate students.

The role focuses on electrical studies and SCADA development for utility and industrial clients. You'll gain exposure to power system planning, substations, protection, and on-site commissioning while learning from senior staff in a dynamic consulting

Qualifications

• Actively enrolled in an accredited Electrical Engineering Undergraduate program with a graduation date August 2027 or later.
• Must be 18 or older.
• Demonstrated interest in Electrical Engineering and related fields; eager to develop skills.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills for engineering and non-engineering audiences.
• Capable of following leadership, mentors and managers on projects.
• Basic proficiency with technical writing, office software, spreadsheets, and tools.
• Committed to workplace safety and following company policies.
• Willing to travel occasionally and work in a customer-focused, project environment.
• Authorized to work in the United States at internship start.

Responsibilities

• Support a variety of engineering tasks to develop technical, social, and ethical skills.
• Learn basic principles of Electrical Engineering.
• Assist with protective relaying, short circuit analysis, relay settings, and software.
• Support power system planning studies such as power flow, voltage stability, and SCADA simulations.
• Contribute to infrastructure design studies like substation grounding, insulation coordination, and power quality analysis.
• Design networking and communications for SCADA and protection systems and assist with on-site commissioning.
• Develop logic and control schemes for power system equipment, including programming and field testing.
• Prepare and program data acquisition systems, develop HMI screens, and assist with data transfer commissioning.
• Complete training on assigned tasks and adhere to company policies.

Skills

Electrical Engineering

Communication

Safety Awareness

Travel Flexibility

Authorization to work in US

Technical Writing

Office Software

Education

Bachelors in Electrical Engineering

Masters/PhD in EE (preferred)

Tools

SCADA software

Protection software

Job description

This Opportunity

WSP USA hosts hundreds of internships across the United States to gain hands‑on, meaningful work experience to enhance their education and professional aptitude. Our interns gain exposure to real projects while working side by side with senior staff. Through our Developing Professionals Network, interns gain mentorship, networking opportunities and lifelong career connections.

Job Description

This Opportunity

WSP USA hosts hundreds of internships across the United States to gain hands‑on, meaningful work experience to enhance their education and professional aptitude. Our interns gain exposure to real projects while working side by side with senior staff. Through our Developing Professionals Network, interns gain mentorship, networking opportunities and lifelong career connections. Our Power and Energy is seeking a Full‑Time Electrical Engineering (ESSP) Intern to work out of our Phoenix, AZ office. The following location will also be considered: San Diego, CA. This temporary position is seeking individuals currently enrolled in an Undergraduate or Graduate degree program. This internship will be part of the WSP Summer Internship Program. As a summer intern, you have the opportunity to participate in our 12‑week program scheduled to start on May 17th, 2027. The individual start date of the internship may be flexible. In this role, the successful applicant will be assisting in performing electrical studies and/or developing and troubleshooting supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems for utility and industrial/commercial clients. Applicable power systems primarily include conventional and renewable generation facilities, substations, transmission systems, and distribution systems.

Your Impact

• Support a variety of engineering tasks with the goalof developingtechnical, social, and ethical skills.
• Learn basic principles of Electrical Engineering.
• Assistwith protective relaying, including short circuit analysis, relay settings, and compliance work using specialized software.
• Support power system planning studies such as power flow, voltage stability, and automation of simulations.
• Contribute to infrastructure design studies like substation grounding, insulation coordination, and power quality analysis.
• Design and configure networking and communications for SCADA and protection systems and assistwith on-site commissioning.
• Develop logic and control schemes for power system equipment, including programming and field testing.
• Prepare and program data acquisition systems, develop HMI screens, and assistwith data transfer commissioning.
• Complete training on assigned tasks.
• Exercise responsible and ethical decision-makingregarding company funds, resources and conduct, and adhere to WSP’s Code of Conduct and related policies and procedures.
• Perform additional responsibilities as required by business needs.
• Please note that there is no relocation or housing assistance associated with this internship.

Who You Are

Required Qualifications

• Actively enrolled in an accredited Electrical Engineering, or related, Undergraduate program with an anticipated graduation date of August 2027 or later.
• Must be 18 or older.
• Demonstrated interest in Electrical Engineering, consulting engineering, electric utility industry, or related field, and have a strong desire to advance skills related to WSP’s work and projects.
• Competent interpersonal and communication skills when interacting with others, expressing ideas effectively and professionally to an engineering and non-engineering audience.
• Capable of taking direction from leadership, mentors, and managers to executive projects.
• Basic proficiency with technical writing, office automation, software, spreadsheets, technology, and tools.
• Proven track record of upholding workplace safety and ability to abide by WSP’s health, safety and drug/alcohol and harassment policies.
• Candidates must be willing to travel on occasion and work successfully in a customer‑focused, project‑oriented environment.
• Authorization to work in the United States at the start of the internship.
• Proven track record of upholding workplace safety and ability to abide by WSP’s health, safety and drug/alcohol and harassment policies.

Preferred Qualifications

• Actively enrolled in an accredited Electrical Engineering, or related, Master’s or PhD program with an anticipated graduation date no sooner than August 2027 and no later than May 2028.
• Successful completion of junior‑level courses in power system analysis and/or power system protection.
• Prior internship and leadership involvement on campus.
• Preference is given to applicants with any of the following: within 1 year of graduation,GPA above 3.3/4.0,power system courses covering topics such as three‑phase power, load flow and reactive compensation, protective relaying, symmetrical components, transmission line theory, power system transients, dynamic stability, and power system electromagnetics
• Students who have passed or are scheduled to take the FE/EIT exam will be strongly considered for this position.
• Prior internship and leadership involvement on campus.

Compensation

Expected Salary (all locations): $23.03 - $31.11 per hour

About WSP

ABOUT US

WSP USA is the U.S. operating company of WSP, one of the world's leading engineering and professional services firms. Dedicated to serving local communities, we are engineers, planners, technical experts, strategic advisors and construction management professionals. WSP USA designs lasting solutions in the buildings, transportation, energy, water and environment markets. With more than 15,000 employees in over 300 offices across the U.S., we partner with our clients to help communities prosper.

www.wsp.com

WSP provides a flexible and Agile workplace model while meeting client needs. Employees are also afforded a comprehensive suite of benefits including medical, dental, vision, disability, life, and retirement savings focused on providing health and financial stability throughout the employee’s career.

At WSP, we want to give our employees the challenges they seek to grow their careers and knowledge base. Your daily contributions to your team will be essential in meeting client objectives, goals and challenges. Are you ready to get started?

WSP USA (and all of its U.S. companies) is an Equal Opportunity Employer Race/Age/Color/Religion/Sex/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/National Origin/Disability or Protected Veteran Status.

The selected candidate must be authorized to work in the United States.

Notice To Third Party Agencies

WSP does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters, employment agencies, or other staffing services. Unsolicited resumes include any resume or hiring document sent to WSP in the absence of a signed Service Agreement where WSP has expressly requested recruitment/staffing services specific to the position at hand. Any unsolicited resumes, including those submitted to hiring managers or other business leaders, will become the property of WSP and WSP will have the right to hire that candidate without reservation – no fee or other compensation will be owed or paid to the recruiter, employment agency, or other staffing service.