Electrical Engineering (ESSP) Intern - Summer 2027

WSP in the U.S.; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 3,173,000 - 4,286,000; Full time

Job summary

WSP USA is seeking a Full-Time Electrical Engineering ESSP Intern to support electrical studies and SCADA development for utility and industrial clients from our San Diego, CA or Phoenix, AZ office. This temporary 12‑week internship starts May 17, 2027, with flexible start date.

As part of the Summer Internship Program, you will gain hands-on experience while working with senior staff, developing technical, social, and ethical skills through mentorship and real project exposure across generation

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in Electrical Engineering program with an anticipated graduation Aug 2027 or later.
• Must be 18+ and authorized to work in the United States.
• Interest in EE, consulting engineering, and utility industries.
• Strong communication to engineering and non-engineering audiences.
• Ability to follow directions from leadership and mentors.
• Basic proficiency with writing, office software, and tools.
• Willing to travel occasionally in a project-oriented environment.
• Safety-conscious and able to comply with company policies.

Responsibilities

• Assist electrical studies and SCADA development for utility/industrial clients.
• Support protective relaying, short-circuit analysis, and relay settings.
• Contribute to power system planning studies (power flow, voltage stability).
• Assist with substation grounding, insulation coordination, and power quality analysis.
• Design and configure networking for SCADA and protection systems; assist commissioning.
• Develop logic and control schemes for power system equipment; perform field testing.
• Prepare data acquisition systems, develop HMI screens, and aid data transfer commissioning.
• Complete training on assigned tasks.

Skills

Interpersonal communication

Ability to take direction

Technical writing

Office software basics

Willingness to travel

Safety awareness

Education

Electrical Engineering Undergraduate (Aug 2027 or later)

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

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 protectionsystems andassistwith 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, andassistwith data transfer commissioning.
• Complete training on assigned tasks.
• Exercise responsible and ethical decision-makingregardingcompany funds,resourcesand conduct, and adhere to WSP’s Code of Conduct and related policies and procedures.
• Performadditionalresponsibilities as required by business needs.
• Please note that there is no relocation or housingassistanceassociated with this internship.

Required Qualifications

• Actively enrolled in an accredited Electrical Engineering, or related, Undergraduate program withan anticipatedgraduation date ofAugust 2027 or later.
• Must be 18 or older.
• Demonstrated interest in Electrical Engineering, consulting engineering, electric utility industry,or related field, and havea strong desireto 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.
• Basicproficiencywithtechnical writing, office automation, software, spreadsheets, technology, and tools.
• Proventrack recordof 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’sor PhD programwithan anticipatedgraduation datenosooner than August 2027 and nolater 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

WSP USA is providing the compensation range that the company in good faith believes it might pay and offer for this position, based on the successful applicant’s education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities in addition to internal equity and specific geographic location. WSP USA reserves the right to ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and offer additional benefits and other compensation, depending on circumstances not related to an applicant’s sex or other status protected by local, state, and/or federal law.

About WSP

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.