Lighting Design Intern - Summer 2027

WSP; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 32,000 - 44,000; Full time

Job summary

WSP USA invites applications for a Lighting Design Intern in the Summer 2027 program based in Arlington, VA (also LA and Boston). You will work with award-winning designers on real projects from concept to construction, gaining hands-on experience and exposure to professional practice.

This 12-week internship offers hands-on tasks, lighting calculations, and design documentation while collaborating with architects, engineers, and clients. Program starts May 17, 2027.

Qualifications

• Actively enrolled in accredited Lighting Design, Architectural Engineering, Architecture, Interior Design, Electrical Engineering, or related program.
• Undergraduate or graduate student with anticipated graduation date August 2027 or later.
• Interested in architectural lighting, daylighting, lighting controls, sustainability, and emerging technologies.

Responsibilities

• Support architectural lighting design tasks to develop technical, social, and ethical skills.
• Learn fundamental principles of architectural lighting design.
• Assist lighting designers on multiple project types and market sectors.
• Perform lighting calculations and analysis using industry-standard tools.
• Prepare materials for client presentations, design reviews, and meetings.
• Support lighting mockups, product evaluations, and design studies.
• Participate in field investigations and site observations.
• Help prepare design documentation, specifications, and technical deliverables.
• Support construction-phase services and shop drawing reviews.
• Organize and maintain project documentation.
• Engage in collaborative design discussions with architects, engineers, and contractors.

Skills

Strong presentation

Graphic communication

Problem solving

Team collaboration

Education

Undergraduate Lighting Design or related

Anticipated Aug 2027 graduation

Tools

Revit

AutoCAD

AGi32

Visual

Rhino

Grasshopper

Adobe Creative Suite

Job description

This Opportunity

At WSP, lighting is more than a building system. It is a powerful design tool that shapes human experience, supports wellbeing, enhances sustainability, and brings architecture to life. Our lighting designers combine creative ingenuity with deep technical expertise to deliver human-centered and environmentally conscious lighting solutions across the built environment. From workplaces and healthcare facilities to public spaces, cultural venues, transportation hubs, and urban environments, we help clients create remarkable places through the thoughtful application of light.

As a Lighting Design Intern, you will work alongside award-winning designers, engineers, and multidisciplinary teams on real projects from concept through construction. You will gain hands‑on experience, technical knowledge, and exposure to the profession while helping create lighting solutions that improve how people experience the world around them.

Our Lighting Teamis seeking afull-time Lighting Design Intern – Summer 2027 to work out of ourArlington, VA office.The following locations will also be considered: Los Angeles, CA andBoston, MA. This temporary position is seeking individuals currently enrolled in an Undergraduate or Graduate degree program focused on lighting design.

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 May17th, 2027.The individual start date of the internship may be flexible.

Your Impact

• Support a variety of architectural lighting design tasks with the goalto developtechnical, social, and ethical skills.




• Learn the fundamental principles of architectural lighting design.




• Support lighting designers on a variety of project types and market sectors.




• Perform lighting calculations and assist with lighting analysis using industry-standard tools.




• Prepare materials for client presentations, design reviews, and project meetings.




• Assist with lighting mock‑ups, product evaluations, and design studies.




• Participate in project research, field investigations, and site observations.




• Help prepare design documentation, specifications, and technical deliverables.




• Support construction‑phase services, including responses to requests for information and shop drawing reviews.




• Assist in collecting, organizing, and maintaining project documentation.




• Participate in collaborative design discussions with architects, interior designers, engineers, contractors, and other project stakeholders.




• Exercise responsible and ethical decision‑making regarding 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 accreditedLighting Design, Architectural Engineering, Architecture, Interior Design, Electrical Engineering,or related,Undergraduate programwithan anticipatedgraduation date ofAugust 2027 or later.




• Mustbe 18 or older.




• Demonstrated interestin architectural lighting, daylighting, lighting controls, sustainability, and emerging technologies,or related field,and havea strong desireto advance skills related to WSP’s work and projects.




• Capable of taking direction from leadership, mentors, and managers to executive projects.




• Strong presentation, graphic communication, and problem‑solving skills.




• Familiarity with design and visualization software such as Revit, AutoCAD, AGi32, Visual, Rhino, Grasshopper, Adobe Creative Suite, or similar.




• Proventrack recordof upholding workplace safety and ability to abide by WSP’s health, safety and drug/alcohol and harassment policies.




• Authorization to work in the United States at the start of the internship.

Preferred Qualifications

• Actively enrolled in an accredited Lighting Design, Architectural Engineering, Architecture, Interior Design, Electrical Engineering, or related,Mastersor PhD programwithan anticipatedgraduation date ofAugust 2027or later.




• Experience using Revit, AutoCAD, AGi32, Visual, Rhino, Grasshopper, Adobe Creative Suite.




• Prior internship and leadership involvement on campus.

Compensation

Expected Salary (all locations): $23.03 - $32.22

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.