Power Intern

HDR; Lexington (KY); On-site; USD 25,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

HDR Power Intern program invites engineering students to contribute to active utility projects and observe how ideas become infrastructure that delivers electricity. You may visit project sites, use design software, and collaborate across disciplines while gaining practical experience.

Positions are available in Nashville, TN; Chattanooga, TN; or Lexington, KY, with mentors guiding your growth in an employee-owned culture. Enrollment in an engineering program and a strong work ethic are required.

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate Engineering program.
• Two years completed toward a degree; GPA 3.0+ preferred.
• Attention to detail; strong problem-solving & communication skills.
• Familiarity with engineering software such as Bentley, Autodesk, MicroStation, AutoCAD, Revit, Civil 3D or similar 2D/3D/BIM tools.

Responsibilities

• Visit project sites and prepare calculations and drawings.
• Collaborate across disciplines to build practical experience.
• Assist with equipment layouts, grounding, and power-system studies.
• Learn from mentors in an employee-owned culture.

Skills

Attention to detail

Problem-solving

Communication skills

Microsoft Office

Education

Engineering student (undergrad/grad)

Tools

Bentley

Autodesk

MicroStation

AutoCAD

Revit

Civil 3D

Job description

At HDR, our employee-owners are fully engaged in creating a welcoming environment where each of us is valued and respected, a place where everyone is empowered to bring their authentic selves and novel ideas to work every day. As we foster a culture of inclusion throughout our company and within our communities, we constantly ask ourselves: What is our impact on the world?

Watch Our Story:' https://www.hdrinc.com/our-story'

Each and every role throughout our organization makes a difference in our ability to change the world for the better. Read further to learn how you could help make great things possible not only in your community, but around the world.

As an HDR Power Intern, you can contribute to active utility projects and see how engineering ideas become infrastructure that generates, transmits, and delivers electricity. Our Power Market spans engineering design work for power generation, hydropower, substations, protection and controls, transmission and distribution, renewable energy, energy storage, grid modernization, environmental services, power-system planning and owner’s engineering. You may visit project sites, use industry design software, prepare calculations and drawings, and collaborate across disciplines while building practical experience and exploring where your engineering career could take you. Positions are available in Nashville, TN; Chattanooga, TN; or Lexington, KY.

• Join a national Power practice with 1,250+ professionals, including 500+ focused on Power related engineering
• See how engineers from different disciplines work together to solve complex utility challenges, make technical decisions, and deliver coordinated designs that meet client, schedule, budget, and quality requirements
• Our regional teams support projects from planning and studies through design, procurement, construction support, commissioning, upgrades and rehabilitation throughout the United States
• Key Kentucky & Tennessee customers include Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), Louisville Gas and Electric and Kentucky Utilities (LG&E/KU), Kentucky Power, Nashville Electric Service and other municipal and cooperative utilities across the region

Substation Physical Design

• Support substation layouts, drawing development and markups, equipment specifications, material selections and procurement activities
• Assist with equipment layouts, grounding, lightning protection, conduit and cable plans, and station service AC/DC calculations

Multidiscipline Power Delivery Engineering

• Support civil and structural engineering, including site development, grading and drainage, geotechnical and survey coordination, oil containment, foundations and steel design
• Assist electrical engineers with power system studies, equipment selection, grounding, lighting and shielding, cable and raceway design, and electrical calculations
• Contribute to renewable integration, technical specifications, procurement support, design standards, and multidisciplinary drawing and model coordination

Protection & Controls (P&C)

• Support protection and control design, including one-lines, wiring diagrams, control schematics, relay and control panel details, and AC/DC system calculations

Power Generation

• Support combined-cycle and hydropower projects involving electrical, mechanical, civil and structural design for new facilities, upgrades and rehabilitation
• Help prepare calculations, drawings, equipment layouts, specifications and technical documentation while coordinating across engineering disciplines

As Part of the Team, You Will

• Take meaningful ownership of calculations, design deliverables and project tasks, not just observation, while gaining field or site exposure when project opportunities allow
• Learn from experienced mentors, connect with recent graduates and company leaders, explore multiple engineering career paths, and strengthen your technical, problem-solving, and communication skills in an employee-owned culture

Preferred Qualifications

• Two years completed toward a degree and a 3.0 or higher GPA preferred
• Familiarity with engineering software such as Bentley, Autodesk, MicroStation, AutoCAD, Revit, Civil 3D or similar 2D/3D/BIM tools; exposure to power-system analysis software is a plus
• Preference given to local candidates

Required Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate Engineering program
• Attention to detail
• Possess strong problem-solving and communication skills
• Basic Microsoft Office skills
• An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee-owned culture is a must

What We Believe

HDR is our company. Together, we build on each other's life experiences and perspectives to make great things possible every day. This shapes our collaborative culture, encourages organizational trust and connects us closer to the clients and communities we serve.

Our Commitment

As employee owners, we all have a role in creating an inclusive environment where each of us is welcomed, valued, respected and empowered to bring our authentic selves to work every day.

Our eight Employee Network Groups (Asian Pacific, Black, Hispanic/Latino(a), LGBTQ+, People with Disabilities, Veterans, Women, Young Professionals) help create a sense of belonging and foster a supportive environment where everyone is empowered to engage and contribute. Each group has an executive sponsor and is open to all employees.

Primary Location:United States-Tennessee-Nashville Other Locations:United States-Tennessee-Chattanooga, United States-Kentucky-Lexington Industry:Power Schedule:Full-time Employee Status:Temporary BusinessClass:Substation Engineering Job Posting:Sep 2, 2026

At HDR, we are committed to the principles of employment equity. We are an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer (https://www.hdrinc.com/equal-employment-opportunity-employer). We consider all qualified applicants, regardless of criminal histories, arrest and conviction records.