Project Engineer Intern

Thermal Shop

Cedar Rapids (IA)

On-site

USD 28,000 - 33,000

Full time

3 days ago

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Benefits offered by this job

Mileage reimbursement

Software access for project work

PPE provided

Mentoring and weekly development chats

Job summary

Thermal Shop is seeking a curious, organized Project Engineer Intern to rotate between the office and field, learning how insulation projects are scoped, estimated, and delivered. You will work closely with the owner and team to take ownership of supervised assignments and support process improvement.

This internship targets construction management, project management, estimating, technical sales, or account management, with a path toward future opportunities. Local travel is required.

Qualifications

Current study or recent education in construction management, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, architectural engineering, building science, business, sales, operations, or a closely related area.

Responsibilities

Spend structured time with insulation crews to understand materials, installation methods, site readiness, sequencing, quality expectations, and common field constraints.
Read residential and light-commercial plans and specifications with an estimator or project manager.
Complete supervised quantity takeoffs in STACK and help translate plans into clear scopes.
Assist with preliminary pricing, material quantities, bid documentation, and scope comparisons.
Attend project handoffs and help keep project records accurate for scheduling, production, purchasing, billing, and customer communication.
Visit local job sites to document progress, verify accessible conditions, take organized photographs, and raise scope questions to the responsible project manager.

Skills

Curiosity

Organizational skills

Attention to detail

Written and verbal communication

Education

Construction management or related field

Job description

Draft for review. Some details of this role are still being finalized and are marked “Pending approval.”

Role overview

Thermal Shop is looking for a curious, organized Project Engineer Intern who wants to understand how construction work is won, planned and delivered. You will rotate through the office and the field, learning how insulation projects are scoped, estimated, sold, scheduled, installed and closed out.

You will work directly with the owner and experienced team members. The goal is not to keep you on the sidelines. As your understanding grows, you will take ownership of supervised assignments such as plan takeoffs, job-site documentation, project updates, customer follow-up and process-improvement work.

This internship is a strong fit for someone interested in construction management, project management, estimating, technical sales, account management or eventually running a book of business.

What you’ll do

Spend structured time with insulation crews to understand materials, installation methods, site readiness, sequencing, quality expectations, and common field constraints.
Learn the differences among batt insulation, BIBS, blown attic insulation, drill-and-fill, air sealing, removal work, and spray-foam applications.
Read residential and light-commercial plans and specifications with an estimator or project manager.
Complete supervised quantity takeoffs in STACK and help translate plans into clear scopes.
Assist with preliminary pricing, material quantities, bid documentation, and scope comparisons.
Attend project handoffs and help keep project records accurate for scheduling, production, purchasing, billing, and customer communication.
Visit local job sites to document progress, verify accessible conditions, take organized photographs, and raise scope questions to the responsible project manager.
Help track decisions, changes, outstanding information, and closeout items.
Observe customer and builder conversations, then assist with follow-up communication and proposal preparation.
Learn how Thermal Shop qualifies opportunities, maintains builder relationships, supports existing accounts, and identifies additional work that genuinely fits a customer’s needs.
Participate in internal project and production meetings.
Complete a practical improvement project involving estimating, project handoffs, customer communication, field documentation, or another operational process.
Present the improvement project and lessons learned to Thermal Shop’s leadership at the end of the internship.

What you’ll learn

Field and product foundation

Learn how insulation systems are installed, what a prepared job site looks like, and why details in the field affect the estimate, schedule and final result.

Estimating and preconstruction

Practice reading plans, completing takeoffs, organizing scope information and understanding how labor, material, access and project conditions affect a bid.

Project coordination

Follow projects from handoff through installation and closeout. Learn how schedules, crews, customers, builders, changes and documentation stay connected.

Customer and account development

Observe how technical knowledge supports honest sales conversations, useful proposals, responsive follow-up and long-term builder relationships.

Who should apply

We are more interested in curiosity, reliability and the ability to learn than in previous insulation experience. Candidates should demonstrate several of the following:

Current study or recent education in construction management, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, architectural engineering, building science, business, sales, operations, or a closely related area.
Hands‑on construction, trade, shop, agricultural, family‑business, or customer‑service experience.
Comfort learning from both field crews and office staff.
Strong organization and attention to detail.
Clear written and verbal communication.
Basic confidence with spreadsheets, measurements, and arithmetic.
Interest in plans, estimating, construction technology, project management, or technical sales.
Willingness to ask questions and accept direct feedback.
A valid driver’s license and an acceptable driving record, since the role includes local job‑site travel.

No insulation experience, engineering license or engineering certificate is required. Interns work under supervision and do not provide engineering services or design or approve building assemblies.

Proposed internship structure

Length 10–12 weeks

Hours Approximately 40 per week

Setting Primarily in person

Mentor Owner, project manager, or estimator assigned before the start date

Check‑ins Weekly

Field exposure Regular supervised visits and crew observation

Capstone One operational or customer‑experience improvement project

Potential outcome Consideration for a future internship or full‑time opportunity, with no promise of continued employment

Compensation and intern benefits Pending approval

Paid hourly internship, $20–$24 per hour.
Mileage reimbursement for approved business travel.
Company‑provided software access and the equipment needed for assignments.
Required job‑site orientation and PPE.
Direct mentoring and weekly development conversations.
Exposure to estimating, operations, project management, and customer development.
Academic‑credit coordination, if requested and approved by your school.

Why join Thermal Shop?

Many internships expose you to one small portion of a business. This one is designed to connect the pieces. You will see how field knowledge improves an estimate, how a clear estimate creates a better handoff, how strong coordination supports the installation crew, and how reliable project delivery builds lasting customer relationships.

Thermal Shop is growing, improving its systems and building a new home for the business. That creates room for an intern to contribute meaningful work while learning directly from the people estimating, managing and installing projects every day.

Where this can lead

The internship is designed to help you discover where your strengths fit. Some people are drawn to plans and pricing. Others enjoy coordinating details, solving field problems or building customer relationships. The experience is intentionally broad enough to expose you to each path.