Summer 2027 Internship (Mechanical Engineering Students)

01 Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc.; Doylestown Township (Bucks County); On-site; USD 23,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. (WJE) seeks a mechanical engineering student for a Summer 2027 Internship with our Heavy Movable Structures team in Doylestown, PA.

This on-site role offers hands-on experience bridging fieldwork and design, focusing on bridges, locks, dams, and related machinery. As an intern, you will assist with inspections, data analysis, report preparation, and CAD-based design tasks under guidance from senior engineers.

Qualifications

• Current student with excellent academic standing in junior or senior year of a bachelor’s or in a graduate program in mechanical engineering, or related field.
• Ability to prioritize tasks and adapt to changing demands, while maintaining a high standard of excellence and attention to detail.
• Effective verbal, graphical, and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Inspection of machinery at bridge sites including wear, alignment, and condition of components.
• Preparation of written reports with verified data, analysis, and figures.
• Development of balance calculations for new bridges or rehabilitation projects.
• Bridge balance testing and data collection during operations.
• Design engineering tasks using CAD and other software tools with project team involvement.

Skills

Attention to detail

Verbal communication

Leadership

Analytical thinking

Education

Bachelor's/Master's in Mechanical Engineering (in progress)

Tools

CAD

MS Office

Job description

Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. (WJE) is seeking students pursuing a degree mechanical engineering for a Summer 2027 Internship with our Heavy Movable Structures team. This on-site role is based in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, a suburban Philadelphia location.

Since 1956, WJE has been a global leader in engineering, architecture, and materials science, dedicated to solving, repairing, and preventing problems in the built environment. The Doylestown office specializes in the evaluation, testing, design, and rehabilitation of heavy movable structures (including bridges, locks, and dams) working across structural, mechanical, and electrical systems to ensure the safety, reliability, and longevity of critical infrastructure.

At WJE, our engineers spend significant time in the field, directly engaging with projects as well as working in the office. As an intern, you will apply classroom knowledge to real-world challenges, gaining hands‑on experience with electrical systems and machinery for heavy movable structures such as movable bridges, rail transit systems, locks and dams, ferry terminals, and cranes.

Responsibilities:

• Inspection of machinery at bridge sites which may include determining wear, alignment, and physical condition of machinery components including bearings, gears, couplings, brakes, shafts, motors, wire ropes, and hydraulic components.
• Preparation of written reports including verification of data, analysis of data, preparation of figures and tables, and content review.
• Preparation of balance calculations associated with the construction of new bridges or rehabilitation of existing bridges.
• Bridge balance testing including the application strain gages and collection of data during bridge operations.
• Design engineering of heavy movable structure projects using CAD and other software tools through project team participation, in‑field project experience, and analysis of technical issues.

Qualifications:

• Current student with excellent academic standing in junior or senior year of a bachelor’s or in a graduate program in mechanical engineering, or related field.
• Ability to prioritize tasks and adapt to changing demands, while maintaining a high standard of excellence and exceptional attention to detail.
• Effective verbal, graphical, and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated leadership skills, integrity, and work‑ethic.
• Enthusiasm for solving problems and curiosity about how things work.

Physical Requirements:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. This position requires visual acuity and listening ability. Individuals must have the dexterity to be able to operate office and field equipment such as computers, printers, fax/copy machines, telephone/voice mail systems, and other office and field equipment. Requirements may also include:

Requirements may also include:

• Ability to attend meetings at the various office, field, and construction sites.
• Ability to perform inspections of buildings and other structures, both visually and with instruments.
• Ability to lift and carry materials and equipment up to 50 lbs.
• Ability to perform work in the temperature extremes presented by work in the outdoors.
• Ability to read construction drawings, diagrams, printed materials, and computer screens.
• Ability to record data clearly and write passages for reports, letters, etc.
• Ability to travel.
• Ability to safely work at heights.
• Ability to safely use and/or operate ladders, scaffolds, lifts, and other access equipment.
• Ability to understand and appreciate safety training specific to numerous workplace and construction hazards.
• Ability to safely work in a variety of occupationally hazardous locations.
• Medically fit to utilize respiratory protection devices and other forms of Personal Protective Equipment.
• Ability to drive and safely operate a motor vehicle.

Culture, Compensation, and Benefits:

Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. (WJE) is a global firm of engineers, architects, and materials scientists. Clients worldwide seek our expertise to solve the most significant, interesting, and challenging problems in the built world. Our applied experience from more than 175,000 projects combined with unparalleled laboratory and testing capabilities have made WJE a leader in providing innovative yet practical solutions to the clients we serve. Working at WJE is a team endeavor characterized by a culture of trust and personal responsibility. We encourage open communication, continuous learning, innovative thinking, ongoing mentoring, and free‑flowing collaboration. We seek highly talented and hard‑working individuals who want to be challenged, who want hands‑on work, who want to set a higher standard, and who want to be mentored by the industry’s most accomplished experts. People with outstanding Character, unwavering Commitment to our core and culture, strong Expertise, and genuine Enthusiasm for their work. Learn more about the Extraordinary People we hire at WJE at www.wje.com/careers all employees may be eligible to receive overtime and variable compensation based on personal and company performance, often resulting in above‑market annual earnings. Actual hourly rate will be based on several factors including consideration for a candidate’s qualifications, skills, competencies, and proficiency for the role while remaining mindful of our commitment to internal equity. A good faith estimate of the starting hourly rate (gross) for this position is in the following range: $17.00 - $35.00. This non‑exempt position is also eligible for WJE’s industry‑leading, total rewards package which enables our employees to grow and thrive with comprehensive health and financial benefits including:

Benefits:

• Robust and affordable health plans for employees and their families, including HSA as well as low and high‑deductible PPO options.
• Generous 401(k) matching of 110% for the first 6% of eligible pay vesting immediately.
• Time off to care for yourself and others.
• Investments in employees’ educational assistance and professional development.

Learn more about WJE’s total rewards package here.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

WJE is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We invite all qualified applicants to apply including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans (VEVRAA federal contractor). WJE will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of Fair Chance Ordinances. Founded in 1956, Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates (WJE) is an interdisciplinary firm of engineers, architects, and materials scientists committed to helping clients solve, repair, and avoid problems in the built world. Supported by unparalleled laboratory and field‑testing capabilities, our experts draw on more than seventy years of experience to deliver innovative and practical solutions grounded in deep technical expertise.