Traffic Engineering Intern- Summer 2027

WSP; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 26,000 - 41,000; Full time

Job summary

WSP USA in Chicago invites talented Civil Engineering students to join our Summer Internship Program as a Traffic Engineering Intern. This 12-week summer experience provides hands-on involvement with real projects, mentorship from senior staff, and exposure to transportation engineering tasks in a professional setting.

You will work on traffic studies, planning and design, learn software tools such as Word, Excel, Synchro, and collaborate with teammates to meet deadlines while upholding safety

Qualifications

• Actively enrolled in an accredited Civil Engineering BS degree with an anticipated graduation date of May 2027 or later.
• Must be 18 or older.
• Demonstrated interest in transportation/traffic engineering and a strong desire to advance skills related to WSP’s work and projects.
• Capable of taking direction from leadership, mentors, and managers to execute projects.
• Authorization to work in the United States at the start of the internship.

Responsibilities

• Support a variety of engineering tasks to develop technical, social, and ethical skills.
• Assist transportation engineering, planning, and design projects with agencies and clients.
• Contribute to traffic studies, multi-modal planning, traffic impact studies, modeling, and signal optimization plans.
• Assist road safety projects including RSA, crash analysis, and safety planning/management.
• Assist transportation design projects such as signals, markings, signing, and work zones.
• Review vendor product information and prepare compliance specifications.
• Learn basic principles of Transportation Engineering and maintain project documentation.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication

Time management

Attention to detail

Technical writing

Microsoft Word/Excel

Education

Civil Engineering BS (enrolled)

Tools

ArcGIS

Synchro + SimTraffic

VISSIM

Visio

MicroStation

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.

Our Transportation and Infrastructure Traffic Team is seeking a Traffic Engineering Intern to work out of our Chicago office. 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.

Your Impact

• Support a variety of engineering tasks with the goal to develop technical, social, and ethical skills.
• Transportation engineering/planning/design and road safety with department of transportation agencies and other potential clients.
• Assisting traffic engineering and transportation planning projects: Traffic studies, multi-modal planning, Traffic impact studies, Transportation Modeling, Traffic management plans, Signal optimization plans
• Assisting road safety projects: Road Safety Audits (RSA), Crash analysis, Highway Safety Manual analysis, Transportation Safety Planning/Management
• Assisting transportation design projects: Traffic design (signals, pavement markings, signing, work zones).
• Research and review vendor product information and prepare compliance specifications
• Ability to work effectively and competently with people at all levels in the organization; is a great team member
• Ability to work without supervision; effective time management and strong organizational skills
• Good computer skills with knowledge of relevant software tools, in particular Word, Excel and Synchro, and an ability to apply new tools
• Ability to work to deadlines and see tasks through to completion
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Good analytical skills and attention to detail
• Learn basic principles of Transportation Engineering.
• Assist in collecting and maintaining project documentation.
• Complete training on assigned tasks.
• 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 accredited Civil Engineering BS degree with an anticipated graduation date of May 2027 or later.

• Must be 18 or older.

• Demonstrated interest in transportation/traffic engineering, and have a strong desire to 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.
• Basic proficiency with technical writing, office automation, software, spreadsheets, technology, and tools.
• Proven track record of 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

• Experience using following software is a plus: ArcGIS, HCS, Synchro + SimTraffic, VISSIM, VISIO, or Microstation.
• Prior internship and leadership involvement on campus.

Compensation:

Expected Salary (all locations): $19- $30

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.