Internship Opportunities
2023-2024 Office of Physical Plant Internship Opportunities
Penn State’s Office of the Physical Plant is seeking student interns for the fall 2023 and the spring/summer 2024. If interested, you must submit an application in Workday, including a cover letter and resume. The internship job posting can be found in Workday searching "Office of Physical Plant Internship" or REQ_0000048983.
Resumes and cover letters will be accepted through January 31, 2024. Cover letters should indicate the specific area of interest (see below for opportunities), otherwise application materials may not be considered.
During the fall and spring semesters, interns may work up to 20 hours a week. During the summer, interns are expected to work 40 hours a week. Schedules and onsite locations can be discussed with the supervisor. Internships are available at University Park with compensation of $14 per hour.
Questions: [email protected]
Positions Available
Facilities Project Management
The Project Management department oversees and coordinates the design and construction of all new construction, renovation, and major maintenance projects for the University Park campus. They also serve as the primary interface between customers, architects, engineers, and contractors. The Project Management intern position will be responsible for field and office work such as coordinating project resources and contractors, assisting with project documentation, and organization and assisting with project controls and budget management. It is preferred the candidate is pursuing a degree in an engineering or architecture related field. First, second, and third-year architecture or engineering students are encouraged to apply.
Design Services
Design Services provides professional architecture and engineering services in support of the development of Penn State’s building, site and infrastructure projects. These services are provided during all stages of design from initial feasibility studies through concept development and bid document stages as well as construction support. Services that are provided to Project Leaders and customers include Architectural Design, Civil Engineering, Mechanical/Plumbing Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Structural Engineering, Roof and Elevator design, Building Information Modeling (BIM)/Virtual Design support and Code Compliance support. Typical activities for an intern include field data collection, design support, AutoCAD / Revit production and construction administration support.
Specifically, Design Services seeks interns to support its civil engineering group and its electrical engineering group. Civil engineering projects primarily consist of campus beautification, roadway, parking, sidewalk, landscape/hardscape, stormwater management and utility projects at the University Park and Commonwealth Campuses. Skills and experience in the Microsoft Office suite of products and AutoCAD or Civil 3D is preferred. First, second, and third year students in various programs as well as fourth year Architectural Engineering students are encouraged to apply.
Engineering Services – Energy Program Team
The Engineering Services – Energy Program Team is seeking interns interested in energy management activities for spring and summer 2024. Projects will include reviewing utility bills and meter readings, preparing and submitting benchmarking data for various reporting efforts, retrieving energy and utility information from databases, writing reports, and identifying energy savings opportunities. Candidates must be willing to do field work that includes, but is not limited to, visiting buildings to obtain physical data and performing or assisting with building energy audits that may require entrance to mechanical spaces. Candidates must have a background in engineering or science. Preference with core courses such as thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, HVAC, and lighting is a plus. Must have excellent computer skills. Candidate should also have the ability to communicate clearly, translate complex information for a variety of audiences, and perform various tasks independently.
Engineering Services – Electrical Group
The Engineering Services – Electrical Engineering Group is accepting applications for student interns, who will support the existing campus electrical utility networks, along with building electrical systems. Work duties will include, but are not limited to, preparing documents for the electrical engineering team; updating and revising the University Design and Construction Standards; assisting and troubleshooting of electrical systems; reviewing NEC/IEEE codes; drafting in AutoCAD; performing calculations; and assisting on-site building evaluations. Interns will work closely with the electrical engineering team and gain experience in the following sub-disciplines: building power and lighting, power transmission and distribution, utility underground distribution, micro-grids, combined heat and power plants, natural gas/diesel power generation and emergency backup power systems. Student interns are recommended to be studying an engineering field, preferably electrical, electro-mechanical, architectural, or similar.
Architecture/Landscape Architecture
The Planning, Design, and Properties (PDP) team is seeking an architecture and/or landscape architecture intern for the summer 2024. The primary mission of this team is to promote wise stewardship of the University’s physical assets and provide responsive, high quality, and creative design solutions in support of the University’s mission. The successful candidate will assist staff with facility projects on campus (major projects, renovations, historic restoration, etc.). Efforts may include attending meetings, site reconnaissance, firm and project-type research, and design support efforts using the Adobe Creative Suite, AutoCAD, SketchUp or similar programs. The candidate will be introduced to campus planning and site design through project-based work. Candidates must be pursuing a degree in Architecture or Landscape Architecture. Work location will be University Park, with the opportunity to visit various Commonwealth Campus locations while assisting the University Architect, University Planner, and/or Landscape Architecture staff.
Space Planning and Management - Enterprise Programs
The Enterprise Programs unit of the Space Planning and Management team administrates multiple enterprise software systems to support the needs of facilities management and inform space management decisions across Penn State. The Enterprise Programs unit is seeking an intern to assist with the administration of enterprise SaaS systems. Job duties to include system configuration and administration; content updates and CMS administration; data discovery and entry including site visits for measurements, features, layouts, and photographs. Candidates must be enrolled in a four-year accredited undergraduate program. Students enrolled in Computer Science and Engineering, Information Science and Technology, Business, Architectural Engineering, or Geography programs are preferred, but not required.
Training and Development
The Office of Physical Plant's Training and Development team is responsible for the implementation of programs and facilitation of training activities focused on employee development which best serve 1,400 staff and technical service employees. The team works closely with department directors, managers, and supervisors to understand professional training needs, assist and facilitate the development of training plans/programs, source and evaluate contracted service providers for training and organizational development programs, and assist with overseeing instructional design initiatives across the organization. The team is seeking an intern to aid in the development and delivery of online, hybrid, and face-to-face educational programs and initiatives. Desired intern duties include, but are not limited to:
- Designing, developing, and delivering asynchronous training materials for the University community.
- Designing and developing storyboards as well as assessment and evaluation tools.
- Reviewing course content and assessments and providing recommendations to enhance learning.
Operational Technology
Interns with the Operational Technology team will collaborate with Systems Administrators in the planning, design, maintenance, implementation, and administration of infrastructure/servers that support Operational Technology. Additionally, interns will have the opportunity to contribute to the implementation and utilization of robust security processes and procedures. Intern job responsibilities include:
- Network Design and Planning: Collaborate with team members on solutions that support the university's operations and strategic goals.
- Installation and Testing: Assist in the configuration and testing of equipment, ensuring reliability and performance.
- Operational Troubleshooting and Maintenance: Learn how to diagnose and resolve technical and process issues.
- Security Process and Procedure Development: Contribute to the implementation of security processes and procedures to protect infrastructure assests from potential threats.
- Account Management: Gain experience with an enterprise incident management platform and understanding of authorization/authentication processes.
To apply, please see instructions at the top of the page.