Internships
Internship Opportunities
2026/2027 Office of Physical Plant Internship Opportunities
Penn State's Office of Physical Plant (OPP) is seeking student interns for Spring 2027 and Summer 2027.
Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, resume, and two reference letters. Applications will be accepted through January 31, 2027. Cover letters should indicate the specific area of interest.
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. Internships are available at University Park with compensation of $16 per hour for undergraduate and $17 per hour for graduate.
Questions: Contact OPP Intern Committee at [email protected]
Lighting/Electrical Engineering Internship - Design & Engineering Services
Office of Physical Plant Design & Engineering Services Electrical Engineering Group supports the campus’s existing building electrical systems. Intern work duties will include but are not limited to: performing lighting and electrical design, calculations, and documentation; assisting with on-site lighting/electrical evaluations and project review. The internship includes applying lighting and electrical standards and codes to Penn State projects, exposure to Penn State design, construction, and operations of building power, lighting, and emergency backup power systems. Interns may also have some exposure or learning opportunities related to power distribution, utility underground distribution, micro-grids, combined heat and power plants, and natural gas/diesel power generation. Interns typically use and grow in skills using software including Agi32, Visual Controls, Bluebeam, etc.
In addition to project work, this internship includes an asynchronous educational component, including lighting, lighting controls, and electrical system design principles, and exposure to electrical topics, lighting/electrical manufacturers, and trends.
Students pursuing electrical and architectural engineering are encouraged to apply.
Mechanical Engineering Internship
Office of Physical Plant Design & Engineering Services is a full-service, in-house architectural engineering team that provides architectural, engineering, code compliance, and permitting services for University projects. In addition, our mechanical engineering group provides technical support for the operation and maintenance of facilities across University Park and Penn State's Commonwealth Campuses.
Mechanical Engineering Interns will gain hands-on experience with engineering design and facility projects, including drafting, calculations, equipment selection, code review, project meetings, field inspections, and engineering standards development. This position is ideal for students early in their careers seeking their first or second internship experience and looking to build a strong foundation in engineering practice.
Project Management Internship
Interns will support the planning, design, and construction of capital improvement, renovation, and major maintenance projects across University Park. Responsibilities may include assisting with project coordination, budget tracking, procurement, site visits, construction observations, and project data management. Students pursuing construction management, architectural engineering, engineering, project management, business, or related degrees are encouraged to apply, with strong communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills preferred.