Utility Engineering Cohort Intern

This is a one-year, full-time, paid Internship Program.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Arlington County requires all applicants to thoroughly complete each section of the application, including prior job responsibilities, duties, and supplemental questions. While you may attach a resume, it will not replace a completed application. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

The Department of Environmental Services (DES) is seeking an Utility Engineering Intern will assist the Water Sewer Streets Bureau in managing the maintenance and capital planning of 1,058 lane miles of street, 443 miles of sidewalk, 525 miles of water mains, 458 miles of sanitary sewer mains, 373 miles of stormwater mains and associated structures such as manholes, catch basins, and outfalls.

Major Job Duties:

• Supporting routine field inspections of water, sanitary sewer, and stormwater infrastructure, including water mains, storm and sanitary sewer mains, valves, hydrants, manholes, and storm drains;
• Documenting field conditions through photographs, field notes, and asset management systems (AMS);
• Conducting engineering records research to verify and update asset management data for water, sewer, and transportation assets, including mains, manholes, hydrants, valves, guardrails, and retaining walls;
• Utilizing ArcGIS Pro, Cartegraph, Microsoft Excel, Power BI, and other software applications to generate reports, analyze and visualize data, create maps, and identify recurring asset maintenance issues;
• Preparing as-built documentation and updating engineering record drawings using Adobe software;
• Assisting with tracking Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system data to identify unusual operating conditions for staff review;
• Organizing project files, maps, and documentation to support operations and maintenance activities; and
• Performing other duties as assigned.

Location: Trades Center, 4200 28th Street S. Arlington, VA 22206
Arlington County

Arlington County is an innovative local government in Northern Virginia seeking motivated candidates for one-year internship opportunities across multiple departments. These roles are ideal for recent graduates and current graduate students with limited professional experience who are looking to kickstart their careers.

Interns gain hands-on experience supporting key County initiatives while participating in a structured cohort-based development program. Throughout the year, interns work under the mentorship of senior staff, contributing fresh ideas, improving processes, and leveraging technology to enhance organizational effectiveness, all while familiarizing themselves with a public-sector environment.

Minimum Qualifications: Recent, 2025 and/or 2026 college graduates earning either a Bachelor’s or a Master’s degree* in the area of consideration prior to the start date of the Cohort Program (Sept. 2026) must have:

• No professional-level work experience (less than one year) in the internship field; and
• You may be a currently enrolled student in a Master’s degree program related to the internship, but you must not have significant professional-level work experience in the internship area and must be available to work during designated hours.

Degree Requirements: Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Data Science Engineering, Computer Science, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Statistics, Economics, or related discipline.

Desirable Qualifications: Preference may be given to applicants with one or more of the following:

• G.P.A. of 3.0 or above is preferred and applicants may be asked to provide certified official transcripts; 
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Teams, PowerBI, etc.);
• Familiarity with Cartegraph or similar asset management software;
• Familiarity with ESRI (GIS) software; 
• Familiarity with Adobe software; and/or
• Experience with data analysis and asset management.

 

Special Requirements

Background Check: A pre-employment criminal records check will be conducted. It will include checks of the following: criminal record, driving record, education, professional licensure, and credit history. You will be required to sign a release authorizing the County to obtain your background information.

Driver's License: Applicant must possess, or obtain by time of appointment, a valid driver’s license, and must provide or authorize Arlington County to obtain a copy of official driving record. Any offer of employment may be contingent upon favorable review of the applicant’s driving record. Alternatively, the applicant must have the ability and willingness to use alternative methods of transportation to perform assigned duties and responsibilities at locations other than the primary worksite.

Please complete each section of the application including the supplemental questions. Your responses to the supplemental questions are required because they provide us with specific information necessary to evaluate your qualifications for this position. These responses are considered part of the selection process. A resume may be attached; however, it will not substitute for a completed application. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please do not write "see resume" as a response to the questions.

 

Additional Information

Work hours: Core work hours are between 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. This is not a fully remote opportunity. Employees will be expected to be in the office at the discretion of the Supervisor and needs of the agency as well as to attend in-person classroom training.

Applicants may be asked to provide certified official transcripts.

All Cohort Interns are eligible for County government employee benefits that include health, dental and leave.

Arlington County is committed to advancing diversity, equity, access, and inclusion across all our services, activities, and programs. Learn more about our commitment.

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