Construction Engineering Intern - Summer 2027

Hiring Locations: Aurora, IL | McHenry, IL | Houston, TX | St. Louis, MO | Colorado Springs, CO

Start Building Your Career Before You Graduate

Want to see how the things you’re learning in class actually get built? As a Construction Engineering Intern at HR Green, you’ll get out in the field and experience transportation projects as they come to life. You’ll work alongside experienced engineers, learn how plans translate into real world construction, and see how engineers, contractors, and clients work together to solve problems and keep projects moving.

This isn’t an internship where you’ll spend the summer watching from the sidelines. You’ll be part of the team, learning by doing.

Why HR Green

For more than 110 years, HR Green has partnered with communities to design and build the infrastructure people rely on every day. From the roads you travel and the water you use to the communities where people live and work, our mission is simple: Building Communities. Improving Lives.

Our people are at the heart of that mission. We’re proud to be recognized as a Great Place to Work and consistently ranked among Engineering News Record’s Top 500 Design Firms in the United States.

As an intern, you’ll work alongside experienced engineers, contribute to real projects, and have people invested in helping you learn and grow. You’ll also have opportunities to explore different areas of civil engineering, build relationships across HR Green, and start discovering where you want your career to take you.

What You’ll Experience in Construction

Construction Engineering is where plans meet the real world. You’ll spend time on active project sites learning what it takes to turn an engineering design into infrastructure people can use.

During your internship, you’ll have opportunities to:

• Get hands on experience at active construction sites and see projects take shape in real time
• Work alongside experienced construction engineers who will teach you what to look for and help you understand the “why” behind the work
• Observe contractor work and learn how engineers help make sure construction follows project plans, specifications, quality standards, and safety requirements
• Help collect field data, take measurements, perform material checks, and document project progress
• Participate in field meetings and see how engineers, contractors, and clients work together when questions or challenges come up
• Build your understanding of transportation construction, materials, quality assurance, and project coordination
• See firsthand how decisions made during design translate into what actually happens in the field

You don’t need to arrive knowing how to do all of this. That’s what the internship is for.

More Than a Summer Job

Your project experience is only one part of your summer at HR Green. We want your internship to help you grow as an engineer, build relationships, and start figuring out where you want your career to go.

Throughout the summer, you’ll have opportunities to:

• Follow a structured intern learning curriculum designed to build your knowledge throughout the summer
• Connect with a mentor and experienced professionals who can answer questions, share their experiences, and help you grow
• Participate in intern roundtables and conversations on different topics related to engineering, consulting, and your career
• Learn about other HR Green business units and, when opportunities are available, shadow other teams to experience different areas of civil engineering
• Continue building your skills through LinkedIn Learning courses and other development resources
• Connect with other interns, engineers, and leaders through networking opportunities and team events

And you don’t have to have your entire career figured out before you get here. You may discover that Construction is exactly where you belong. Or your summer may introduce you to another area of civil engineering you hadn’t considered. We want to help you find where you fit and give you opportunities to keep growing once you do.

Qualifications 

• Be currently enrolled in an accredited college or university pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, or a related engineering discipline
• Be available to work full time during the Summer 2027 internship program, beginning between mid May and early June and ending in early August
• Have a valid driver’s license and be able to operate a company vehicle, as travel to project sites is part of the internship
• Be able to work in both office and field environments based on project needs
• Previous construction or engineering experience is great, but it isn’t required. We’re looking for students with the curiosity, attitude, and willingness to learn.

Compensation

$18-28/hr

The expected compensation range for this position is displayed in accordance with the Illinois Salary Transparency amendment to the Equal Pay Act of 2003. The final agreed-upon compensation is based on a number of factors, including but not limited to: individual education, qualifications, skills, prior work experience, competencies, and geographic work location. The total annual compensation package may consist of a base salary and eligibility to participate, after a qualifying period, in our performance and discretionary incentive bonus program(s).

Click here to hear from our past interns.

HR Green is proud to be an affirmative action/ equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, or other classification protected by applicable federal, state or local law.