Engineering Intern - Electric Distribution

Position Purpose

Provide learning opportunities for college students to gain hands-on experience in electric distribution planning, modeling, and data analysis. This internship supports department projects and day-to-day operations while building foundational knowledge in areas such as system studies, distribution design and standards, smart grid/automation, and distributed energy resource (DER) interconnections.

Core Responsibilities

• Contribute to distribution design activities under guidance, with exposure to overhead, underground, and network projects and related standards.
• Support evaluation of distribution automation and emerging smart grid technologies; assist with documentation and process improvements.
• Review external road/agency plans with the team and help prepare inputs for relocations of facilities where needed.
• Participate in field inspections of electric facilities to collect data for planning, modeling, or design verification.
• Contribute to basic power quality and reliability investigations (e.g., data collection, preliminary analysis) under supervision.
• Participate in meetings, training, and shadowing opportunities to develop professional competencies.
• Complete assigned project work with accuracy, attention to detail, and follow-through; present key findings at the end of the internship.

Behavioral Competencies

• Communicates Effectively – Shares information clearly and concisely; listens and responds appropriately.
• Collaborates – Works effectively with others to achieve common goals.
• Action Oriented – Takes on new opportunities and challenges with enthusiasm.
• Nimble Learning – Actively learns through experimentation and feedback.
• Situational Adaptability – Adjusts approach to match changing conditions or priorities.

Skills

• Basic proficiency with Microsoft Office / O365; ability to learn new engineering tools and applications.
• Foundational understanding of electric power systems and distribution concepts.
• Ability to work with computer models and relational data used in mapping and analysis; translate between models, drawings, and diagrams.
• Experience with SQL and basic programming (e.g., Visual Basic in Visual Studio); familiarity with power-system modeling software (e.g., SynerGEE) is a plus.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills; effective written and verbal communication.
• Time and project management skills with attention to detail and follow-through.

Education

• Currently enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program in Electrical and/or Computer Engineering (or closely related field).
• Minimum completion of sophomore/junior year preferred.

Benefits of an Internship with MGE

• Convenient Location: MGE is a local employer with easy access via bike paths and public transportation. Free on-site parking is also available.
• Meaningful Work: Interns engage in hands-on, impactful projects that provide valuable experience across various business functions.
• Competitive Compensation: Interns receive fair and competitive pay that reflects the value of their contributions.
• Career Advancement: MGE offers a strong pathway to full-time employment, with a high rate of intern-to-employee conversion following graduation.

Work Schedule

• Full-time (40 hours/week) during summer: mid-May through early September.
• Hybrid work model with some remote flexibility.
• Additional part-time (15-20 hours/week) availability during fall and spring semesters based on business needs.

Applications for summer 2026 internships will be reviewed on a rolling basis.