Student Design Trainee III, Arch, Engr, & Planning

Work Hours and Location

• Work location is in-person at the Port’s Pier 1 Office on the San Francisco Waterfront, within walking distance of the Ferry Building and Embarcadero BART & MUNI station
• Flexible, year-round part-time schedule (maximum 1,040 hours per year)
• Ability to adjust your regular work schedule each semester depending on your class schedule, and take unpaid time off for exams, summer travel, etc.

Job Description

The Port is seeking a motivated Mechanical Engineering student intern to join Engineering Division’s Utilities group that supports engineering, maintenance, and capital improvement project across Port facilities. This position offers hands-on experience with mechanical and electrical systems used in maritime, waterfront, commercial buildings and industrial infrastructure. The intern will work under the guidance of Port professional engineers to assist with field inspections, data collection, design support and project documentation.

What You will Do

As part of our Engineering team, you will:

• Assist with field inspection of pumps, HVAC systems, electrical systems, cranes, and other waterfront mechanical and electrical equipment.
• Contribute to engineering drawings, design concepts, and technical documentation.
• Perform real engineering calculations and help develop project cost estimates.
• Visit active construction sites and learn how a project moves from design to reality.
• Support improvements focused on sustainability, climate resilience and long-term asset reliability.
• Work alongside experienced engineers who will mentor you and support your growth.

What You will Learn

• How mechanical and electrical systems operate in a maritime environment.
• How to assess equipment performance and plan preventative maintenance.
• How public infrastructure projects are designed, permitted and delivered.
• How to collaborative with multidisciplinary teams, including electrical engineer, civil engineer, structural engineer, architects and contractors.
• How mechanical systems are designed, maintained and managed in a maritime and industrial setting. 

Why Intern with the Port of San Francisco Utilities Engineering Team?

• Unique experience working along a historic, working waterfront.
• Opportunities you cannot get in typical student internships like inspecting real infrastructure and supporting public projects.
• Mentorship from seasoned engineers invested in developing early-career talent.
• A supportive team committed to community service, environmental stewardship, and engineering excellence.

Qualifications

Education: At the time you submit your application, you must be enrolled in an accredited university or a community college in the following related fields: Mechanical, Electrical, Civil, or Environmental Engineering, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Interior Architecture, Architectural Technology, Architectural Engineering, Geography, Planning, Urban Planning, City Planning, Regional Planning, Computer Science/Information Services Program, Cybersecurity Program, Cloud Security, Digital Forensics, Mathematics, Biology, Natural Resources, Environmental Horticulture.

• You must be returning to your undergraduate program or entering/continuing a graduate program in the Fall 2026.

Experience: No previous experience is necessary. However, previous internship experience may be used to determine the possible level of classification into which you are hired.

• Candidates must be willing to learn architectural, engineering, environmental, and planning practices depending on the various city departments and area of interest.
• Candidates must be prepared to receive on-the-job training to acquire the ability to apply professional standards and develop architectural, engineering, engineering, and planning skills.

The Ideal Candidate:

• Student currently studying Mechanical Engineering (sophomore -level or higher preferred).
• Someone excited to work both in the field and in the office.
• A problem-solver who pays attention to details and enjoys hand-on work.
• Familiarity with AutoCAD and Microsoft Office.
• A positive attitude, wiliness to learn and curiosity about how things work.