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Pathways Student Trainee - Engineering

USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service
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Are you looking for a dynamic student internship where you can jumpstart an engineering career while continuing to work toward your degree? Want to help ensure a climate-resilient, sustainable future for our nation’s agriculture, forests, and natural resources? Become a Pathways Student Trainee – Engineering with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)! 

Duty Location:

We have many positions available within NRCS programs covering the greater Midwest United States. Duty location is negotiable after selection at one of the listed NRCS field offices. 

Applicants are encouraged to communicate location preferences and availability during the interview stage. Recruitment and relocation incentives may be offered according to Agency policy.

Duties and Responsibilities:

As a Pathways Student Intern, you’ll receive hands-on, specialized training and professional development across a wide variety of civil, agricultural, and environmental engineering practices. Work assignments are designed to provide practical application of the knowledge and skills acquired by interns during formal training. These assignments and duties may include: 

  • Performing a variety of survey work to develop topographic, cross section, profile, and other types of duty documents for use by a professional engineer.
  • Following practical training, operating engineering instruments such as an engineer’s level, hand level, laser level, total station, data collector, and GPS.
  • Utilizing a personal computer securely to process data, organize data, type design reports, estimate costs, calculate material quantities, and perform simple hydrology and hydraulic calculations. 
  • Assisting with construction inspection and layout for conservation structures, ensuring adherence to plans and specifications.
  • Assisting technicians with evaluating the needs and feasibility of proposed conservation projects. 

Following successful completion of Pathways program requirements, interns may be eligible for conversion to a permanent professional position within the Agency. 

Application Instructions:

Applications close at 11:59 PM EST on November 17, 2026.

To apply, you will need to create a USAJOBS account, complete the online application and assessment questionnaires, and submit any required documents. Please see the full job announcement on USAJOBS for eligibility and qualification information, as well as further instructions to apply.