2025 Engineering & Architecture Associates Program
: The Engineering & Architecture Associates Program is a two-year rotational program at The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey open to Engineering and Architecture students who are receiving a bachelor’s or master’s degree between September 2024 and May 2025. During their first year, Associates rotate through different Engineering/Architecture disciplines. Associates also rotate through different Port Authority facilities, like: George Washington Bridge; Holland Tunnel; JFK Airport; LaGuardia Airport; Lincoln Tunnel; Newark Airport; PATH; World Trade Center; and more. In their second year, Associates focus on the discipline they accepted an offer for. In addition to gaining hands-on experience and becoming part of the team in each rotation, the Engineering & Architecture Associates Program also provides mentorship, professional development, training, networking, and facility tours.
Associates are full-time, permanent employees with a yearly salary and benefits. After successful completion of the program, Associates remain permanent employees and are promoted to Associate Engineer/Architect. As of 2024, there are close to 200 program alumni still working at the agency. Most Associates grow their careers within the Engineering Department while others transition to engineering roles in other departments like: Aviation; Operations Services; Major Capital Projects; PATH; Planning & Regional Development; Port; Sustainability; Tunnels, Bridges & Terminals; World Trade Center; and more.
The 2025 cohort is expected to start in the beginning of June.
About the Engineering Department:
The Engineering Department is responsible for designing, building, and ensuring the state of good repair for all the critical infrastructure at Port Authority facilities. The Engineering Department consists of six (6) divisions.
The Design Division provides high quality and cost-effective engineering and architectural design services to deliver the Capital and Operating Programs to Engineering’s client departments. Units within the Design Division include: Architecture; Civil/Environmental; Contracts; Electrical; Geotechnical; Mechanical; Resilient & Sustainable Engineering; Structural; and Traffic.
The Construction Management Division provides assurance that construction contracts are completed in accordance with contract specifications, budgets, and schedules in a safe and secure manner. Construction Management also includes the Materials unit which provides quality assurance inspection and testing to ensure that the materials used in Port Authority construction meet the requirements specified in contract documents.
The Engineering Operations Division manages and facilitates internal processes to ensure the Engineering Department continues to: meet Port Authority’s priorities and standards; use global best practice design and construction services; leverage 21st century technology and sustainability methodologies; ensure collaboration across other departments; and maintain compliance to the highest ethical standards.
The Project Delivery Division works closely with Line Departments to: set project schedules and budgets; track delivery of projects to ensure adherence to Capital Plan baseline; lead agency State-of-Good-Repair prioritization efforts; support development of associated board authorizations and CPOC Gate review documents; and support lessons learned efforts.
The Quality Assurance Division conducts periodic inspections; reports on the condition of all buildings and structures; and provides repair recommendations. The Quality Assurance Division also acts as the agencies building department. They ensure all designs (third party and internal) are code compliant and audit all construction, enabling the asset to be put into beneficial use.
The Enterprise Asset Management Division is responsible for creating a platform for Port Authority to align its infrastructure management policies, processes, procedures, and systems across the enterprise to optimize the availability of its assets for their intended purposes.
Rotations:
- Before entering the program, Associates accept an offer for a specific discipline
- As an example, within the 2024 program, we had Associates in the following disciplines: Architecture; Construction Management; Electrical; Enterprise Asset Management; Materials; Operations; Project Delivery; Structural; and Traffic
- Each discipline has a Chief who will choose an Associate’s rotations based on what makes most sense for that particular discipline
- Associates’ interests are also taken into consideration when rotations are selected
Qualifications:
- Students receiving a bachelor’s or master’s degree in Engineering, Architecture, Construction Management, Data Science, Computer Science, Information Technology, Project Management, or a related discipline between September 2024 and May 2025
- Passion for public service
- Interest in public transportation
- Previous Engineering/Architecture internship(s)
- Openness to rotating through different Engineering/Architecture disciplines and Port Authority facilities (your home address will be taken into consideration when rotations are chosen)
- For Engineering students: a passing result of the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam or plans to take it (this does not apply to Architecture students)
- A valid driver’s license or ability to obtain one within 6 months of being hired