General Statement of Duties
Closing Date: This position closes on Wednesday, February 25, 2026. Engineering Aide Internship II/III -
Our Department of Public Utilities has several paid summer 2026 internship opportunities (for current college level students) across various sections for the summer of 2026. The rate of pay is $16.00 per hour for undergraduate level students and $17.00 per hour for graduate level students. If the selected students should need academic credit, either as a requirement or elective for their program, we can accommodate. The desired area of student for these Internships include E ngineering: General, Civil or Mechanical, Environmental, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Geographic Information Science, Instrumentation or electronics studies or related program.
Internships are intended to provide the intern with basic experiential exposure to a field of interest. The intern must bring a strong interest in the assigned department's mission and operations and be prepared to work in a fast-paced environment. The intern will receive training relevant to the assigned responsibilities and finish the internship having gained basic experience in various aspects of the operations of the assigned department as well as basic skills and industry knowledge. Internships may include extensive public contact. Internships may be an integral part of a team or may require the intern to work more independently. The intern will also learn how to work in a professional environment and have opportunities to network with department leaders and other professionals in the internship field. All internships are limited to up to 29 hours per week.
Henrico County offers a variety of challenging hands-on internships performing a variety of responsible tasks relevant to the assigned department. To Learn more about the Internship Program click to view resources, video, and photo content.
Internships may be available in many departments at various times throughout the year. For information on available internships check the job site frequently at . For more information on the operations and functions of each department click here: .
Essential Duties
Our Department of Public Utilities has several internship opportunities across various divisions for the summer of 2026. These opportunities are paid . However, if the selected students need academic credit, either as a requirement or elective for their program, we can accommodate.
Desired Area of Study for these Engineering positions includes Engineering: General, Civil or Mechanical, Environmental, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Geographic Information Science, Instrumentation or electronics studies or related program specific to the duties for each location.
The hiring selection and level is dependent on the qualification of the successful applicant and the needs of the County for the position. In general students applying for these opportunities should have: - Strong foundational knowledge in a field relevant to internship.
- Desire to utilize the principles and practices of Engineering learned from within their studies.
- Good verbal communication and customer service skills to communicate effectively with a diverse audience of County employees and citizens integral to the internship.
- Good critical thinking and problem-solving skills
- Ability to develop and maintain good working relationships with internal and external departments and organizations, school personnel, co-workers, and the public.
- Good organizational skills with the ability to research, collect and organize facts/tasks and keep accurate records.
- Attention to details.
- Excellent attention to details; excellent knowledge of and familiarity with computer systems with demonstrated proficiency in the use of a personal computer and common software (e.g., Word, Excel, Power Point).
- Ability to multitask and manage priorities; ability to work independently with minimal supervision and as a part of a team; and ability to meet assigned deadlines.
All of these opportunities offer a student the chance to: - Work in an environment where no day is the same.
- Learn daily operations of the unit through exposure of meetings, direct activities and hands-on work.
- Gain real-world experience to use their studies in the processing of water and wastewater processes.
- Learn about the many services offered by Public Utilities and about the department's overall operations to keep safe, clean water available to the citizens and public.
- Receive Mentorship from working with professional Engineers, Electricians and Information Technology staff.
- Learn about careers that exist within local government.
Internships are intended to provide the intern with basic experiential exposure to a field of interest. The intern must bring a strong interest in the assigned department's mission and operations and be prepared to work in a fast-paced environment. The intern will receive training relevant to the assigned responsibilities and finish the internship having gained basic experience in various aspects of the operations of the assigned department as well as basic skills and industry knowledge. Internships may include extensive public contact. Internships may be an integral part of a team or may require the intern to work more independently. The intern will also learn how to work in a professional environment and have opportunities to network with department leaders and other professionals in the internship field
Work Sites/Locations: 1. Design Division - AnnexBuilding at4305 E. Parham Road, Henrico, VA 23228
Work Hours: 7:00 am - 3:30 pm, are core hours, Monday through Friday.
The Intern may be a part of a variety of duties to shadow, perform or provide: - Assistance on plan reviews, estimates and specifications on a variety of projects.
- Assistance with field surveying.
- Develop reports and input information into databases.
- Attend staff meetings with developers, engineers, architects, attorneys, realtors, property owners and other county personnel.
- Provide design recommendations, coordinating reviews with developers and engineers in the interpretation for County standards and policies.
- Participate in site visits to investigate and analyze field problems.
- Research and perform review of easement plat applications.
- Other duties and related work as assigned.
The desired student should have: - Ability to make complex calculations and formulas.
- Knowledge of environmental impacts.
- Critical thinking and ability to solve problems.
- Interest in work that requires problem solving, light-moderate physical labor - heavy mental labor.
- Ability to work outside.
- Ability to follow safety procedures while on job sites.
2. Water Reclamation Facility - 9101 WRVA Road, Henrico, VA 23231; 7 am - 3:30 pm are core hours, Monday through Friday.
This position depends on the skills, abilities, and interest of the student selected and the needs of the facility the individual could work in various sections in various capacities
The Intern may be a part of a variety of duties to shadow, perform or provide: - Assisting with Lab and Monitoring duties.
- Drawing, specifications, operations, and maintenance manual reviews for the purpose of organization, filing, digitizing, etc.
- Collection, compiling, and analyzing data.
- Review and gather information to write or update Standard Operating Procedures, Preventative Maintenance Manuals, Operations and Maintenance manuals for pumps, equipment, review plans, maps, drawings, and charts.
- Analyzing issues within the plant.
- Research, data management, filing and other duties as they might arise.
- Work may also include laboratory bench top, bioreactor studies, GIS mapping, valve guide development, pump card development, and preparing standard detail drawings.
- Other duties as assigned.
The interns will learn how a wastewater treatment plant operates and must possess the ability to: - Read and interpret engineering documents.
- Use software systems and packages to assist in analyzing issues within the plant.
- Be in a physical condition that allows for bending, stooping, squatting, climbing, walking up and down stairs, and permits working out of doors and in adverse conditions and temperatures.
- Be proficient with a computer and will use Microsoft Office. The intern may learn about and work within the County's GIS, Work Management Systems and other engineering-related equipment and systems.
3. Water Treatment Facility - 10111 Three Chopt Road, Henrico, VA 23233; 8 am - 4:30 pm are core hours, Monday through Friday.
The intern will learn about the water treatment process and applications used to maintain and operate a water treatment facility.
The Intern may be a part of a variety of duties to shadow, perform or provide: - Computer Maintenance of the Management System.
- ESMS Program.
- Review and revisions to the standard operating procedures.
- Other duties as assigned.
The desired student should have the ability to: - Read and interpret engineering documents.
- Be proficient with a computer and will use Microsoft Office, Work Management Systems and other engineering-related equipment and systems.
4. Solid Waste Division and Operations Division - 10401 Woodman Road, Glen Allen, VA 23060; 8 am - 4:30 pm are core hours, Monday through Friday.
The intern will learn about the water and wastewater infrastructure. In addition, the selected students will also learn about the importance of the Operations Division within the Public Utilities Department as a whole.
Desired Area of Study: Desired area of program study or degree: General, Environmental, Civil, or Mechanical Engineering (current junior or senior preferred).
The Intern may be a part of a variety of duties to shadow, perform or provide: - Plan review
- Operation of pump station monitoring and repair
- Water/Wastewater break support
- Environmental Sustainability Management Program.
- Data Analysis
- GIS Mapping for water main repairs.
- Update data concerning water meter changes.
- Assistance with improving workflow in the metering group.
- Review and update work management data in the water/wastewater pumping section.
- Assist with wastewater inflow and infiltration data review.
- Implement of Environmental and Sustainability Management System.
- Assist in skilled tasks relating to the operation and maintenance of drinking water and sanitary sewer utility systems.
- Collecting, compiling, and analyzing water and sewer data to help the Division identify needs and correct errors/issues.
- Reviewing and gathering information from Operations & Maintenance Manuals for pumps and equipment and reviewing plans, maps, drawings, and charts.
- With internal research, interns will gather information from outside resources and on-site field visits.
- The selected students will also assist with on-site field safety evaluations.
- Other duties and related work as assigned.
Through the course of the internship the student will gain knowledge of: - The importance of a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) System
- How portable water gets to the customers within Henrico
- How wastewater is transmitted to the Water Reclamation facility from the customers within Henrico.
- How a utility customer of Henrico receives a bill for their water and wastewater usage.
- How an elevated and ground water storage tank operates.
- The importance of and how water and wastewater pump stations operate.
- How Operations staff find issues or failures within a water or wastewater pipe.
- The steps required to address a customer's utility concern.
- The importance of asset management.
The desired student should have: - Understand the basics of pumps and fluids principles and practices.
- Read and interpret engineering documents.
- Ability to make complex calculations and formulas.
- Knowledge of environmental impacts.
- Interest in work that requires problem solving, light-moderate physical labor - heavy mental labor.
- The ability to work outside and lift up to 25 pounds.
- The Ability to follow safety procedures while on job sites.
Minimum Qualifications
Education: Current students pursuing a college degree in a field relevant to internship or post-secondary vocational/technical training in a trade or craft that is relevant to the internship; GPA of 2.00 or better; prefer a college student in the junior or senior year of the relevant degree program.
Experience: Completion of courses in relevant degree or vocational/technical program; relevant job or volunteer experience;
Or: Any equivalent combination education and experience which provides the knowledge, skills and abilities relevant to the internship.
Additional Information
The application process requires applicants to include all of the following items: - Resume that includes the names of two references and their contact information.
- Cover letter indicating:
- Your top three areas of interest in order of your inter est.
- Why you are interested in the position at Henrico County.
- Three learning goals related to the internship.
- Unofficial transcript
A criminal history record check and fingerprinting is conducted on all persons conditionally offered employment (including as an intern), including a conditional offer of initial employment, or a conditional offer to promote, demote, or laterally transfer an employee.
Interns are not entitled to a job at the end of an internship. The internship is designed to benefit the intern with the knowledge and skills gained through experiences provided during the course of the internship. Internships are limited to work up to 29 hours per week.
How To Apply
Closing Date: This position closes on Wednesday, February 25, 2026. To learn more about the County's Internship Program visit You apply for positions with Henrico County general government through our on-line applicant system, which is available 24-hours a day, 7-days a week with an Internet connection. Please access our job site portal through or register (new applicants) or login (returning applicants) to this site from the home page.
Minimum Salary 16
Maximum Salary 17
Currency USD
Main Organization General Government
General Government
Employment Status Hourly/Temporary
Hourly/Temporary
Amount of Travel
Work At Home
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