Civil Engineering - Design Water and Wastewater School To Employment Program (STEP)

Civil Engineering  - Design Water And Wastewaterschool To Employment Program (Step)

Colorado Springs Utilities is looking for a motivated and engaged high school student who is interested in civil engineering and seeking an opportunity to gain knowledge and experiences in a STEP role where concepts learned in the academic environment to job-related, hands-on experiences can be applied in future work and academic settings.
Colorado Springs Utilities offers the School To Employment Program (STEP) for talented high school students. STEP is a partnership with local high schools which focuses on high school students, 16 years or older, interested in gaining exposure to Colorado Springs Utilities and the roles and services it offers. STEP allows students to gain work-related training in order to prepare for the workplace after graduation.  Additionally, this position is available to high school graduates for up to 6 months post graduation.

In this experience, you will work alongside engineers in the Design Water Wastewater section on various phases of water distribution system, vertical water and wastewater projects from data analysis to design and construction. The Design section is comprised of Standards, Engineering Support, Linear, and Vertical units. Additionally, the Section works closely with Project Management, Planning.

In this student-based experience, you will gain experience in the following areas:

• Project planning/ Desktop Assessment /Research
• Data Analysis– Evaluate collected data 
• Collaboration – Attend meetings with key stakeholders 
• Observe and assist in design
• Observe and assist in construction
• Research utility records, GIS information, material information, as-built construction plans, property/easement data, and specifications for water projects
• Work with Engineers, Project Managers, Designers, Operators, Planners
• Exposure to external sources (i.e., consultants, permitting agencies)
• Review or assist in development of contracts, drawings, specifications, technical memoranda and other engineering reports, including supporting calculations or modeling
• Perform engineering quality reviews with Springs Utilities engineers and / or consultants 
• Construction Oversight – Observe on-site inspections of construction work 
• Visit project sites and work with field and construction teams

What will it take to be successful?  Prospective candidates must coordinate their application with their counselor and a written recommendation from the counselor must accompany your application attached with your resume as one document.

• You MUST be 16 years or older and currently enrolled as a junior OR senior in high school 
• You must have and maintain at least a 2.5 GPA and are in good standing at your respective high school and have a good attendance record
• Enrollment in a Career and Technical Education (CTE) or relevant program at your high school is preferred, but not required
• Should be a critical thinker, who can extract information from data to make recommendations while maintaining strong attention to quality, detail, and accuracy
• Knowledge of AutoCAD is desirable but not required and other software (modeling) knowledge a plus
• Candidates who demonstrate professional demeanor, innovative thinking and educational curiosity will excel within our enterprise 

Physical Requirements/Working Conditions:

• Exerts up to 10 lbs. of force occasionally and/or small amount of force frequently to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time but may involve walking or standing for brief periods of time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally, and all other sedentary criteria are met.
• Positions in this class typically require reaching, standing, walking, grasping, talking, hearing, seeing and repetitive motions. 

Why should you apply?  Working with our section will provide insight into what it takes to deliver quality, timely and accurate information in a collaborative environment and provide you with foundational knowledge designed to prepare you for an education and career in civil engineering. This position will afford you the opportunity to work with very dedicated teams of highly skilled technical professionals who are passionate in their service to our community. 

Who We are...Colorado Springs Utilities, a four-service utility provider with a 100-year reputation of integrity, gives you an experience unmatched by other utility companies. We continuously strive to stay ahead of the business curve with our established priority to update and incorporate state-of-the-art technology and provide a work culture dedicated to innovation, collaboration, and synergy. In fact, we were recently awarded the Diamond Designation from the American Public Power Association (APPA), recognizing our utility for having some of the highest ratings in reliability, safety, workforce development, and system improvements among the more than 2,000 public utilities in the nation.

Our Commitment to Our Employees…
Our people are the heart and soul of Colorado Springs Utilities.  They keep the lights on, gas flowing, water coming in, and wastewater leaving.  We don't just say people are important – we prove it!  That’s why we are honored to invest in protecting the health and financial security of our employees and their families through our rich benefits program.

Time Off to Recharge

• Vacation – Start with 13 days annually, increasing to 24 days with tenure
• Paid Holidays –12 paid holidays per year
• Sick Leave – 12 days per year for personal or family health needs
• Vacation Buy – Option to purchase up to 40 additional hours annually

Health & Wellness – Benefits elected are effective the first of the following month

• Medical Plans: Three comprehensive options, including a $0 premium High-Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with Health Savings Account (HSA) eligibility
• Zero Health: Access to hundreds of medical services at no cost
• Dental & Vision: Two dental plans and one vision plan
• Family Building-Benefits: Support for fertility, preservation, adoption, and surrogacy
• Wellness Program: Earn up to $500 for healthcare expenses, $100 in Visa gift cards, and $400 in gym reimbursements
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA): Pre-tax contributions for healthcare and dependent care expenses
• Health Savings Account (HSA): Available with HDHP
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Confidential support for mental health, stress, legal, financial, and work-life balance

Financial & Retirement Security

• Pension Plan: Colorado PERA provides retirement benefits and peace of mind
• Supplemental Retirement Plans: PERAPlus 401(k), MissionSquare Roth IRA, and 457 plans
• Disability Coverage: Short-Term and Long-Term Disability insurance available
• Life Insurance: Employer-paid coverage with optional supplemental plans
• Long-Term Care Insurance: Available for purchase to support extended care needs