Civil Engineering Intern - Dams

Schnabel is an employee-owned, professional engineering and consulting firm that focuses on solving problems related to the earth and environment through specialization in geotechnical, geostructural, tunnel, and dam engineering. Schnabel’s high standards for quality, business ethics, and concern for the communities in which we live are a vital part of who we are. Schnabel is an ENR Top 500 Design Firm with 650+ employees in 30 offices throughout the United States.

Recognized by CE News as one of the Best Engineering Firms to Work for, Schnabel provides employees with a competitive benefits package including maternity leave, tuition reimbursement for continuing education, health, dental, life and disability insurance and a wellness program. As an employee-owned company, through the Employee Stock Ownership Plan, Schnabel employees directly benefit from the success of our growing firm.

Benefit Options Include:

• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Flexible spending accounts
• Employee life & ADD insurance (100% company-paid)
• Short-term disability (100% company-paid)
• Long-term disability
• Supplemental life insurance
• 401(k) and profit-sharing plan
• Employee stock ownership plan (ESOP)
• Bonus program
• Paid time off
• 9 Paid Holidays
• Wellness program
• Professional development and tuition reimbursement

Job Description:

Are you looking for interesting and meaningful work, a fun and flexible atmosphere, and opportunities to learn, grow, and excel? If so, then welcome to Schnabel! We approach problems with creativity and innovation.

Our Albany-area office in Clifton Park is seeking a temporary full-time intern with a Civil Engineering background. Candidates with a specialization in geotechnical, structural, or water resource engineering are encouraged to apply.

In this position you can expect to gain practical knowledge and experience while solving real-world engineering problems under the supervision and mentoring of senior engineering personnel. Our multi-discipline team is critical to our success, and our ideal candidate is motivated by a passion to develop as a professional and a desire to be part of a strong team. 

• The position will be held from May through August of 2026. 
• All applicants are required to provide a cover letter and resume to be considered. 

Job Responsibilities:

• Perform engineering activities for all phases of a project lifecycle, including field inspections, evaluation, analysis, design, and engineering services during construction.
• Apply engineering principles to develop innovative solutions.
• Water Resource examples include peak flow analyses for watersheds, dam breach modeling and inundation mapping, and design of hydraulic structures.
• Geotechnical examples include subsurface investigations, evaluating instrumentation and monitoring data, soil and rock mechanics, foundation design, embankment dam design, seepage evaluations, slope stability analyses, and seismic analyses.
• Structural and geostructural examples include design of hydraulic structures such as spillways and outlet works, dam stability and rehabilitation, retaining walls, cofferdams and support of excavation, and deep foundations.
• Prepare design calculations, engineering reports, construction drawings and technical specifications.
• Field work, including assignments that may require travel away from the office.  Field work might include:
• Inspection of dams, levees, and other hydraulic structures.
• Collection of data and measurements in the field.
• Observation and logging of geotechnical test borings.
• Observation of construction activities, and testing materials such as soil, concrete, asphalt, masonry and reinforcing steel.
• Communication with contractors, surveyors, engineers, and project managers.

Required Skills/Experience:

• Current enrollment in Bachelor’s Degree (or higher) in Civil Engineering or related field from an ABET-accredited program, with excellent academic achievement in relevant courses.
• Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills. Candidate should be prepared to provide examples of their technical writing.
• Ability to work with direction as part of a team.
• Willingness to perform a variety of tasks including office and field work.
• Desire and willingness to work outdoors.
• Ability to routinely lift up to 50 pounds  and be physically able to safely negotiate construction sites.

Preferred Skills/Experience:

• Experience with specialized software platforms is a plus. 
• Examples of software that we commonly use to evaluate geotechnical/geostructural performance include: Geostudio, Rocscience, OpenGround, and numerical modeling programs such as PLAXIS and FLAC.
• Examples of software that we commonly use to evaluate watersheds, dams and hydraulic structures include: HEC-HMS, HEC-RAS, and CFD. 
• Expertise with AutoCAD/Civil 3D, Revit, and similar drafting tools is a plus.
• An understanding of survey techniques and other field data collection methods is a plus.
• Experience with project management, construction management, and coordination of field activities is a plus.

Other Requirements:

• A valid driver’s license is required as driving is an essential function of this position.
• Ability to pass a background check which may include criminal history, motor vehicle record, and credit check.
• Ability to pass a pre-employment drug screening.

The compensation range for a Civil Engineering Intern is between $18 to $25. Compensation for this position may vary based on geographic location and other factors. We remain committed to providing competitive and equitable compensation to all employees, regardless of their location.