About the role#
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service is hiring Student Trainees for engineering internships. This program provides paid work experience for students enrolled in accredited educational institutions. Interns may be eligible for non-competitive conversion to a permanent position upon successful completion of the program requirements.
What you'll do#
- Perform survey work including topographic, cross section, and profile data collection.
- Operate engineering instruments such as levels, total stations, data collectors, and GPS equipment.
- Use a PC to process data, write reports, estimate costs, and perform hydrology and hydraulic calculations.
- Assist with construction inspection and layout for conservation structures.
- Help technicians evaluate the feasibility of proposed conservation projects.
What you'll need#
- Enrollment at least half-time in an accredited institution pursuing a degree in Civil Engineering or a related field.
- A minimum GPA of 2.5.
- Completion of at least 480 hours of work experience before degree completion.
- Valid state motor vehicle operator's license.
- US Citizenship or status as a US National.
- Registration with the Selective Service if born after December 31, 1959.
- Ability to pass a background investigation and fingerprint check.
- Successful completion of E-Verify.
- Agreement to sign a participant agreement.
- Ability to meet specific GS-02, GS-03, or GS-04 education requirements.
Location & details#
- This is an on-site, full-time position.
- Locations include Huntsville, AL; Fort Smith, Jonesboro, and Little Rock, AR; Athens, Moultrie, and Swainsboro, GA; Albany, Bowling Green, Elizabethtown, Lexington, London, Mount Vernon, and Somerset, KY; Crowley, Jonesville, and Ruston, LA; Hattiesburg and Tupelo, MS; Hillsborough, NC; Chattanooga, Jackson, Knoxville, and Murfreesboro, TN; and Farmville, VA.
About USDA
The United States Department of Agriculture is a federal executive department. It manages government policy regarding farming, food, and agriculture. The agency works to support ranchers and farmers while promoting agricultural trade. It also oversees food safety, rural community development, and natural resource protection. The department maintains offices in Washington, DC and other locations.
How to get in at USDA
Securing an internship at the USDA requires a proactive approach to navigating federal hiring cycles. Because early applicants are often reviewed before the applicant pool becomes unmanageable, Intern Insider sends an instant alert the moment a role matching your target is published, helping you apply among the first. This timing can be the difference between your application being seen and getting lost in a large volume of submissions. You can also improve your response rates by reaching out to the recruiters behind these roles directly. Intern Insider surfaces the specific recruiters behind the USDA roles, allowing you to ask relevant questions about the position or inquire about a referral. Connecting with the right person often provides the clarity needed to stand out in a competitive government hiring process.
