Intern - Department of Public Works (20719249)

Position:         Intern - Department of Public Works
Salary:            $25.08 to $30.02 per hour (Dependent on Qualifications)
Job Type:        Internship

Location:        Public Works Department
                         330 W. 20th Avenue, San Mateo, CA 94403

Duration:        Summer 2026 - 30 max hours per week

Application:    An official City of San Mateo employment application and supplemental questionnaire is required.

Closing Date:  April 10, 2026 or upon receipt of the first 100 applications and supplemental questionnaires, whichever occurs first

THE POSITION: The Public Works Department at the City of San Mateo has an opportunity for up to three (3) interns who will assist on various municipal projects. Positions are considered for several fields of interest, including, but not limited to, the following examples:

• Capital Improvement Program (CIP) – Civil Engineering majors with an interest in capital improvement projects, design of civil infrastructure, and construction delivery procedures. Assist with project standards, standard specifications and drawings, CAD drafting, plan review, construction cost estimates, data collection and analysis.
• Traffic Engineering – Civil Engineering majors with an interest in parking, transportation, and traffic engineering. Assist with creating parking zone signage, mapping, program evaluations, document organization and filing, field data collection and analysis, traffic studies, and plan reviews.
• Right-of-Way & Development (ROWD) – Civil Engineering majors with an interest in civil design and permitting processes. Assist with plan review for land development, project entitlements, construction permitting, map review for land surveying, records research, data collection, construction site visits, customer service, and government affairs.
• Facilities and Fleet – Assist in a wide range of Facility Capital Improvement Projects (CIP), including ongoing maintenance programs, rehabilitation projects, and new buildings. Assistance with project management of CIP, and coordination and review of plans and documents, as well as other office and field related tasks.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• BA/BS Candidate or MA/MS Candidate in civil engineering or related field as described above is highly desirable
• Facilities and Fleet position: BA/BS Candidate or MA/MS Candidate in Architecture or related field as an alternate to a BA/BS Candidate or MA/MS Candidate in civil engineering.
• Strong analytical, writing, research, and verbal skills; effective written and oral communication
• Valid California Driver’s License (Class C)

• Ability to learn new information quickly
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Excel, PowerPoint, Project) and web-based resources
• Ability to plan, organize and coordinate workload
• Ability to work independently and within teams
• Exhibit a positive attitude and flexibility in accepting assignments
• Adobe Acrobat Pro, AutoCAD, Google Earth, or ArcGIS experience is highly desirable
• Writing experience for webpages, social media, and outreach material is highly desirable
• Experience with interpretation of technical information and statistics

DUTIES:

The primary duties will depend on the intern’s assigned position and associated field of interest and may include the following:

• Assisting engineering project managers with administrative or technical tasks
• Drafting engineering plans/standards in AutoCAD
• Creating map displays using Google Earth or GIS
• Gathering, compiling, and presenting data for engineering and construction projects
• Organizing and tracking inspection reports, testing results, invoices, and other construction documentation
• Conducting field assessments of the condition of streets, drainage/collection systems, and other infrastructure
• Investigating and proposing responses to questions or inquiries from residents
• Assist in other areas such as procurement, communication, public outreach, and public surveys.

In addition, the intern may work on a variety of other projects depending upon availability and workload.

HOW TO APPLY: Interested candidates should submit an official City of San Mateo employment application and supplemental questionnaire on-line on CalOpps.org by April 10, 2026 or upon receipt of 100 applications, whichever occurs first.