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Position Duties
About the Multi-Discipline Engineering Internship
The Environmental Services Department is currently seeking to fill two (2) part-time unbenefited Undergraduate/Graduate Student Intern positions.
Student Interns of the Multi-Discipline Engineering Internship will rotate within five key engineering groups across the Environmental Services Department. Interns will rotate into each of these five engineering groups approximately every six weeks. These rotations will include travel to three distinct work locations which include San José City Hall, the San José-Santa Clara Regional Wastewater Facility (RWF), and San José Municipal Water System (Muni Water). At the conclusion of the internship, interns will have job shadowed in each of the five groups.
The key engineering groups are located withing the following sections:
Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Division
The Capital Improvement Program (CIP) division is leading one of the largest public works programs in San José’s history! The division is responsible for delivering a 10-year capital improvement program estimated at $1.4 billion and assuring the future of wastewater treatment services for 1.7 million residents and 17,000 businesses.
The CIP division performs the overall planning and project delivery for all aspects of the RWF treatment process, including program administration and budget planning. The division is also supported by a co-located team of consultant staff and staff from the Department of Public Works, who provide program management and construction management services.
- Responsibilities while working in CIP include but are not limited to: Supporting engineering staff on current projects in various phases of work, including feasibility, design, bid, and construction; attending project and staff meetings; attending design workshops; participating in construction site visits; assisting staff to manage facility-wide studies; and assisting staff in the areas of program management and controls.
Operations & Maintenance (O&M)
The Wastewater Management Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Engineering section works side-by-side with three divisions of wastewater management at the RWF - Plant Operations, Facility Maintenance, and Energy & Automation. The division is staffed by 226 full-time employees that includes operators, mechanics, various wastewater superintendents and supervisors, engineers, technicians, analysts, staff specialists, and other support staff. In addition, these groups are supported by various consultants. This section is responsible for managing various O&M repair/replacement projects, providing engineering support to the RWF, maintaining document management systems and record drawings, and providing leadership for the Asset Management system.
- Responsibilities while working in O&M include but are not limited to:
- Assisting with equipment tags, field verification, and creating missing tag lists.
- Assisting with uploading O&M manuals, equipment warranty documents, SOPs, and training related documents from CIP Final Submittals to WMDocs.
- Assisting with the review of preventive maintenance schedules from O&M manuals and creating PM schedule lists.
- Assisting with O&M Online Manual upgrades.
- Assisting with O&M Engineering projects.
- Other miscellaneous tasks as assigned.
Pretreatment Program – Watershed Protection (WSP) Division
The Pretreatment Program consists of the Source Control and Environmental Engineering sections and is responsible for implementing the federal- and state-mandated pretreatment program for industrial discharges to the San José-Santa Clara Regional Wastewater Facility. The program is required by the Facility’s NPDES permit and is aimed at ensuring that certain dischargers have adequate treatment prior to the discharge of industrial wastewater to the sanitary sewer to protect water quality and the integrity of the wastewater collection and treatment systems. On an annual basis, the Pretreatment Program inspects approximately 350 businesses, collects more than 1,900 water quality samples, and reviews more than 900 self-monitoring reports. This group also permits and conducts inspections of newly regulated facilities such as dental offices.
- Responsibilities while working in the Pretreatment Program include but are not limited to: Assisting Sanitary Engineers in evaluating industrial and commercial facilities for compliance with federal, state, and local pretreatment requirements; writing and issuing Industrial Wastewater Discharge Permits; conducting plan check reviews of industrial and commercial facilities, and performing specialized environmental engineering studies in support of the Pretreatment Program, the Watershed Enforcement Program, and the Regional Wastewater Facility.
Municipal Water System (Muni Water) & South Bay Water Recycling (SBWR)
Muni Water
The Municipal Water System section is responsible for system operation and maintenance engineering support, and design and construction of the Municipal Water System pipeline and facilities. This includes managing the water quality programs, and supporting the conservation program, providing development related support services, ensuring availability of water supply, capital improvements, construction inspection, and engineering support to operations and maintenance.
SBWR
South Bay Water Recycling (SBWR) is a recycled water wholesaler to four retailers: San Jose Water Company, San José Municipal Water, City of Santa Clara, and City of Milpitas. Customers buy recycled water from the retailer in their location.
SBWR is the regional permit holder for recycled water in San José, Santa Clara and Milpitas, ensuring compliance with State regulations for recycled water quality and use and is a leader in recycled water in Northern California.
SBWR’s recycled water system consists of over 150 miles of pipeline, five pump stations, and 10 million gallons of storage in reservoirs. SBWR delivers more than four billion gallons of recycled water per year to more than 960 commercial customers, an average of 11 million gallons a day.
- Responsibilities while working in Muni Water & SBWR include but are not limited to: Supporting engineering and operations staff through research, data collection, and technical analyses for ongoing projects. Responsibilities will include conducting field visits and site inspections to observe construction and operations/maintenance activities, as well as participating in staff meetings, taking notes, and providing follow-up as needed. Additional assignments may be given to further assist the engineering and compliance team.
Duration of Assignment
Approximately 8 months
Salary Information
Salary ranges for this classification are:
- Undergraduate Student Intern: $15.86 - $22.65 hourly
- Graduate Student Intern: $20.52 - $30.30 hourly
These salary ranges include an approximate five percent (5%) ongoing non-pensionable compensation. Actual salary shall be determined by the final candidates’ qualifications and experience.
Minimum Qualifications
Education:
- Undergraduate: Current enrollment in an accredited college or university in an undergraduate program. Must be enrolled throughout the duration of the internship.
- Graduate: Completion of a bachelor’s degree and current enrollment in a master’s degree program from an accredited college or university. Must be enrolled throughout the duration of the internship.