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Geological Intern Jobs in Portland, OR (NOW HIRING)

Geological Intern information

What does a geological intern do?

A Geological Intern assists professional geologists with fieldwork, laboratory analysis, and data interpretation. Their tasks often include collecting rock and soil samples, conducting geologic surveys, preparing reports, and using specialized software for mapping and data analysis. Interns gain hands-on experience in various geological techniques while learning about environmental assessments, mineral exploration, and research methods. This role provides valuable exposure to the practical aspects of geology, helping interns build foundational skills for a career in the field.

What types of projects and fieldwork can a geological intern typically expect to participate in during their internship?

As a Geological Intern, you can expect to be involved in a variety of hands-on projects, such as collecting and analyzing soil, rock, or mineral samples, assisting with geological mapping, and supporting field surveys. Interns often work alongside experienced geologists, both in the field and in the laboratory, gaining exposure to real-world data collection and reporting processes. Depending on the organization, you might also help with environmental assessments or resource exploration, which provides valuable practical experience and insight into different career paths within geology.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a geological intern, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Geological Intern, you typically need a background in geology or earth sciences, with a focus on data collection, fieldwork, and analytical techniques. Familiarity with GIS software, mapping tools, and laboratory equipment is often required, and coursework or certifications in these areas can be advantageous. Strong attention to detail, effective communication, and teamwork skills help you excel in fast-paced field and research environments. These abilities ensure accurate data gathering and analysis, facilitating valuable contributions to geological projects and supporting career growth.

What are the most commonly searched types of Geological jobs in Portland, OR?

The most popular types of Geological jobs in Portland, OR are:

Infographic showing various Geological Intern job openings in Portland, OR as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution.

Civil Engineer (Area Engineer)

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Hillsboro, OR • On-site

$89K/yr

Full-time

Posted 22 days ago


USDA Forest Service rating

7.4

Company rating: 7.4 out of 10

Based on 120 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

161st of 294 rated public sector bodies


Job description

This position is located in a USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service state, area, or field office within Oregon. The incumbent is responsible for providing technical guidance and leadership in the overall planning, design, installation, and maintenance of the engineering phases of soil and water conservation practices as well as watershed flood protection programs.
There is one vacancy, which may be filled at any of the following duty locations: Beavercreek, OR; Hillsboro, OR; or Salem, ORQualifications:In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards.
Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. If education is required or being used to qualify, you must submit a copy of your transcripts.
Basic Education Requirement:
Degree: Engineering. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor's degree be in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) http://main.abet.org/aps/accreditedprogramsearch.aspx; or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics; OR
Combination of Education and Experience: college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying professional engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following:
  1. Professional registration or licensure--Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT), or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico. Absent other means of qualifying under this standard, those applicants who achieved such registration by means other than written test (e.g., State grandfather or eminence provisions) are eligible only for positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of their registration. For example, an applicant who attains registration through a State Boards eminence provision as a manufacturing engineer typically would be rated eligible only for manufacturing engineering positions.
  2. Written Test-Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination, or any other written test required for professional registration, which is administered by the Boards of Engineering Examiners in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico.
  3. Specified academic courses-Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and that included the courses specified in the basic requirements above. The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of an engineering program as described above.
  4. Related curriculum-Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in an appropriate scientific field, e.g., engineering technology, physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a bachelor's degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had a least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. Ordinarily there should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering-type experience, e.g., in interdisciplinary positions. (The above examples of relate curricula are not all-inclusive.)
In addition to meeting one of the Basic Requirements listed above, applicants must meet the following Minimum Qualifications Requirement in order to be considered:
Specialized Experience to qualify for GS-12: You must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level or higher in Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. For this position, specialized experience is defined as:
  • Providing technical guidance and leadership in the overall planning, design, installation, and maintenance of the engineering phrases of soil and water conservation practices; Coordinating and conducting engineering quality assurance checks through site investigations and feasibility studies.
Note: There is no education substitution for the GS-12 level.
For more information on the qualifications for this position, click here: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=List-by-Occupational-Series
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.Education:College Transcript: If qualifying based on education, you must submit a copy of your college transcript with course number and department (i.e., Bio 101, Math 210, etc.), course title, number of credit hours, and grade earned. If a relevant course is not clearly qualifying (e.g., special topic, seminar, research, thesis, obscure or misleading course title, etc.), please submit an official course syllabi and/or detailed course description from the university/college to ensure proper evaluation.
Your education must have been successfully obtained from an accredited school, college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to be credited toward qualifications. You may verify accreditation by visiting the U.S. Department of Education Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs website. We will verify your education accordingly.
Foreign Education: You must submit verification that education completed in a foreign institution, was recognized by an accreditation body accepted by the U.S. Department of Education. You must include a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript. There are private organizations that specialize in this evaluation and a fee is normally associated with this service. For a list of private organizations that evaluate education, visit the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) website. Your transcripts must be in English or include an English translation.
You may submit an unofficial copy of your transcript at the initial phase of the application process. However, if selected, you will be required to submit official transcripts prior to entering on duty. Please refer to the "How to Apply" section for instructions on submitting transcripts.Employment Type: OTHER

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