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Internship Operating Engineer Jobs in Minnesota (NOW HIRING)

Commodity Trading Internship - 2027

Wayzata, MN

$15.25 - $20.25/hr

Our 160,000 colleagues, operating in 70 countries, make essential products that touch billions of ... Willing to relocate and accept challenging responsibilities Our Programming: * With comprehensive ...

Commodity Trading Internship - 2027

Wayzata, MN · On-site

$15.25 - $20.25/hr

Our 160,000 colleagues, operating in 70 countries, make essential products that touch billions of ... Willing to relocate and accept challenging responsibilities Our Programming: * With comprehensive ...

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Internship Operating Engineer information

See Minnesota salary details

$10

$18

$28

How much do internship operating engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 20, 2026, the average hourly pay for internship operating engineer in Minnesota is $18.92, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $15.77 and $20.48 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does an internship operating engineer do?

An Internship Operating Engineer assists in the operation and maintenance of building systems, such as heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC), electrical, and plumbing. Interns often work under the supervision of experienced engineers to learn how to monitor equipment, perform routine inspections, and troubleshoot issues. This role provides valuable hands-on experience in facility management and building operations, preparing interns for a career as a licensed Operating Engineer. Responsibilities may also include helping with repairs, maintaining logs, and ensuring safety protocols are followed.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an internship operating engineer?

To thrive as an Internship Operating Engineer, you need a foundational understanding of mechanical and electrical systems, safety protocols, and typically be pursuing or have a degree in engineering or a related technical field. Familiarity with building automation systems, HVAC controls, and maintenance management software is often expected. Strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective teamwork and communication skills help interns excel in this hands-on environment. These skills ensure safe, efficient operation of building systems and support career development in facilities management.

What types of projects or tasks can I expect to work on as an internship operating engineer?

As an Internship Operating Engineer, you can expect to assist with the operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting of mechanical and electrical systems in facilities such as commercial buildings or industrial plants. Typical tasks may include monitoring equipment performance, conducting routine inspections, supporting preventive maintenance schedules, and helping diagnose system issues under the guidance of experienced engineers. You will likely collaborate closely with senior operating engineers, facility management teams, and vendors, gaining hands-on experience that is valuable for future full-time roles in building operations or plant engineering.

What is the difference between Internship Operating Engineer vs Operating Engineer?

AspectInternship Operating EngineerOperating Engineer
CredentialsTypically pursuing or completed relevant technical training or certificationsHigh school diploma or equivalent; often requires licenses or certifications depending on state
Work EnvironmentEntry-level, training-focused, often in construction sites or facilitiesFull-time, hands-on work in construction, industrial, or facility settings
Employer & Industry UsageInternship programs in construction, utilities, or industrial firmsConstruction companies, industrial plants, utilities

The Internship Operating Engineer is an entry-level position designed for training and skill development, often part of an internship program. In contrast, the Operating Engineer is a fully qualified professional responsible for operating heavy machinery and managing equipment in various industrial settings. The internship provides foundational experience, while the operating engineer role involves independent work and greater responsibility.

What are the most commonly searched types of Operating Engineer jobs in Minnesota?

The most popular types of Operating Engineer jobs in Minnesota are:

What are popular job titles related to Internship Operating Engineer jobs in Minnesota?

For Internship Operating Engineer jobs in Minnesota, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Internship Operating Engineer jobs in Minnesota look for?

The top searched job categories for Internship Operating Engineer jobs in Minnesota are:

Grid Operations Engineer (Entry, Staff, Senior, or Principal)

Xcel Energy Inc

Minneapolis, MN • On-site

$70 - $157/hr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 6 days ago


Xcel Energy rating

8.3

Company rating: 8.3 out of 10

Based on 89 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

20th of 53 rated energy and utility


Job description

Are you looking for an exciting job where you can put your skills and talents to work at a company you can feel proud to be a part of? Do you want a workplace that will challenge you and offer you opportunities to learn and grow? Aposition at Xcel Energy could be just what you’re looking for.

Our team supports implementation of various ADMS initiatives, including the rollout of Advanced Outage Management, and deploying advanced applications for Wildfire Mitigation and DERMS. We support distribution control centers across all OpCos, make operational data useful and accessible, and support the advanced applications FLISR & and VVO.

Our mission is to support Control Center staff as operating engineers and drive ADMS functionality to meet business needs. We are committed to supporting key corporate initiatives through ADMS, assisting users regarding operating/engineering/analytical purposes, and ensuring accurate and complete source data for ADMS use. We break down silos and collaborate with various groups by providing operational feedback to engineering, coordinating with SCADA and Grid Analysts for operational readiness, and bringing distribution use cases to life.

The job summary below and responsibilities reflect the entry engineer level role. The successfully chosen candidate will be placed at a level that is commensurate with their skills and experience as different skills and/or experience will be required at the staff, senior, or principal engineer levels.

Position Summary
This is an entry level position designed to develop technical expertise in a particular area of specialty. Performs work that involves conventional types of plans, investigations, surveys, structures or equipment with relatively few complex features for which there are precedents. Activities are of limited scope requiring knowledge of principles and techniques commonly employed in the specific narrow area of assignments. May lead small-medium, non-critical projects and/or provide field oversight of critical projects under direction of higher-level engineer or supervisor. Work is reviewed for soundness of technical judgment, overall adequacy and accuracy. As proficiency is gained, may work on portions of larger projects. Works under supervision and follows established procedures. May supervise or coordinate the work of interns, drafters, craft personnel, technicians and/or others.
Essential Responsibilities

  • Uses and applies technical standards, principles, theories, concepts, and techniques to perform activities/assignments of limited scope.
  • Supports the development of technical documentation (including but not limited to designs, testing, calculations, reports, standards, etc.) Utilizes and may assist with the development of procedures.
  • Provides ongoing technical support for project activities within areas such as Operations, Maintenance, Testing/diagnostics, Regulatory, etc. May provide field engineering oversight for activities such as commissioning, testing, inspections etc. under direct supervision.
  • Coordinates/leads projects or portions of projects (including phases such as research, design, equipment selection, procurement support, installation and commissioning), under the direction of a higher-level engineer or supervisor.
  • Under the direction of a higher-level engineer/supervisor, supports bid/evaluation processes by performing basic analysis and calculations on existing documentation and materials that support the preparation of bid documents. In completing segments of technical evaluations for proposals may need to effectively communicate with other business areas of the company following appropriate processes.
  • Effectively exchanges information in all formats, on matters having a wide range of importance and complexity both inter-organizationally and with outside customer/vendors.
  • May coordinate the work of interns, drafters, technicians, and/or others and provides guidance and mentoring to less experienced engineers. Responsible for continuous self-development of technical skills and competencies.
  • May perform activities such as budgeting, estimating, forecasting, accounting, work order management, in support of engineering projects.

Entry Engineer Level (Salary Range: $70,000-88,666)

Minimum Requirements

  • Required bachelor's degree in engineering from ABET accredited curriculum, electrical engineering degree preferred.
  • 0+ years relevant engineering experience Ability to demonstrate the unique technical skills and core competencies for this engineering level established & documented by the organization.
  • Preferred EIT/FE (Engineer in Training/Fundamentals of Engineering) preferred.

Staff Engineer Level (Salary Range: $81,800-$106,266)

Minimum Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree in engineering from ABET accredited, electrical engineering degree preferred.
  • 2+year's relevant engineering experience. Demonstrated broad knowledge & proficiency in specialty area, knowledge of related specialties, & general knowledge of other related disciplines.
  • Ability to demonstrate the unique technical skills & core competencies for this engineering level established & documented by the organization.
  • EIT/FE (Engineer in Training/Fundamentals of Engineering) strongly preferred.

Senior Engineer Level (Salary Range: $97,000-$129,266)

Minimum Requirements

  • Required bachelor’s degree in engineering from ABET accredited curriculum, electrical engineering degree preferred.
  • 5+ years relevant engineering experience with EIT/FE (Engineer in Training/Fundamentals of Engineering) required; 7+ years relevant engineering experience without EIT/FE.
  • Ability to demonstrate the unique technical skills and core competencies for this engineering level established & documented by the organization.
  • Preferred PE (Professional Engineer) registration may be required depending on business need.

Principal Engineer (Salary Range: $112,000-$156,600)

Minimum Requirements

  • Required bachelor’s degree in engineering from ABET accredited curriculum, electrical engineering degree preferred.
  • 9+ years relevant engineering experience with PE (Professional Engineer) registration required; 15+ years relevant engineering experience without PE.
  • Ability to demonstrate the unique technical skills and core competencies for this engineering level established & documented by the organization.

Preferred Experience

  • ADMS experience
  • Control center operations experience
  • Substation and distribution experience

As a leading combination electricity and natural gas energy company, Xcel Energy offers a comprehensive portfolio of energy-related products and services to 3.4 million electricity and 1.9 million natural gas customers across eight Western and Midwestern states. At Xcel Energy, we strive to be the preferred and trusted provider of the energy our customers need. If you’re ready to be a part of something big, we invite you to join our team.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

Individuals with a disability who need an accommodation to apply please contact us at recruiting@xcelenergy.com.

Non-Bargaining. The anticipated starting base pay for this position is: $70,000.00 to $156,600.00 per year.

This position is eligible for the following benefits:

  • Annual Incentive Program
  • Medical/Pharmacy Plan
  • Dental
  • Vision
  • Life Insurance
  • Dependent Care Reimbursement Account
  • Health Care Reimbursement Account
  • Health Savings Account (HSA) (if enrolled in eligible health plan)
  • Limited-Purpose FSA (if enrolled in eligible health plan and HSA)
  • Transportation Reimbursement Account
  • Short-term disability (STD)
  • Long-term disability (LTD)
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
  • Fitness Center Reimbursement (if enrolled in eligible health plan)
  • Tuition reimbursement
  • Transit programs
  • Employee recognition program
  • Pension
  • 401(k) plan
  • Paid time off (PTO)
  • Holidays
  • Volunteer Paid Time Off (VPTO)
  • Parental Leave

Benefit plans are subject to change and Xcel Energy has the right to end, suspend, or amend any of its plans, at any time, in whole or in part.

In any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information including but not limited to dates of school attendance and graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.

Deadline to Apply: 08/26/26

EEO is the Law | EEO is the Law Supplement | Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination | Equal Opportunity Policy (PDF) | Employee Rights (PDF)

All Xcel Energy employees and contractors share responsibility for protecting the company's information and systems by adhering to cybersecurity policies, standards, and best practices, recognizing that cybersecurity is everyone's responsibility.

ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT

Xcel Energy endeavors to make https://www.xcelenergy.com/ accessible to any and all users. If you would like to contact us regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process, please contact Xcel Energy Talent Acquisition at recruiting@xcelenergy.com. This contact information is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.

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About Xcel Energy

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Xcel Energy is a prominent electricity and natural gas service provider serving multiple states in the United States, including Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas, and Wisconsin. Our commitment revolves around delivering essential services to our valued customers. As a trailblazer in the industry, we were the first major US electricity provider with a visionary goal to achieve 100% carbon-free electricity by 2050 and an ambitious 80% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030, based on 2005 levels. Through innovative electric vehicle initiatives, we actively contribute to carbon reduction not only in our electricity generation but also in the transportation sector within the states we operate. Simultaneously, we remain devoted to ensuring cost-effectiveness for our customers by implementing advanced electricity rates and energy efficiency programs.

Industry

Utilities

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Minneapolis, MN, US

Year founded

1909