Plant Engineer Intern Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

This position has a target start date in summer 2027.

• As a Civil Engineer Intern, you will be assigned to work with civil project engineers and assist them in the execution of project work.  These projects typically involve the site related design of wind and solar renewable energy projects, nuclear or fossil fuel power plants, electrical substations, or other heavy industrial facilities.
• Working under the direction of experienced civil engineers and with multi-disciplined project teams, this position will offer you the opportunity to utilize and expand your academic background in Civil Engineering in one or more of the following areas:
• Assist in the preparation of engineering calculations, technical specifications, and engineering reports.
• Assist in evaluating mass earthwork cut and fill quantities and site grading layouts.
• Assist in preparing layouts for stormwater and sanitary drainage systems.
• Assist in layout of plant roadways and trackwork systems.
• Assist in developing pond and landfill system designs relating to raw water, wastewater, and coal ash management.
• Work with civil project designers to accurately portray designs in project 3-D models and on design drawings.

Relocation assistance is not provided for this position.

We do not sponsor employees for work authorization in the U.S. for this position.

Essential skills and experience:

• Must have an expected graduation date in Winter 2027 or Spring 2028 toward a BS or MS in Civil Engineering.
• Solid understanding of basic civil and geotechnical engineering concepts.
• Good verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills with high attention to detail.

Valued but not required skills and experience:

• Enrollment in an ABET Engineering Accreditation Commission-approved program.
• Prior, related internship or co-op experience is preferred.
• Knowledge of any of the following software programs: Civil 3D, StormCAD, PondPack, MicroStation, and AutoCAD.

In this role, we expect people to be willing or able to solve problems using modern tools:

• You are expected to take engineering problems from issue to solution using data and modern tools such as automation and AI to improve workflows, reduce rework, and deliver cost-effective designs.
• Many engineers in these roles build or use automation to create calculations, summarize technical documents, or draft design documentation, including appropriate use of agentic AI tools, with strong engineering judgment and verification of results.
• Programming or scripting (e.g., Python, MATLAB, advanced Excel) to automate calculations, design checks, reporting, or data transformation is valued but not required.
• We also value additional learning, such as a minor, certificate, or other training in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Software Engineering, or related fields that helps you apply automation or agentic AI to real engineering problems.

At Sargent & Lundy, we care about the health and well-being of our employees. Our commitment extends beyond the workplace, offering comprehensive healthcare plans and generous paid time off to support our team members in every aspect of their lives. We understand the importance of work-life balance, which is why we are proud to provide competitive, award-winning benefits. Our dedication to employee satisfaction has earned us the prestigious Top Workplaces Culture Excellence Award for compensation and benefits in 2022, 2023, and 2024.

• Health Plans: Medical, Dental, Vision
• Life & Accident Insurance
• Disability Coverage
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Back-Up Daycare
• FSA & HSA

• 401(k)
• Pre-Tax Commuter Account
• Merit Scholarship Program
• Employee Discount Program
• Corporate Charitable Giving Program
• Tuition Assistance
• First Professional Licensure Bonus
• Employee Referral Bonus

• Paid Annual Personal/Sick Time (PST)
• Paid Vacation
• Paid Holidays
• Paid Parental Leave
• Paid Bereavement Leave
• Flexible Work Arrangements

The Energy & Industrial Group (EIG) specializes in delivering advanced engineering solutions across various sectors, including power generation, environmental compliance, oil & gas, and industrial projects, from new plant design to plant betterment and upgrade services for operating facilities. We have designed nearly 900 conventional power plants, yielding over 100,000 megawatts (MW) of generation capacity. Our expertise includes numerous recent and ongoing combined cycle projects that leverage the latest advanced machinery, including combustion turbines, steam turbines, and heat recovery steam generators from all leading suppliers. EIG is recognized for its commitment to decarbonization through innovative technologies in renewable energy, carbon capture, and hydrogen power. We excel in detailed engineering services for photovoltaic (PV) solar projects and energy storage integration, and lead the industry in carbon capture technologies, managing projects from conceptual studies, pilot demonstrations and through commercial scale implementation for utilities and industrial plants.

Sargent & Lundy is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any protected status as defined by applicable law.