Ranch Intern Jobs in Riverside, CA (NOW HIRING)

Salary: $17.50 - $25.00 Hourly
Location : 3512 Michelson, Irvine, CA
Job Type: Student Intern
Job Number: 01029-2
Department: Asset Systems
Opening Date: 05/13/2026
Closing Date: 6/3/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Irvine Ranch Water District is currently hiring one (1) Temporary Student Intern for the Asset Systems Department.
Duration of Assignment
The term of the internship is limited to 1,000 hours per fiscal year, and 20 hours per week (July 1 - June 30). The work schedule varies, as it's based on the mutually agreed-upon hours between the intern and their supervisor to accommodate the intern's school schedule.
The District:
Irvine Ranch Water District (IRWD) is a progressive, values-driven agency, with an international reputation for its leading-edge financial management practices, water recycling program, water use efficiency practices, water banking, urban runoff treatment, and energy generation and storage. Established in 1961 as a California Water District under the provisions of the California Water Code, IRWD is an independent special district serving central Orange County. IRWD provides high-quality drinking water, reliable sewage collection and treatment, ground-breaking recycled water programs, and environmentally sound urban runoff treatment to its customers. As an independent, not-for-profit public agency, IRWD is governed by a publicly elected five-member Board of Directors. The Board is responsible for the District's policies and decision-making. Day-to-day operations are supervised by the General Manager. Additional information can be found at the District's website: www.IRWD.com.
IRWD Values
Irvine Ranch Water District believes that its values drive the character, culture, and capacity of our organization. IRWD was built on values, and we weave them into the fabric of everything we do. Values are the ingredients in our recipe for both institutional and individual success. They are a code of conduct to promote positive outcomes for others and ourselves. They are more than words on a wall or a website. We live by them every day. We pledge to keep them relevant in an ever-changing world.
IRWD's employees enjoy working in a safe, supportive, and nurturing environment where they form strong bonds with fellow employees. To ensure effective communication and promote a collaborative team environment, employees report to work each day in the office or in the field, depending on their positions.
The Position
Successful candidates will, under general supervision, perform a variety of tasks working directly with professional and technical staff in various assigned areas including some field work. Temporary Student Interns will perform productive and challenging work by making essential contributions to maintenance, engineering or other District functions. Interns will receive hands-on training emphasizing teamwork, communication, independence, and development of technical skills.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
Student Intern is a temporary job classification requiring enrollment as a full-time undergraduate or graduate engineering student
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Establish preventive maintenance protocols and schedules for both newly commissioned and refurbished assets.
Updating the Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) database, ensuring the accuracy of asset hierarchies, attributes, and technical documentation.
Develop robust job plans using the manufacturer's recommended preventive maintenance programs.
Perform a variety of research, data collection, compilation, and analysis.
Prepare comprehensive technical reports and/or studies.
Prepare exhibits, spreadsheets, charts, and graphs.
Prepare documents, memos, and other correspondence.
Perform field work such as site visits, equipment witness testing, and taking measurements and photos.
Attend meetings and prepare meeting minutes.
Comply with District safety work-related practices and attend relevant safety training.
Perform administrative duties, including filing, copying, scanning, and emailing.
Work a minimum of 10 hours per week.
Additional duties as assigned.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Education and Experience:
Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:
Education:
At the time of appointment, active enrollment as a student in an institution of higher learning at either the undergraduate or graduate level with coursework in at least one of the following areas: Mechanical Engineer, Electrical Engineer, Maritime Engineering, or a related field.
Knowledge of:

• MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, Power Bi).

Ability to:

• Communicate effectively with all levels of office/field employees and management.
• Represent the District in a professional manner when dealing with outside professionals and vendors.
• Explain, demonstrate and clarify to others within well-established policies, procedures, and standards, as well as the ability to follow specific instructions and respond to simple and difficult requests from others.
• Perform basic mathematics, including multiplication, division, and calculating percentages.
• Ability to work under sometimes uncomfortable conditions with exposure to hazardous materials and environment, electricity up to 5 KV, explosive environments, weather, toxic agents, wildlife, disease, equipment, traffic, or machinery
• Use good personal judgment and discretion in performing all job functions.
• Remain calm in crisis and emergency situations.
• Use discretion when handling and disseminating sensitive and confidential information.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
When working in an office environment, must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the telephone. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or calculator and to operate standard office equipment.
When working in the field, must possess the strength, stamina, and mobility to perform light to medium physical work; to sit, stand, and walk on level, uneven, or slippery surfaces; frequently reach, twist, turn, kneel, bend, stoop, squat, crouch, grasp, and make repetitive hand movement in the performance of daily duties; and vision to locate utilities and read printed materials. The job involves fieldwork requiring frequent walking. Employees must possess the ability to carry, push, pull, and lift materials and objects weighing up to 45 pounds. Walk long distances over uneven terrain.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
Employees work in the field and are exposed to loud noise levels, cold and hot temperatures, inclement weather conditions, road/traffic hazards, vibration, dust, air contaminants, or other materials in the field. Employees also work in an office environment with moderate noise levels, controlled temperature conditions, and no direct exposure to hazardous physical substances.
IMPORTANT APPLICATION INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS
All applicants are required to complete and submit a District application form online and answer the supplemental questionnaire. Stating "See Resume" is not an acceptable substitute for a completed application. Resumes or faxed copies will not be accepted in lieu of the District online application. To apply, click on the "Apply" link located at the top of this page.
New users must create an account first. Click on this link for instructions on how to set up your account and apply for the first time:
Applications will be reviewed by the Human Resources Department and the subject matter expert. Those applicants possessing the most pertinent qualifications will be invited to continue in the selection process, which will include:
Spark Hire Assessment: As part of our interview process, candidates will participate in a one-way video interview conductedthrough Spark Hire. This interview allows candidates to showcase their ability to communicate clearly and confidently in a recorded format. During the interview, candidates will respond to a series of pre-recorded questions, demonstrating their verbal communication skills, professionalism, and ability to articulate their qualifications efficiently.
Oral Interview Examination: will assess candidates' experiences, qualifications, and abilities that are crucial for success in this role. During this examination, candidates will have the opportunity to discuss their background, including education, training, and relevant professional experiences. This in-person interview will allow evaluators to assess the candidate's interpersonal communication skills and evaluate their overall qualification for the position.
Communication regarding your application and/or status will be sent to the email address listed on your application. Please check your email regularly throughout the recruitment process as you will not receive communications by any other method.Equal Opportunity EmployerIrvine Ranch Water District is an Equal Opportunity Employer and provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. If you consider yourself a person with a disability, you may contact the Human Resources Department for a reasonable accommodation.
Prorated Holiday Pay
No other Benefits
01
Please indicate your college level for Summer 2026.

• Freshman
• Sophomore
• Junior
• Senior
• Graduate Student

02
When are you expected to graduate?
03
Have you completed coursework in at least one of the following areas: Mechanical Engineer, Electrical Engineer, Maritime Engineering? If so, list the relevant coursework.
04
At IRWD, we rely on preventive maintenance to ensure 24/7 water reliability. How have your college studies prepared you to understand or support preventive maintenance practices? Describe relevant coursework, labs, technical projects, or hands-on training where you learned about equipment inspections, safety protocols, data tracking, or system reliability. How did you document results, analyze findings, or use data to prevent potential issues?
05
Through your academic experience, have you identified ways to improve a process, streamline a procedure, or enhance safety in a lab, project, or team setting? What did you change or recommend, and what was the result?
06
Please describe your experience using Power BI through coursework, academic projects, internships, or personal learning. In your response, include:The types of datasets you have worked with (e.g., class projects, lab data, Excel files, survey data).Any dashboards or reports you created, and the purpose of the assignment or project.What you learned from using Power BI and how it helped you analyze or present data more effectively.
07
Will you be able to commit to at least 12 months if offered the temporary student intern assignment? The work schedule varies, as it's based on the mutually agreed-upon hours between the intern and their supervisor to accommodate the intern's school schedule, but cannot exceed more than 20 hours per week.

• Yes
• No

Required Question