Soil Testing Lab Internship Jobs in Madison, WI (NOW HIRING)

Westwood Professional Services

The Geotechnical Intern will join a geotechnical engineering team supporting subsurface investigations and foundation design for utility-scale wind, solar, and battery energy storage projects. Projects range from preliminary subsurface exploration programs to detailed foundation design recommendations for renewable energy developers, IPPs, and utility clients. This position offers a direct opportunity to apply geotechnical engineering coursework to real-world renewable energy infrastructure projects.

As a Geotechnical Intern, the selected candidate will learn to apply industry standards, including ASTM, ASCE, and IBC, in the geotechnical evaluation process and will assist Senior Engineers in the logging of soil borings, laboratory testing, and preparation of geotechnical reports and foundation design recommendations.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assist with field subsurface investigations, including soil boring logging, cone penetrometer testing, and test pit excavation observation.
• Support laboratory soil testing, including classification, moisture content, and strength testing, under the guidance of Senior Engineers.
• Help develop foundation design recommendations for wind turbine, solar racking, and BESS foundations using tools such as LPILE and Settle3.
• Assist in the preparation of geotechnical data reports and boring logs using software such as gINT.
• Actively coordinate with internal and external team members across renewable energy projects to ensure effective communication and project progress.
• Travel to project sites as necessary to observe field investigations and interface directly with drilling crews and clients.

Required Qualifications:

• Currently enrolled in an ABET-accredited undergraduate engineering program, preferably in Civil Engineering with a Geotechnical emphasis.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to interact professionally with clients, management, and design team members.
• Willingness to learn in a flexible, cross-disciplinary work environment.
• Willingness to attend site visits and perform work in outdoor field conditions on occasion, including at active drilling sites.
• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Preferred Qualifications:

The following qualifications are preferred but not required for consideration:

• Relevant industry experience through engineering coursework projects or prior internships in geotechnical engineering or subsurface exploration.
• Experience with technical software including gINT, LPILE, Settle3, or other relevant geotechnical engineering tools.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

About Westwood Professional Services, Inc. (Westwood)

At Westwood, our purpose is to create a better world for people through our work. We transform the energy grid, design resilient infrastructure, and develop communities that will flourish today and for future generations. With over 50 years of experience and a legacy of innovation, we stand at the forefront of our industry, dedicated to understanding the unique needs of the markets we serve.

Our approach revolves around people. We are committed to building a culture that attracts, retains, and develops high performers. Our team values relationships, innovation, dedication, initiative, and growth. We believe fostering a collaborative "One Team" mentality yields superior outcomes in everything we do.

We customize our technical capabilities and geographic reach to meet our clients where they are and help them realize their vision.

We are partners in our clients' success, driving to provide solutions that make a lasting difference. Safety, sustainability, and operational excellence are not just facets of our work; they are intrinsic to our identity, guiding every decision we make.

We are deeply invested in the communities we serve. Through our projects and giving-back initiatives, we enrich the lives of those we serve, engage others within our industry, and create a lasting impact on communities around the world. To us, success transcends the completion of projects; it is reflected in the lives we have positively impacted by our work.

Join us in creating a better world.

In 2025, Westwood was recognized as #77 on the ENR Top 500 Design Firms. Additionally, Westwood was ranked #5 for ENR's Top Design Firm for Solar, #6 for Battery Storage, and #3 for Wind (2025). The firm consistently ranks on the industry's top 25 lists and receives recognition for its involvement in award-winning projects nationwide.

Westwood provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. We believe that diverse backgrounds strengthen our business. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.