Job Description

Apply by Date: 01/30/2026
Hourly Minimum Pay Rate: $23.63
Hourly Maximum Pay Rate: $28.80

SMUD's Environmental Services team is seeking a summer intern to join their group. This team plays a vital role in ensuring SMUD's adherence to environmental regulations while promoting sustainability, environmental stewardship, and carbon reduction efforts. They achieve this through employee education, community outreach, and collaboration with internal stakeholders and regulatory agencies. The Environmental Compliance Team specifically manages compliance across SMUD's projects, programs, and assets.

This internship provides firsthand experience administering entry level tasks in the following environmental compliance programs: air quality; water quality; stormwater; soil sampling, disposal and reuse; environmental remediation; and hazardous materials and waste oversight.

Prospective candidates, please note that this internship offers very limited exposure to sustainability, greenhouse gas emissions reporting, biological and CEQA programs and regulations.

What the intern day-to-day will look like:

• Provide as-needed field visits support (agency pre-inspection and inspections; product inventory verification and updates; soil sampling)
• Data analysis and report verification
• Creating and amending procedures and workflow documents
• Network file cleanup and document migration
• Report once a week in-person to SMUD’s Sacramento Office Headquarters Office

The intern will gain exposure to a wide range of environmental compliance programs, utility assets, and the operations of SMUD's various workgroups. They will also experience diverse communication styles, work tasks spanning both field and office environments, and different approaches to project management. The intern will develop their time and project management skills by working on progressively complex projects, building valuable experience in a dynamic and collaborative setting.

Cover Letter Requirements with Resume: To be considered for this position, please ensure your cover letter includes responses to the following questions. Failure to submit the required cover letter may preclude you from moving forward in the process. The cover letter should be brief (1-2 pages) and address the following topics:
• What are you expecting to gain from this specific internship?
• How does this internship align with your educational and career aspirations?

About SMUD's College Internship Program

SMUD's College Internship Program provides college interns with an opportunity to contribute their skills and knowledge to SMUD while gaining valuable work experience. Workshops and activities will also be part of the program where interns will have the opportunity to be immersed in SMUD's culture and learn leadership skills as well as develop their professional skills.

SMUD was also recognized by Interns 2 Pros for the 2020 Internship Program of The Year Award in recognition of excellence in internship strategy, implementation, and impact and was one of five finalists for the 2023 Internship Program of the Year from Interns 2 Pros along with Paramount, Fox Corporation, Intuit, and Toyota.

Purpose

Under staff direction, incumbents in this classification are full-time students in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Math program who perform research and analytical tasks for projects and assignments that utilize specific and acquired academic skills and knowledge in alignment with their educational disciplines.

Nature and Scope

The work performed in this classification calls for regular application of analytical and independent research skills. Work is closely related to the employee’s academic major in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics.

Duties and Responsibilities

Work may include, but is not limited to, the following: (NOTE: While in general all the functions and requirements listed are essential, individual positions and/or locations may not require all duties be performed.)

• Performs tasks of an analytical or research nature for suitable projects or ongoing assignments which call for specific acquired academic skills and knowledge in Science, Technology, Engineering or Math.
• May locate sources of information; collect and organize data.
• Makes computations and analyzes data for degree of confidence and for alternative courses of action.
• May develop computer programs relating to assignments and may code material for established programs.
• May develop written, graphical and/or oral reports.
• May assist staff analysts and technical personnel by performing elements of their work under close supervision.

Required Education

Registration as a full-time student (minimum of 12 units) at an accredited college or university in a declared curriculum with a Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) emphasis that will provide the specific skills and knowledge that will contribute to available work assignments.

Desirable Qualifications

• Majoring in: Engineering (Civil, Environmental, Mechanical, Chemical), or Environmental Studies/Sciences
• Microsoft Suite or equivalent experience
• Visio and or Canva experience
• Valid Driver's License
• Able to travel the service territory for outdoor field visits for the full duration of a work day

Physical Requirements

Applicants must be able to perform the essential job functions with or without a reasonable accommodation.

Application Deadline: It is guaranteed that the online system will accept applications until 5 PM on January 30, 2026. It is highly encouraged that applications are submitted well before the due date and time mentioned to make sure that they are submitted successfully.

Official SMUD Title: STEM Student Assistant

• Students must be able to commute to the SMUD Offices in Sacramento, CA when requested to come in.
• To have a student position at SMUD, you must not have any relatives working at SMUD.
• Internship dates are as follows: Semester students (May – August) and Quarter students (June – September) of this year.
• Students must be enrolled as a full-time student, complete and pass at least 12 undergraduate units OR 8 graduate units and receive at least a 2.0 GPA in the Spring Semester/Quarter of 2026. Students must be graduating in Summer 2026 or later.
• If the student is graduating in Summer 2026, they must be enrolled as a part-time student in the Summer of 2026.
• If the student is graduating in the Spring Semester/Quarter of 2026 but is pursuing another degree in the Fall Semester/Quarter of 2026, you will still be eligible. However, please make sure that it shows it clearly on your resume to show that you are eligible.
• During the summer internship, students can work up to 130 hours per month.
• Currently, SMUD is not hiring candidates for its student internship positions who require sponsorship from an employer either now or in the future. Such sponsorship is not needed for citizens, a U.S. National, a permanent resident, or one granted refuge or asylum status by the U.S. government. Visa holders typically require sponsorship in one form or another at some point in time.
• Diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) are a part of who we are and how we do things. Supporting efforts that promote pay equality is part of that. Salary placement for the selected candidate will be determined in alignment with the California Equal Pay Act or the applicable MOU. Determination for salary placement of internal candidates will be made without respect to current classification or compensation and will be based upon the candidate's qualifications as compared to those performing substantially similar work. In the event there is a guaranteed pay progression outlined in an applicable MOU, the MOU takes precedence.

Remote Work: This position will be required to work in office, on site at least one day a week on a regular basis; sometimes more or less, depending on the work. The work schedule will be determined by the Hiring Manager.