Go Beyond the Classroom
Looking to build real-world experience this summer? The AKS Internship Program gives college students the chance to apply what they’re learning in the classroom, build practical skills, and contribute in a professional environment. Through meaningful project experience and a supportive team setting, interns gain confidence, broaden their understanding of the industry, and take important steps toward career readiness.
How it Works
Each internship experience may look a little different depending on the role and team, but every internship is designed to help students learn by doing. Interns gain hands-on experience through real work, connect with professionals across AKS, and get a better understanding of how different disciplines contribute to project outcomes.
For students who return, each summer can build on the last with new experiences, added responsibility, and a deeper understanding of areas that interest them. Participation is a one-summer commitment at a time. Students who are interested in returning are encouraged to express interest, and continued participation depends on performance, program fit, and available positions.
Who You Are
To be considered for this internship program, students should:
- Be currently enrolled in an accredited 2- or 4-year program with a declared major in Business, Finance, Real Estate, Engineering, Urban Planning, Environmental Sciences, Geographic Information Systems, or similar.
- Have completed at least one year of college before the internship start date
- Maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Be available to work full-time for 12 weeks during the summer
- Be able to work from the Las Vegas, NV or Phoenix, AZ offices, where this program is offered
What You’ll Learn
- Energy Project Development: Gain an understanding of how utility-scale solar, wind, battery energy storage, transmission, and other energy infrastructure projects progress from early-stage development toward construction, including an introduction to roles associated with permitting, real estate, environmental, interconnection, and project management of energy projects.
- Research, Mapping, & Due Diligence: Build practical experience researching project sites, environmental factors, property ownership, zoning, infrastructure, permitting requirements, and other development considerations while using tools such as Google Earth, ArcGIS, KMZ files, and Microsoft Office suite to organize and visualize information.
- Project Management & Professional Communication: Learn how development teams manage project information, schedules, action items, documentation, and deliverables while developing skills in interacting and communicating within a professional environment, preparing project summaries, technical memoranda, presentations, and other professional materials.
Day in the Life (Examples)
Work under the direction of a Project Manager or Assistant Project Manager and alongside the Development Services team to gain hands-on experience in a client-focused consulting environment. Interns can expect to work approximately 40-50 hours per week while contributing to project work and day-to-day team priorities. Responsibilities may include:
- Conducting research and assisting with desktop due diligence related to energy projects, including property ownership, zoning, permitting, utilities, transmission, infrastructure, environmental constraints, and other development considerations.
- Creating and maintaining project maps, KMZ files, spreadsheets, and other project materials while compiling and organizing information from public databases, agencies, utilities, and other sources.
- Assisting with project documentation and deliverables, including project summaries, technical memoranda, presentations, meeting materials, action-item tracking, and project files.
- Participating in project meetings, site visits, industry events, and other activities while collaborating with Project Managers, Assistant Project Managers, and other team members.
We Have Your Back
At AKS, interns are supported throughout the summer. Each intern is paired with a mentor and receives direction from a supervisor who guides assignments and project work. That supervisor may vary depending on the projects involved.
Throughout the internship, interns receive regular feedback to support learning, growth, and professional development. At the end of the summer, each intern participates in a final evaluation to reflect on their experience, discuss future goals, and explore the possibility of returning for another internship, based on performance and available openings.
Earn While You Learn
This is a paid internship, and interns are compensated for their time and contributions. Pay is provided on an hourly basis, with overtime paid at one and a half times the regular rate for hours worked over 40 in a week. The typical pay range for this position is $19 to $25 per hour. Time off may be requested in advance, but it is unpaid.