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 Civil Engineering or similar.
- Have completed at least two years 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 Portland, OR or Vancouver, WA offices, where this program is offered. Potential requirement to split time between both offices.
What You’ll Learn
- See how traffic engineering comes together: Build an understanding of how traffic engineering design, operations, and field conditions connect to real-world transportation projects.
- Apply classroom knowledge to transportation challenges: Gain hands-on exposure to the tools, analysis, and design work that support safe and effective transportation systems.
- Understand the bigger picture: Learn how safety, mobility, client needs, and jurisdictional requirements shape traffic engineering solutions.
Day in the Life (Examples)
Work under the direction of a Traffic Engineer and alongside the Transportation team to gain hands-on experience in a client-focused consulting environment. Interns can expect to work approximately 40 hours per week while contributing to project work and day-to-day team priorities. Responsibilities may include:
- Assisting with transportation design work in AutoCAD, including temporary traffic control plans, intersection concepts, roadway lighting, or related plan development.
- Supporting traffic impact studies, traffic operations analysis, and other technical work used to evaluate how transportation systems function.
- Contributing to signing and striping plans, signal-related design tasks, or other project elements that guide and support roadway users.
- Helping with transit plans, multimodal planning efforts, parking studies, and other planning projects that explore transportation solutions for drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists, and surrounding communities.
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.