Engineer Intern - System Protection Summer 2027
About the role
Nebraska Public Power District is looking for an electrical engineering student to work with and assist other experienced engineering staff in the System Protection Engineering Department. The Engineer Intern will work through the 2027 summer session (May through August 2027) at the Columbus General Office in Columbus, Nebraska, reporting to the Engineering Supervisor - System Protections.
Responsibilities
- Assist with specifying appropriate protection schemes
- Make relay recommendations
- Perform calculations to support relay settings
- Develop trip-checking procedures
- Calculate ground potential rise
- Calculate available fault current
- Locate faults
- Analyze system disturbances
- Provide operational support
- Assist with automated substations
- Program Programmable Logic Controller (PLC)
- Develop and program Human Machine Interface (HMI)
- Work on intra-substation communication and networking
- Work on control panels, electrical schematics and wiring diagrams
- Assist with equipment procurement, startup, and operations support
Requirements
Must be pursuing an electrical engineering degree from an accredited college or university.
Must be finishing at least the sophomore year of college (undergraduate only).
Skills
- Customer Focus
- Employees & Teamwork / Diversity & Inclusion
- Integrity / Excellence
- Public Service / Environmental Stewardship
- Safety
Benefits
- $1,000 housing stipend for interns
- Eligibility for the Annual Incentive Program (AIP) that may supplement total compensation
Pay
Engineering Intern – Junior: $27.61 per hour
Engineering Intern – Senior: $29.58 per hour
Schedule
Internship runs from May through August 2027 (summer session).
Travel required: up to 25% (typically less than 3 overnight stays per month, within Nebraska).