San Francisco Public Utilities Commission Summer 2026 Student Design Trainee Program

San Francisco Public Utilities Commission is seeking student interns interested in various engineering and architecture disciplines, to provide support to in-house Engineering, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Project Management, Construction Management, and Land Surveying.

• Application Opening: 12/12/2025
• Application Filing Deadline:  01/15/2026
• Hourly Rate: $36.6500 to $41.2375
• Recruitment ID:  TEX-5380-EXEMPT

Instructions to Apply:

1. Complete the Student Design Trainee application AND
2. Attach proof of college transcripts (official or unofficial) or college diploma with your online application.

You may use the ‘upload resume’ feature at the top of the application page to pre-fill your application. Please review the content as not all information may transfer properly.  The ‘upload resume’ feature will also automatically attach your resume to the application.

Only individuals who submit a completed job application and attach their college transcripts or college diploma will be considered.

APPOINTMENT TYPE: Temporary Exempt: This position is excluded by the Charter from the competitive Civil Service examination process and shall serve at the discretion of the Appointing Officer.

WHO ARE WE?
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC)
Headquartered in San Francisco, we have 2,300 employees operating across eight counties serving more than 2.7 million customers in the San Francisco Bay Area – 24 hours per day, 365 days per year.

Our Mission: To provide our customers with high quality, efficient, and reliable water, power, and wastewater services in a manner that values environmental and community interests and sustains the resources entrusted to our care.

Our Vision: We are an innovative utility leader, recognized for excellent results in service, safety, stewardship, and inclusiveness.

We are an award-winning and industry-leading utilities organization committed to our customers, community interests, and the environment. To learn more about our organization, please visit our website at https://www.sfpuc.org/.

We are proud of our infrastructure and programs, but most importantly, we value our highly qualified and dedicated workforce which ensures that this vision becomes a reality.

To learn more about working at the SFPUC, visit our career site at https://www.sfpuc.org/about-us/careers-sfpuc.

College students in Associate, Undergraduate, and Graduate Degree Programs studying the following are encouraged to apply:

• Architecture  
• Engineering (Civil, Electrical, Environmental, Mechanical)
• Landscape Architecture
• Planning
• Computer Science/Information Services Program
• Mathematics
• Biology
• Natural Resources
• Electronics

Interns will gain on-the-job experience under the guidance of experienced professional engineers, architects, and surveyors while participating in various activities in the assigned discipline. The duration of this internship can be 3-6 months, with an opportunity to extend based on exemplary performance and necessity.

Intern positions are available in the following divisions and sections:

Infrastructure Division

The Infrastructure Division is responsible for overseeing the administration, planning, design, and construction of our water, wastewater, and power capital programs and projects, including the Water System Improvement Program (WSIP), the Sewer System Improvement Program (SSIP), the Hetch Hetchy Improvement Program (HCIP), and the annual Water and Wastewater Renewal and Replacement (R&R) Programs.

Under Infrastructure Division we have these sections:

• Engineering Management Bureau
• Construction Management Bureau
• Project Management Bureau
• Project Controls
• Environmental Management Group

San Francisco Water Division

The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission’s (SFPUC) SFWD is responsible for directing approximately 322 employees in the operation and maintenance of the water distribution system within the City and County of San Francisco. These activities include, but are not limited to: operating and maintaining 28 pump stations, 11 reservoirs, 13 storage tanks, 19 regulators as well as other ancillary appurtenances and equipment; installing, repairing and maintaining over one thousand miles of water distribution mains including service connections and meters; four water systems comprised of the Potable, Emergency Fire Water System (EFWS), Recycled and Groundwater;  engineering and designing new main and feeder extensions; managing over 1,000 acres of city owned property and rights-of-ways; and responding to all two-alarm or greater fires to assist the Fire Department in maintaining adequate water volume and consistent pressure while fighting fires.

Wastewater Enterprise

The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) consists of three enterprises – Water, Power, and Wastewater. Wastewater Enterprise operates and maintains San Francisco's combined sewer system to protect public health and the environment. These services extend across eight urban watersheds, more than 1,000 miles of pipe, and 24 miles of transport and storage facilities. WWE operates three all-weather wastewater treatment plants, one wet-weather facility, 32 pump stations, eight transport/storage facilities, and 34 combined sewer discharge structures to treat an estimated 34.6 billion gallons of wastewater in a typical year.  We have opportunities in the following Wastewater divisions:

• Wastewater Enterprise Engineering

The Wastewater Engineering Division employs approximately forty engineers, consisting of civil, mechanical, electrical, and controls engineers, who provide support to the operation and maintenance of the wastewater infrastructure and assets. Student interns will have the ability to work on a variety of projects such as planning, design and construction projects; pilot projects to improve wastewater treatment processes; odor control improvements; programming and controls; condition assessment of sewers; regulatory and permitting. Hiring student interns have been a valuable asset to the Wastewater Engineering Division and is part of our future succession planning of staff.

• Wastewater Enterprise Regulatory Compliance Division

The Regulatory Compliance Division develops, coordinates, and leads activities and strategies across WWE and SFPUC to assure WWE’s compliance with Federal, State, and regional Clean Water Act regulations.  Interns with this Division will support the Division through technical analyses of bacteriological, chemical, hydraulic, toxicological, and/or other data; and assisting with reviewing and preparing reports to be submitted to the State Water Resources Control Board, the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board, and the United States Environmental Protection Agency.  Interns will have opportunities to work with SFPUC staff across various disciplines - including engineering, operations, legal, and biology - and with regional municipal organizations like the Bay Area Clean Water Agencies.

• Wastewater Enterprise Collection System Division (CSD)

The Collection System Division is responsible for ensuring that waste collected through the sewer system is monitored, regulated, and reliably conveyed to protect the public, environment, and sewer system.  Interns will contribute to one or more of the Division’s departments, such as administration, sewer maintenance, sewer repairs, information systems, and pollutant source control.  The Division inspects and cleans the sewer system; responds to sewer-related emergencies; samples, monitors, and evaluates wastewater for pollutants; enforces sewer-related ordinances; ensures compliance with regional, state, and federal permits and regulations; performs pollution prevention outreach; and creates information systems solutions such as GIS maps and reports for asset management.  Interns will gain exposure to various disciplines and departments, offering insights into diverse career pathways and the collaborative nature of work within public utilities.

• Wastewater Enterprise Urban Watershed Planning Division (UWPD)

The Urban Watershed Planning Division (UWPD) develops long-range plans, policies, programs, standards, and projects using an integrated watershed planning approach to manage stormwater and increase flood resilience. UWPD conducts watershed planning and green infrastructure opportunities analyses; leads policy initiatives advancing stormwater management and flood resilience; runs green infrastructure and flood resilience grant programs; implements the San Francisco Stormwater Management Ordinance; works with city partners to deliver integrated, multi-benefit green infrastructure projects in schools, parks, and streets; and leads education and engagement efforts such as the Rain Guardians and Youth Watershed Stewards programs

• Wastewater Enterprise Capital Planning 

The Enterprise Capital Planning (ECP) Division guides and shapes a capital plan that prioritizes WWE’s needs while meeting regulatory compliance, health and safety, condition assessment and asset management goals. Interns in this Division will have the opportunity to provide technical support to system planning efforts which could include 3D modeling and data management/analysis.  There will also be ample time spent in the field performing condition assessments, collecting data, and optimizing operations.

Natural Resources and Lands Management Division (NRLM)

The Natural Resources and Lands Management (NRLM) Division is responsible for the management of over 61,000 acres of local watershed lands and 150-miles of rights-of-way and for the environmental regulatory compliance of operations and maintenance activities across the entire Hetch Hetchy Regional Water System in seven California counties. In addition, NRLM monitors San Francisco’s shoreline and coastal environments to ensure that effluents from the SFPUC’s wastewater systems meet state and federal standards and do not impact the environment or public health.

NRLM Division projects involve managing, protecting, restoring, and monitoring ecological resources, protecting and monitoring cultural resources, implementing environmental compliance and educating the public about the drinking water system and the natural resources that support it. Shoreline and coastal marine projects include participating in the collection and preparation of marine samples, introduction to the practice of benthic invertebrate taxonomy, as well as aquatic bioassay (whole effluent toxicity testing), and shoreline monitoring. All of these projects may involve remote field work, field sampling, laboratory work, data management, and/or office work. 

Selected candidates will work with SFPUC staff on drinking water system, watershed, and/or shoreline projects in various locations such as San Francisco, Millbrae, Sunol and/or Moccasin, CA.

Power Enterprise Distribution Engineering

Under general supervision, the Student Design Trainee I under the Distribution Engineering group of the SFPUC Power Enterprise mainly works on DAS and streetlight projects. The Student Design Trainee I will assist in the preparation of electrical engineering designs and plans by use of AutoCAD, Agi32, and SKM. This position will also help DE’s utility specialist administer the DAS program, and coordinate pole use applications. Finally, this position will be called upon to perform sites visits when needed. The essential functions of the Student Design Trainee I may vary depending on assignments.

Project Description: Distribution Engineering Support

Position will initially be tasked with receiving and reviewing both Streetlights and DAS applications from private developers and telecommunication carriers. Log the application in the database, and flag for review. Review provided project drawings and confirm it meets PUC standards. Return comments to the carriers/developers and close out the file in the database. Site visits with field staff may be required and the trainee is expected to document field findings and create engineering documents via CAD. Position would also be tasked with manipulating large datasets.

Power Enterprise Asset Management

Under general supervision, the Student Design Trainee I under the Asset Management Group of the SFPUC Power Enterprise mainly assists in the management of as built documents for streetlighting and electrical distribution systems. The essential functions of the Student Design Trainee I may vary depending on assignments.   

Project Description: Asset Management Support

Position will initially be tasked to receive as built documents and file them within the Asset Management database; input of using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and AutoCAD.

Assist Asset Management staff with 311 ticket requests and USAN 811 ticket processing.

Monitors and responds to department email inquiries for DPW Coordinate app system to address Notice of Intent (NOI) requests.

Conduct routine field visits related to street lighting and electrical distribution plan, layouts and details.

Projected interview schedule:

• Invitations to interview will be sent tentatively mid-March 2026.
• Interviews will be conducted tentatively on April 8, 2026.
• Selected candidates will be notified on the same day as the interview. Please click here: Same Day Hiring, for more information about the interview process.
• Hiring Managers may also schedule interviews at a later date.

At the time of filing, the applicant must be in an accredited Engineering · Architecture · Planning · Computer Science/Information Services Program · Mathematics · Biology · Natural Resources · Electronics at a university or a related field at a community college.  An applicant must be returning to their undergraduate program or entering/continuing a graduate program in the Fall 2026. For students that have graduated, an applicant can be appointed to begin work within 6 months after graduation.

For the 5380 class, No previous internship or work experience is required.

For the 5381 class, For undergraduate candidates, relevant internship experience equivalent to at least one summer. For graduate candidates, no previous work or internship experience.

For the 5382 class, For undergraduate candidates, prior relevant internship experience equivalent to at least two or more summers. For graduate candidates, prior relevant internship or work experience equivalent to at least one summer.

Applicants must meet the minimum qualification requirement by the final filing date unless otherwise noted.

Verification of Education:

Applicants are required to submit verification of qualifying education at time of application submission. Education verification information on verifying foreign education credits or degree equivalency, can be found at How to Verify Education Requirements | Department of Human Resources (sfdhr.org).

Note: Falsifying one’s education, training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco.

All education, training, and other information substantiating how you meet the minimum qualifications must be included on your application by the filing deadline. Information submitted after the filing deadline will not be considered in determining whether you meet the minimum qualifications. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed City and County of San Francisco application. Applications completed improperly may be cause for ineligibility or disqualification.

Additional Information Regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco:

• Information about the Same Day Hiring Job Fair
• Information About The Hiring Process
• Conviction History
• Employee Benefits Overview  
• Equal Employment Opportunity 
• Disaster Service Worker
• ADA Accommodation
• Veterans Preference
• Right to Work
• Copies of Application Documents
• Diversity Statement

HOW TO APPLY

Applications for City and County of San Francisco jobs are only accepted through an online process. Visit https://careers.smartrecruiters.com/CityAndCountyOfSanFrancisco1/ and begin the application process.

• Select the “Apply Now” button and follow instructions on the screen

Applicants may be contacted by email about this recruitment and, therefore, it is their responsibility to ensure that their registered email address is accurate and updated. Also, applicants must ensure that email from CCSF is not blocked on their computer by a spam filter. To prevent blocking, applicants should set up their email to accept CCSF mail from the following addresses (@sfgov.org, @sfdpw.org, @sfport.com, @flysfo.com, @sfwater.org, @sfdph.org, @asianart.org, @sfmta.com, @sfpl.org, @dcyf.org, @first5sf.org, @famsf.org, @ccsf.edu, @smartalerts.info, and @smartrecruiters.com).

Applicants will receive a confirmation email from [email protected] that their online application has been received in response to every announcement for which they file. Applicants should retain this confirmation email for their records. Failure to receive this email means that the online application was not submitted or received.

Job Analyst Information: If you have any questions regarding this recruitment or application process, please contact the job analyst, Alexeh Alfajora at [email protected].

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.