Water Engineering Intern

Overview

MSA has an opportunity for a Water Engineering Intern at our Cedar Rapids, IA office location. This position will offer students hands-on project exposure to a variety of wastewater planning, design, and construction projects in small and medium size communities.  You will have the opportunity to see, and contribute in, projects throughout the summer. The various projects you'll be working on make a significant and positive impact on the communities you serve.

MSA internships are typically at least 12 weeks in duration, ranging from mid-May 2026 to mid-August 2026, with start/exit dates confirmed later in the hiring process. For engineering students seeking consulting experience with municipal projects, this is the position for you! Across the firm, MSA typically hires around 40 interns each summer.

Please note that MSA receives an extremely high volume of applicants for our internship listings, and we appreciate your patience. The team will be in touch as soon as possible. Even if you applied online, the team encourages you to visit the MSA career fair booth if visiting your campus this fall.

Who we are & how we help

What does it mean to serve communities for over 100 years? It means doing the type of work that helps people raise a family, grow a business, engage with their neighbors, and enjoy a variety of unique, enduring spaces that form the fabric of “home.”

MSA’s roots reach back to 1919. What began with an entrepreneurial solo practitioner in Baraboo, Wisconsin, has grown into a robust and thriving company of over 400 employee owners conducting work across the country. As a 100% employee-owned firm, when we say we “own” our work, we mean it. We stand behind the quality of our designs, the integrity of our people, and the generations of client relationships we’ve formed based on trust, firm handshakes, and the belief that together — we can accomplish anything.

Core Values

Commitment to DEIB

MSA seeks to provide a workplace where everyone can feel secure in bringing their authentic selves to work, where opportunities to learn and succeed are afforded to all, and in which diversity of perspective leads to an innovative and successful employee-owned firm.

Responsibilities

The work you may do

• Assist in the preparation of technical reports, data analysis, and data evaluation
• Assist with CAD work or project estimates
• Assist with construction submittal review and construction administration
• Construction observation of municipal water and wastewater infrastructure projects
• Construction staking for municipal infrastructure projects
• Preparation of permits for municipal wastewater treatment projects

Qualifications

What you bringSkills & Knowledge / Education & Experience:

• Pursuing a Bachelor’s degree (or related) in Civil or Environmental Engineering required
• A valid driver’s license required
• Previous related engineering intern or co-op experience preferred
• Prior experience in the wastewater field preferred
• Solid working knowledge of Microsoft Excel required
• Revit, Civil 3D or Auto CAD coursework and/or experience would be a plus
• A desire to learn more about municipal wastewater projects
• This position requires you to have authorization to work in the United States for any employer. We will not provide sponsorship for this position.

Benefits

Why MSA? We're glad you asked!

• Better Together – A collaborative work environment that promotes open doors, new ideas and honest opinions.
• Multi-disciplinary Opportunities – As multi-talented people in a multi-disciplinary firm, we encourage everyone to follow their interests, seek new experiences and apply their skills where they feel most impactful.
• We’ve Got Your Back – Support when you need it, independence when you don’t. We’re 400+ team members strong, operating as one cohesive MSA.
• Passion & Purpose – We’re passionate about what we do and proud of it! Join us to share inspirations, “geek out” and think big.
• Pay & Perks – We offer competitive industry pay and a variety of perks — just a few of the things that make us uniquely MSA.
• Communities of Practice – Our CoPs are our company think tanks and idea generators, the perfect means to regularly share, collaborate and learn together.
• Work-Life Integration – Life doesn’t stop when the work day begins. MSA supports our employees as professionals, parents, citizens and friends — with the understanding and flexibility to meet your obligations and balance your time.
• Commitment to Learning – We support the professional aspirations of our employees with ongoing training options, tuition reimbursement opportunities, and the technology to keep us connected, creative and competitive.
• Community Engagement – We give back to the communities in which we live, work and play. MSA employee owners are volunteers, educators, STEM outreach participants and event attendees, supported by dedicated corporate sponsorship and donations initiatives.

There’s more! Eligible employees will also enjoy the following benefits:

• Quality Insurance Options – Medical, dental and vision coverage for you, your spouse or domestic partner and eligible dependents
• Paid Time Off – All full-time employees will receive, at minimum, 17 days (that’s 3+ weeks!) of paid time off in the first year alone.
• Paid Holidays – MSA offers time off pay for 8 holidays in every calendar year.
• Paid Parental Leave – Both parents will receive 2 weeks of paid time off and birth parents are eligible for additional paid time off under MSA’s Short Term Paid Leave. The paid 2 weeks of time also applies to adoption and foster care placement.
• Supplemental Insurance – MSA pays 100% for all employees to have life insurance, long-term disability insurance and short-term disability insurance.
• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) – MSA is an ESOP S-Corporation, which means that our company is 100% owned by us! Through the ESOP, eligible employees receive MSA stock in the form of company shares as a percentage of compensation, at no cost to the employee.
• 401k Retirement Savings Plan – Employees can also choose to participate in a 401k plan, with a generous employer match that is immediately 100% vested.
• Short Term Incentive (STIP) – This program rewards employees who meet performance goals with a one-time annual STIP payment as a percentage of their eligible compensation — recognition of individual accomplishments and achieving organizational goals. STIP payments are awarded if MSA reaches its corporate financial plan for the year.

MSA is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. At MSA, we value a diverse, inclusive workforce and we provide equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. All qualified applicants for employment will be considered without regard to an individual’s race, color, sex, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition, family care status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local laws.  If you are unable to submit your application because of incompatible assistive technology or a disability, please contact us at [email protected]

Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer