Undergrad Intern Engineering
Job Responsibilities/Duties
Hanford Tank Waste Operations & Closure (H2C) delivers exceptional performance in safely removing, treating, and disposing of tank waste. H2C leads the nation's largest and most complex radioactive waste cleanup, including closure of the legacy waste tanks at Hanford containing 56 million gallons of radioactive and chemical waste.
Joining H2C means becoming part of a team dedicated to creating "The Solution Today for a Better Tomorrow." At H2C, our culture is deeply rooted in our Vision, Mission, Values, and Behaviors, which guide our efforts on the Hanford Site and within our communities. Our vision to tackle the Department of Energy's largest environmental challenge reflects our commitment to leaving a positive legacy for future generations. We strive to deliver exceptional performance in safely removing, treating, and disposing of tank waste. Our values emphasize living safely, acting with integrity, and working collaboratively as a team. We encourage innovation, personal accountability, and continuous improvement, fostering an environment where everyone is empowered to contribute to our mission and celebrate our achievements. By embracing these principles, you will be part of a forward-thinking organization dedicated to making a meaningful impact today and for the future.
The Summer Internship Program at Hanford Tank waste Operations & Closure (H2C) provides professional development opportunities for students to gain valuable work experience on the Hanford Site, located in Southeastern Washington state. Hanford was established to produce the world's first atomic bomb in the Second World War and continued producing plutonium for the Cold War efforts from 1945 to 1991. H2C's mission is to safely handle the byproduct of this massive operation, to ensure a clean environment for future generations.
Summer Internships are paid and are 10 to 12 weeks in duration. Interns must hire and onboard no later than June 22, 2026. The work location is Richland, WA, either in town or on the Hanford site (30 miles away). Housing and transportation are not provided. Lodging and transportation recommendations for the Tri-Cities will be provided upon request.
Engineering Intern opportunities are available to support integrated technical solutions to the complex challenges of the Integrated Tank Disposition Contractor (ITDC) for engineering disciplines that may include process, mechanical, civil, chemical, structural, software, computer, electrical, control systems and nuclear engineering. Selected Interns will partner with Subject Matter Experts (SME), mentors and other staff in the following Engineering organizations including, but not limited to:
Design Engineering
Provides in-house design engineering support to Production Operations, Single Shell Tank (SST) Retrievals and Tank Farm Projects. It is responsible for oversight of design execution and change control and drawing configuration control for the ITDC and owns the associated procedures. Design Engineering is also responsible for Procurement Engineering and supports implementation of the Commercial Grade Dedication (CGD) process.
Tank Farms Projects & Direct Feed Low Activity Waste (DFLAW) Engineering
Provides a variety of engineering services in support of Tank Farm infrastructure projects and ensures proper implementation of engineering requirements from the ITDC functional Engineering organization. It also provides review, integration and execution of the technical aspects associated with integrity and fitness-for-service programs covering the Double Shell Tank (DST), SST, Waste Transfer, 242-A, Effluent Treatment Facility (ETF) and ancillary facilities or systems. It provides a central engineering overview of the conditions and operations pertaining to the corrosion control program and maintaining the long term health of systems necessary to support the Tank Farm mission.
Process & Integrity Engineering
Supports safe and compliant ITDC operations through: providing technical integration among Process Engineering, Tank Waste Characterization, and Mission Analysis Engineering with Mission Integration and Technology Development managers and ITDC Operations managers; evaluating Production Operations and Retrieval activities to ensure consistency with the River Protection Project (RPP) System Plan and comply with Safety Basis, Environmental and Operational requirements; and providing process leadership to Production Operations to plan waste transfers, retrievals and evaporator campaigns; providing process leadership to other areas of the company and special task teams in support of mission objectives.
Process & Control System (P&CS) Engineering
Responsible for design, development, and day-to-day oversight of process control computer systems and process software applications used to support the ITDC mission.
Production Operations Engineering
Provides a variety of engineering services in support of the operation and maintenance of ITDC facilities and ensuring proper implementation of engineering requirements, including: developing inputs, assumptions and design criteria for tank farm facility modifications; administrating the System Engineering program and providing Cognizant System Engineering (CSE) and Shift Technical Engineer (STE) support to facilities; providing resident waste transfer and characterization technical expertise and facility knowledge in support of operability determinations, performance monitoring program, centralized resolution of Structures, Systems, and Components (SSC) performance problems; and providing Maintenance Engineering support.
Specific project scope will be identified in interviews.
Required Qualifications
* U.S. Citizenship.
* Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale).
* At least 18 years of age.
* Enrolled in a degree program that relates to H2C work, with emphasis in specific disciplines that supports the cleanup mission and is relevant to the field of study.
* Enrolled as a full-time student (12+ credit hours) during the three quarters or two semesters immediately preceding the start of the internship.
Desired Qualifications
Compensation & Benefits
Hourly Rate/Range:
*Freshman – $18.260
*Sophomore – $22.360 to $25.140
*Junior – $24.890 to $29.297
*Senior – $29.370 to $34.570
H2C considers a candidate's discipline of study as it relates to the position being filled and current academic standing when determining hiring rate. Note a candidate's prior salary history will not be taken into consideration.
In accordance with the Service Contract Act, this position is also eligible for the health & welfare wage adder of up to $4.93 per hour.
Depending on the nature of your employment with H2C, you can expect the following:
- A business casual dress work environment: jeans are permissible (restrictions may apply).
- Opportunity for work/life balance: a standard 4 x 10 work schedule, allowing more personal time to enjoy life outside of the office (other schedules and/or shift work may be required).
Note: employment at H2C involves working in the office or in the field depending on the role.