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Engineering Intern

interstates

Remote, US
Uncategorized

Job Score

70 pts
On-site model (+70)

Take Charge of Your Career at Interstates

At Interstates, we don’t just show up to work, we show up for each other. From our headquarters in Iowa to job sites across the country, we’re doing award-winning electrical, controls, automation, and OT work that powers industrial facilities for clients here in the U.S. and around the world. Whether you’re bending conduit, wiring panels, writing code, supporting projects, or helping things run behind the scenes, you’ll be part of a crew that works hard, shares laughs, and takes pride in doing quality work. We believe in building strong teams, doing the right thing, and making a difference in the communities where we live. If you want to grow and do meaningful work, you’ll feel at home here. 


A Design Services intern will support Interstates with a variety of tasks and projects, gaining hands-on experience in industrial electrical design and construction. This role offers a unique opportunity to immerse oneself in a dynamic, hands-on learning environment, working alongside seasoned professionals, develop an electrical construction vocabulary. Individuals will be actively involved in real projects, engaging with our teams as they work on current initiatives moving through the pipeline. This is an excellent opportunity to get an in-depth education in a specific electrical discipline as well as business operations, project management, safety, and other valuable skills that will be instrumental in your future career.

Primary Duties:

  • Equipment Lists – Collect data and review received information that represent the scope of the project
  • Design – Record design decisions in software like InterTrak (internal equipment list software) to facilitate design drawings and equipment specifications
  • Drawings – Use 2D and 3D drafting software to develop electrical drawings used to communicate project scope to the contractors or fabricators
  • Professional Communication – Utilize various software to provide clear communication with team members and clients regarding project updates

Secondary Duties:

  • Travel to job-sites or shop and work alongside the craft or manufacturing team as tasks/projects are completed
  • Network within Interstates industries to promote the Interstates brand and further promote our position as a premier provider of engineering services
  • In all aspects of the position, this role will carry out his/her duties in compliance with organizational policy and applicable laws
  • Other duties as assigned

Discipline Emphases – Each internship will focus on one of the following:

  • Studies
    • Utilize SKM to complete power system models and execute Arc Flash, Coordination, and Short Circuit analysis
    • Write reports to communicate the electrical hazards present, precautionary measures, and remediation recommendations
  • Power
    • Develop the electrical distribution plan to bring power from the utility to the utilization equipment (motors, devices, lights, and receptacles)
    • Use AutoCAD and Revit to develop electrical drawings communicating the scope of the project
  • PDP (Planning Design & Prefab)
    • Develop a constructible plan that facilitates successful off-site prefabrication and on-site installation of electrical systems
    • Use Revit to develop 3D BIM models and produce installation or manufacturing documents 
  • Controls
    • Design Automation Control Panels including PLC, and Remote I/O Panels and Low Voltage (480VAC) Motor Control Panels
    • Design electrical schematics and wiring diagrams for connections to field instrumentation
  • Instrumentation
    • Evaluate P&IDs (Process and Instrumentation Diagrams) to understand the process and validate device requirements
    • Size and select industrial measurement and control devices (Temp Transmitters, Flowmeters, Pressure Gauges, Hazard Monitoring, etc.) 
  • Field
    • Deliver elements of the above disciplines while working on-site alongside construction personnel
    • Aid in the design/build process by gathering field information and validating project design

Education and/or Experience:

  • 0-4 years of electrical experience/education, be working towards an engineering degree. Additionally, candidates pursuing a drafting degree from a technical college will be considered.

Preferred Skills:

  • Good communication (verbal, written, listening) and teamwork skills
  • Knowledge of, or interest in, manufacturing, industrial, and electrical systems
  • Ability to work with superintendents, engineers, estimators, and customers

Travel: Travel may be required and will vary according to business requirements and internship.

 

 

Interstates. Let's Build Logo

What You Should Know Before You Apply

Interstates may collect personal information as part of your job application, such as your contact details, work history, education, and any information you provide. This information is used only for recruitment, to evaluate your candidacy, and to meet legal requirements. For details about our privacy practices and your rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), please see our Privacy Policy. By applying, you acknowledge that you have reviewed this notice.

Interstates is an EEO provider and offers a drug-free workplace.  Employment at Interstates is at-will and may be terminated at any time with or without notice or cause, except as otherwise provided by law.

Discover Other Areas

Understand the scope of work, key skills, and tools used in different career areas.

About Agile

The Agile and Digital Transformation area is fundamental for organizations seeking efficiency and rapid adaptation. Agile professionals facilitate processes, eliminate bottlenecks, and promote a culture of continuous improvement.

Key certifications include CSM, PSM, SAFe, ICP, and Kanban. Knowledge of Scrum, Kanban, XP, and agile frameworks is essential, as are leadership and facilitation soft skills.

Senior Agile coaches and Scrum Masters are highly valued, especially in technology companies that adopt agile methodologies at scale.

About Frontend

The Frontend area is responsible for creating the visual interfaces that users interact with on websites and web applications. Frontend professionals combine technical skills with design to deliver intuitive, responsive, and accessible digital experiences.

Key skills include HTML, CSS, JavaScript/TypeScript, frameworks like React, Angular, and Vue, build tools (Webpack, Vite), CSS (Tailwind, Sass), testing (Jest, Cypress), and knowledge of web performance and accessibility (WCAG). Familiarity with design systems and reusable components is a differentiator.

Frontend developers in technology companies are highly valued, especially those who master React, Next.js, web performance, and accessibility. The field offers opportunities from junior developer to frontend architect, with a focus on user experience, performance, and code quality.

About Marketing

The Marketing area is strategic for the growth and positioning of any company. It encompasses traditional marketing, brand management, market research, trade marketing, product marketing, and market intelligence. Marketing professionals are responsible for planning and executing strategies that connect brands to their target audience.

Key skills include brand management, market research, competitive analysis, product marketing, trade marketing, pricing, relationship marketing, and channel development. Knowledge of research tools (Nielsen, Kantar, Ipsos), BI, and advanced spreadsheets is a differentiator.

Marketing professionals in technology companies are highly valued, especially those who master product marketing, go-to-market strategy, and data-driven marketing. The field offers opportunities from analyst to CMO, with a focus on growth, brand positioning, and return on investment.

About SEO Analyst

The SEO Analyst is the professional responsible for optimizing websites for search engines, increasing organic visibility and qualified traffic. With the growing importance of digital marketing, SEO professionals are fundamental to any online presence strategy.

Key skills include on-page and off-page SEO, technical SEO, keyword research, SEO audits, link building, optimized content creation, and metrics analysis. Tools like Google Search Console, Google Analytics, Ahrefs, Semrush, Moz, and Screaming Frog are essential for daily work.

SEO analysts in technology companies are highly valued, especially those who master technical SEO, Core Web Vitals, and data-driven content strategies. The field offers opportunities from junior analyst to head of SEO, with a focus on organic growth, domain authority, and return on investment.

About Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence is currently the fastest-growing field in the technology market. The revolution in generative models (GPT, Claude, Gemini) has created massive demand for AI-specialized professionals.

Key areas of practice include Machine Learning Engineering, MLOps, Prompt Engineering, AI Research, and Applied AI. Python, TensorFlow, PyTorch, and LLM knowledge are essential skills.

AI salaries are the highest in the technology sector, with many remote work opportunities at international companies.

Career Guides

Technology Career Guide

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Design Career Guide

UX/UI, Graphic Design, Product Design. Portfolio, tools, interviews, and growth in the Design field.

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Marketing Career Guide

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Finance Career Guide

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Communication Career Guide

Journalism, PR, Corporate Communication, Content Marketing, and Multimedia Production.

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Administration Career Guide

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Data Career Guide

Data Science, Data Engineering, BI, Machine Learning, and AI. From training to the job market.

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Product Career Guide

Product Management, Product Ownership, Agile, Scrum, and OKRs. From strategy to execution.

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Tech & Remote Glossary

Stop getting lost in interviews and job descriptions

The job market, especially within tech and global companies, has developed its own dialect. Not understanding these acronyms can make you lose valuable opportunities or poorly negotiate your contract. To end this problem, we created the Definitive Glossary for the Remote Professional.

🏢 Work Models & Routine

Async (Asynchronous Work)
A communication model where responses don't need to be immediate. Instead of back-to-back meetings, the team relies on well-structured documents, threads, and messages. It's the gold standard for global companies spanning multiple time zones.
Sync (Synchronous Work)
The opposite of Async. It requires the team to be online and available at the same time for meetings, live chats, and real-time collaboration.
Daily / Stand-up
A quick daily meeting (usually 15 minutes) common in Agile (Scrum) methodologies. The team answers three questions: What did I do yesterday? What will I do today? Are there any blockers?
All-Hands / Town Hall
A company-wide meeting involving all employees. Usually led by the founders (C-Levels) to present results, new goals, and answer team questions.
1:1 (One-on-One)
A recurring individual meeting between a professional and their direct manager. It is used for career alignment, feedback, and problem-solving, not just for project status updates.

💰 Contracts, Benefits & Compensation

PTO (Paid Time Off)
Instead of strict, categorized leave policies, modern US companies usually offer a flexible pool of days (e.g., 20 days of PTO, or even "Unlimited PTO") that you can use for vacations, sick days, or personal matters, while receiving your regular compensation.
Equity / Stock Options
Company ownership. The startup offers you the right to buy shares at a heavily discounted strike price in the future. If the company grows, goes public, or is acquired, these shares can be highly lucrative.
Vesting (Vesting Schedule)
The rule that controls your Equity. It usually lasts 4 years. You don't get all the shares on day one; you "earn" them gradually as you stay with the company. A "1-year Cliff" means you must stay for at least one year to receive your first batch of shares.
RSUs (Restricted Stock Units)
Unlike Stock Options (where you have the right to buy the stock), RSUs are actual shares the company grants you as a bonus or part of your compensation package, following a strict Vesting schedule.
Independent Contractor (1099 / B2B)
The most common international hiring model for global talent working for US companies. You act as a service provider (business-to-business), receiving the gross salary (often six-figure compensation) without standard local payroll tax deductions at the source.

🤖 Recruitment & Hiring Process

ATS (Applicant Tracking System)
The "robot" that reads your resume. Software like Greenhouse, Ashby, and Workday are used to filter candidates by keywords before a human even looks at the document. (Pro tip: this is why your resume must be clean, semantic, and have the right keywords).
JD (Job Description)
The document that lists the responsibilities, technical requirements, and benefits of the open position.
Cultural Fit
The interview stage that evaluates if your core values, communication style, and worldview align with the company's culture. This is the ultimate test of your Soft Skills.
Onboarding
The integration process. It's the period of your first few weeks at the company, where you get your access credentials, learn about the culture, study the internal documentation, and understand how the product works.

🚀 How to use this to your advantage?

The secret isn't just knowing what these acronyms mean, but using them actively. If during an interview for a premium tech role you ask, "How does your PTO policy and Vesting schedule work?", the recruiter will immediately perceive you as a high-level professional, familiar with the global market standards.

The remote job market requires preparation. And having the right vocabulary is the first big step to securing six-figure proposals and standing out among thousands of applicants.

Expert Tip

How n8n and Automation Open Doors to Premium Jobs

The Paradigm Shift in Web Development

The web development market has matured. A few years ago, mastering a traditional stack (like MERN or LAMP) was enough to secure a highly sought-after role. Today, the corporate landscape — especially in US startups hiring globally and offering six-figure compensation — demands speed and operational efficiency. It's no longer just about building from scratch, but knowing how to integrate complex ecosystems rapidly.

According to Gartner, hyperautomation is one of the top strategic technology trends of the decade. The modern developer must be an integration architect, capable of connecting CRMs, databases, AI APIs, and payment gateways in a matter of hours, not weeks. This is exactly where n8n becomes an indispensable tool in your portfolio.

Why n8n? The Power of "Fair-Code"

n8n is a node-based workflow automation tool. Unlike competitors aimed at non-technical users (such as Zapier or Make), n8n was designed with the developer in mind first. It allows raw JavaScript injection for complex data manipulation, custom HTTP requests, and, most importantly, features a fair-code licensing model that allows it to be self-hosted on a company's own infrastructure.

For technical recruiters and CTOs, a candidate who masters n8n demonstrates maturity. It proves that you understand SaaS cost reduction and value the security and sovereignty of the company's data.

Practical Tips to Land Your Next Role

If you want your resume to pass rigorous ATS (Applicant Tracking System) screening — like Greenhouse or Ashby — and reach the hands of Tech Leads, here are the core skills you should highlight when associating Web Development with n8n:

  • Mastery of Webhooks and RESTful APIs: The foundation of automation is system communication. Demonstrate your ability to create n8n workflows that listen to native Webhooks from your application (e.g., a checkout event in a Next.js e-commerce app) and trigger subsequent actions with low latency.
  • Hosting and Docker: n8n's biggest differentiator is self-hosting. In your resume, mention your ability to package and orchestrate n8n instances using Docker and Docker Compose. Familiarity with Cloud providers (AWS, GCP, or DigitalOcean) to deploy these instances is a massive bonus.
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  • Error Handling and Resilience: Systems fail. APIs go down. An amateur automation will break a company's process. In your portfolio, document how you use Error Trigger nodes to build automated retries and send alerts to Slack/Discord when an integration fails.

Your Portfolio is the Ultimate Proof

Just listing "n8n" in the skills section of your resume isn't enough. Create a repository on GitHub containing a real-world use case. For example: export the JSON file of an n8n workflow that reads new leads from a PostgreSQL database, enriches the data using the OpenAI API, and sends them to a CRM. Add a detailed README.md explaining the architecture. This is the ultimate bait for Senior roles.

References and Further Reading