2026 Summer College Internship: Distribution Operations Engineering Intern

The Distribution Operations Engineering (DOE) team supports the real-time operations and delivery of safe and reliable power to SMUD's Distribution grid. DOE is responsible for maintaining SMUD's Advanced Distribution Management System (ADMS) and Distributed Energy Management System (DERMS) to bring real-time visibility and control of the grid, while also allowing advanced applications to optimize all distribution assets. During system emergencies, the DOE team provides engineering support to assess the state of the grid and help minimize outage duration for customers. DOE also investigates Power Quality (PQ) issues on the distribution system by combining engineering expertise and a variety of innovative tools such as advanced metering and data analytics.

The selected candidate will have the opportunity to learn about power systems, distribution system operations, and develop technical skills relevant to engineering analysis and computer programming. The selected candidate will also be exposed to real-time operations, ADMS, DERMS and data analytics.

This internship position is onsite, Monday through Friday.

About SMUD's College Internship Program

SMUD's College Internship Program provides college interns with an opportunity to contribute their skills and knowledge to SMUD while gaining valuable work experience. Workshops and activities will also be part of the program where interns will have the opportunity to be immersed in SMUD's culture and learn leadership skills as well as develop their professional skills.

SMUD was also recognized by Interns 2 Pros for the 2020 Internship Program of The Year Award in recognition of excellence in internship strategy, implementation, and impact and was one of five finalists for the 2023 Internship Program of the Year from Interns 2 Pros along with Paramount, Fox Corporation, Intuit, and Toyota.

Application Deadline: It is guaranteed that the online system will accept applications until 5 PM on January 30, 2026. It is highly encouraged that applications are submitted well before the due date and time mentioned to make sure that they are submitted successfully.

Official SMUD Title: STEM Student Assistant

• Students must be able to commute to the SMUD Offices in Sacramento, CA when requested to come in.
• To have a student position at SMUD, you must not have any relatives working at SMUD.
• Internship dates are as follows: Semester students (May – August) and Quarter students (June – September) of this year.
• Students must be enrolled as a full-time student, complete and pass at least 12 undergraduate units OR 8 graduate units and receive at least a 2.0 GPA in the Spring Semester/Quarter of 2026. Students must be graduating in Summer 2026 or later.
• If the student is graduating in Summer 2026, they must be enrolled as a part-time student in the Summer of 2026.
• If the student is graduating in the Spring Semester/Quarter of 2026 but is pursuing another degree in the Fall Semester/Quarter of 2026, you will still be eligible. However, please make sure that it shows it clearly on your resume to show that you are eligible.
• During the summer internship, students can work up to 130 hours per month.
• Currently, SMUD is not hiring candidates for its student internship positions who require sponsorship from an employer either now or in the future. Such sponsorship is not needed for citizens, a U.S. National, a permanent resident, or one granted refuge or asylum status by the U.S. government. Visa holders typically require sponsorship in one form or another at some point in time.
• Diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) are a part of who we are and how we do things. Supporting efforts that promote pay equality is part of that. Salary placement for the selected candidate will be determined in alignment with the California Equal Pay Act or the applicable MOU. Determination for salary placement of internal candidates will be made without respect to current classification or compensation and will be based upon the candidate's qualifications as compared to those performing substantially similar work. In the event there is a guaranteed pay progression outlined in an applicable MOU, the MOU takes precedence.   

We recommend you create a SMUD Candidate account through our SMUD Careers page, upload your resume and cover letter to be considered for this and other open position.