Summer 2026 Water Resources Intern
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The Progressive Companies Summer Internship Program is a paid, full-time experience where classroom learning meets real-world impact. You’ll dive into hands-on projects, sharpen your problem-solving and communication skills, and gain a front-row seat to the world of architecture, design, engineering, and construction. Along the way, enjoy community outings, wellness events, service-learning projects, and lunch-and-learns that fuel both your career and your curiosity.
As a Water Resources Intern, you will work collaboratively with scientists to conduct aquatic plant surveys, collect water quality samples, and conduct laboratory analysis. Typical work includes driving a pickup truck and trailering a boat to lakes in Michigan’s lower peninsula, assisting with loading and unloading of survey supplies, driving a 16-foot fishing boat, navigating with GPS, and recording field observations.
Please note: The Grand Rapids internship is a full time schedule of 35-45 hours per week, and the Detroit internship is a part time schedule of approximately 25-30 hours per week.
Responsibilities:
- Contribute to the Water Resources team and clients to ensure they achieve project schedules and budgets.
- Drive pickup truck and trailer 16-foot boat, working long days up to 12 hours in length.
- Assist with loading and unloading of survey supplies weighing up to 50 pounds
- Obtain or maintain boating safety certification.
- Provide field observations consistent with Progressive’s standards.
- Utilize SONAR technology while operating the survey boat.
- Assist in minor boat and vehicle repair and maintenance as necessary.
- Provide laboratory analysis consistent with Progressive Companies' standards
- Navigate a variety of weather conditions when driving pickup truck and boat several hours each day on the job, including hot, cold, wet, humid, windy, and wavy conditions.
- Identify a variety of aquatic plants.
Qualifications:
- Enrollment in a Biology, Natural Resources Management, Environmental Science or similar degree program. Completion of at least 1 year of coursework required, with preference for 3 years.
- Completed coursework in Aquatic Sciences preferred. Ability to identify aquatic plants and a basic knowledge of limnology are highly desirable.
- Valid driver’s license and good driving record required, with no driving or other infractions that would preclude insurability.
- Previous pickup truck driving, trailering, and boat driving experience preferred.
- Boating safety certification or the ability to obtain certification.Geographic Information Systems (GIS) certification preferred.
- Comfort working around and in open water in a variety of weather conditions. Basic swimming skills are necessary.
- Ability to work and communicate successfully during long workdays.
- Ability to lift up to 50 pounds, climb in and out of a boat frequently, and drive several hours each day on the job.
- Attention to detail with an emphasis on quality work products and client service, demonstrated through your competencies.
- Excellent technical, written and oral communication skills.
- Proficiency in Microsoft applications.
People Matter
Each individual’s background, knowledge, ability, and experience contributes to strengthening our organization and projects. Our dedication to diversity includes company provided training and education, equitable recruitment, a grassroots employee DEI committee, and robust community partnerships.
Progressive Companies is comprised of people with a variety of abilities, races, colors, religions, genders, sexual orientations, national origins, ages, veteran statuses, and more. As an equal opportunity employer, we believe diversity, equity, and inclusion are essential elements of innovative design. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.
Transforming Spaces. Empowering People.
The talented professionals of Progressive Companies are designers of a bold new future, creating high-performance structures and pathways, delivering on today’s needs and preparing for what’s to come. We live by the idea that design isn’t simply about beauty, it’s about improving strategic outcomes—what we call Performance Based Design. Our work spans across the nation, allowing team members to work on a variety of exciting projects and maximize impact as trusted partners to our clients and communities.
Sustainable and Inclusive
We are dedicated to human-centered, sustainable, and inclusive design practices. We believe diversity, equity, and inclusion are essential to building trust, respect, and truly innovative design making spaces welcoming and accessible to all. Our sustainability approach embraces the AIA 2030 Commitment, together with a range of high performance, restorative, and regenerative strategies with a focus on climate responsive results to maximize positive impact in our industry.
Employee Owned
We act like owners—because we are. From modest beginnings of four original engineering partners in 1962, to almost 300 architects, engineers, designers, and consultants across multiple regional offices today, the energy, resourcefulness, and entrepreneurial mindset you expect from a CEO come standard with every team member.
Culture of Excellence
The firm is continually ranked as one of the Best and Brightest Companies to Work For in the Nation®, with comprehensive benefits including an award-winning wellness program, hybrid work schedule, summer hours, profit-sharing, and employee stock ownership plan (ESOP). We take our work seriously, but have fun along the way, which fuels the creative spirit and supports a focus on work and life integration.
Progressive Companies is committed to development and growth of team members through continuing education, mentorship, growth opportunities, and more. We are dedicated to giving back to our communities, with paid service-learning hours available to every employee and corporate sponsorship for a wide range of community organizations and activities.
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