Engineering Intern 1 - Floodplain Engineer Intern

Engineering Intern 1 - Floodplain Engineer Intern

Bring Your Engineering Expertise to Montana's Communities! What if your next engineering role combined hands-on floodplain technical analysis, direct community impact, and the opportunity to protect Montana families and businesses from flood risk? The Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) is seeking an Engineer Intern for our floodplain technical assistance program. If you value meaningful public service, and are ready to tackle complex water resources challenges to make a direct difference for Montana communities, this is your opportunity to build a career that matters.

Why You Should Apply

• Learn State of the Art Methods in Engineering for Floodplain Management: Develop your expertise in hydrologic and hydraulic modeling as applied to floodplain management needs across the state.
• Be a Part of an Interdisciplinary Community: Work closely with GIS specialists, hydrologists, and planners both in our program and across the state to help keep development in Montana safe from flooding.
• Work-Life Balance in Big Sky Country: With only 15% travel and telework eligibility, enjoy more time for the Montana outdoor lifestyle you love while leading work that matters.

Core Values of DNRC Water Resources Division

• Valuing People
• Stewardship
• Service
• Credibility
• Engagement

The selected candidate may be eligible for relocation expense reimbursement. This position is eligible for a $1.00 per hour base pay increase effective July 2026.

Essential Functions (Major Duties and Responsibilities)

• Review and evaluate floodplain permit applications to ensure engineering sufficiency and compliance with local, state, and federal regulations, including analysis of FEMA map revisions (CLOMR/LOMR) and related engineering submittals.
• Provide technical consultation and support for communities and local floodplain administrators on project design, permitting, and regulatory requirements, including conducting site visits and performing or reviewing engineering analyses.
• Manage records and reporting related to mapping changes, permit actions, and technical requests, ensuring accurate documentation and archiving for state and federal programs.
• Assists the Community Assistance Program with review and adequacy of floodplain ordinance updates.

Benefits

• Live and work in your choice of Montana communities – this position may be based in Billings, Missoula, Kalispell, Lewistown, Havre, Glasgow, Helena, or Bozeman. Each location offers unique opportunities and natural beauty, with Montana providing abundant recreational opportunities, including camping, fishing, hunting, mountain biking, and hiking.
• Additional benefits include:
• Work/life balance with flexible schedules and telework eligibility.
• Generous paid leave (vacation, sick, holidays), with vacation leave increasing with service.
• Longevity pay with continued state service.
• Health, dental, vision, life insurance, and flexible spending accounts.
• Access to free employee medical clinics and telehealth.
• Retirement plans (Defined Benefit and Defined Contribution plus an optional 457(b) Plan).
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness - may qualify you for student loan forgiveness.
• Career progression, professional development, and state employee discounts.
• Up to 15 days of military leave with full pay.

Minimum Qualifications

• Alternative combinations of the education and experience listed below will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
• Bachelor's degree in civil engineering or equivalent.
• Montana Engineering Intern (EI) license, or the ability to obtain EI licensure within one year of hire.
• Valid driver's license and ability to travel throughout Montana.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• If you are the ideal candidate for this opportunity, you will have the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:
• Professional or academic experience in hydrology, hydraulics, fluvial geomorphology, and/or river restoration & remediation.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with ability to present technical information clearly to varied audiences.
• Ability to work independently using technical knowledge, engineering judgment, and available references and resources.

Physical and Mental Requirements

• Duties include office work with field travel for site visits, project inspections, and meetings.
• Travel averages approximately 15% throughout Montana, with occasional out-of-town travel of up to one-week duration required periodically.
• May be required to travel to attend professional training, community meetings, and conferences both in-state and out-of-state.
• Occasional field work or site visits performed as needed, namely in response to flood events, possibly in adverse weather conditions and/or hazardous areas requiring knowledge of appropriate safety protocols.

How to Apply

• Only online submissions are accepted. Applicants must attach both a cover letter and resume at the time of application to be considered for this position. Failure to attach required documents will result in the application being considered incomplete and not reviewed further. Materials submitted but not requested will not be considered in the selection process. When attaching documents, mark each as Relevant to ensure they are viewable.
• Required Application Materials
• Cover Letter: Please explain how your education and experience help you meet the identified Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. Share your passion for water resources engineering and public service, and describe what excites you about providing technical assistance for floodplain management to Montana's communities.
• Resume: Include all work experience you have that would help you qualify for this position, including duties and dates of employment (month and year).