Building Enclosure Engineering Co-op - Spring '26 - U.S.

We are currently accepting applicants for our Spring 2026 Co-ops in the following offices: Seattle, WA; Portland, OR; Oakland, CA; and Boston, MA. Please specify which location(s) you're interested in in the appropriate field on your application.

Note - these are full-time, in-person Co-ops from January to April 2026 and are not available for part-time or remote work.

This term, we are not offering a Co-op with our Energy & Climate team specifically.

If you're seeking a Canada-based spring Co-op, please apply here - Canada Spring Co-op

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Do you have a passion for Making Buildings Better? If so, we want to hear from you!

RDH is an employee-owned consulting firm with 300+ employees in 10 offices across North America. Our core area of business is the integration of building science engineering, architecture, and construction management to optimize the performance of the building enclosure (walls, windows and roofs). Since our beginnings in 1997, we have become industry leaders in North America and continue to grow as we focus on technical excellence and delivering high-quality projects. We approach projects with a multi-faceted and distinctly advanced understanding of building enclosures. We are grounded by our core values: 1) commit to excellence, 2) act with integrity, 3) work as a team 4) do what it takes, and 5) always learn.

Our areas of work include collaborating with design teams for new building construction projects, forensic investigation and renewal of existing buildings, building asset management to assist building owners with the long-term upkeep and efficient use of their facilities, and building science research to identify ways of improving building stock.

We hire enthusiastic engineering students who have basic training in building science engineering (building science, civil engineering, structural engineering, mechanical engineering, or architecture), along with exposure to hands-on experience in construction. We value innovative thinking, a passion for the field, and a strong sense of teamwork.

Key Responsibilities

As an engineering co-op student at RDH, you will work directly with senior staff on a variety of projects. Tasks and responsibilities will include:

• Field review of building enclosure components for new construction and renewal projects.
• On-site performance testing of building enclosure assemblies, including air leakage and window water testing.
• Investigation of existing buildings, including visual review of as built conditions, documenting conditions via field notes, sketches, and photos, and providing recommendations for repair, renewal or rehabilitation.
• Design and implementation of building asset management programs.
• Research and testing in our in-house lab for new technologies and strategies for reducing energy consumption, optimizing resources, and improving durability of buildings.

Career Development and Training:

During your work term, you will be mentored by a variety of staff from senior to junior, many of whom are industry leaders in building science engineering, architecture, and project management.

We strive to develop students to become leading engineers in the building science space. We offer regular in-house continuing education seminars on a variety of technical topics, such as through our Building Science Live webinar series and regional Lunch and Learns. You may also attend external professional development events. By the end of the work term, we expect you will:

• Develop skills in building enclosure investigation, field review and design.
• Develop engineering problem solving skills related to building science.
• Learn how to perform field quality assurance that conforms to ASTM standards, including water testing of windows.
• Learn to assess water ingress and other building performance related problems.
• Learn about construction material performance characteristics using various software programs and confirmation in the field.

Compensation & Perks

The base salary range for this position is $46,000-$64,000 annualized for a full-time role. Salary is dependent various factors, including qualifications, skills, competencies, experience, and location. You may also be eligible for relocation allowance, transportation expense coverage, paid vacation and paid sick leave.

RDH will assist students with travel expenses and can provide information on housing options. Through our green transportation policy, we assist all employees with public transportation expenses.