The NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) protects public health and the environment by supplying clean drinking water, collecting and treating wastewater, and reducing air, noise, and hazardous materials pollution. DEP is the largest combined municipal water and wastewater utility in the country, with nearly 6,000 employees. DEP delivers more than 1.1 billion gallons per day of the highest quality drinking water to 8.5 million NYC residents and more than 1 million people in Upstate New York, and has a wastewater conveyance and treatment system capable of processing over 1.3 billion gallons of wastewater per day to protect the environment and the city’s surrounding waterways.

New York City has approximately 140,000 catch basins, 114,000 hydrants, 90,000 valves, 14 gatehouses, 3 reservoirs, 68 groundwater wells, a 100 million gallon underground storage tank and 7,000 miles each of both sanitary sewers and water mains. The responsibility of maintaining these vast networks falls under the Department of Environmental Protection’s Bureau of Water and Sewer Operations (BWSO).

The Division of Distribution Operations is responsible for operating the water distribution system throughout the five boroughs. This includes operating and maintaining the shaft distribution chambers of the three City Water Tunnels and in-city aqueduct, the trunk main valves and pressure reducing regulators throughout the system, pumping stations, and in-city treatment facilities; cross-connection inspections; installing and maintaining CCTV, instrumentation, and operational software systems for the bureau; and providing engineering direction for improvements to the entire system.

Civil Engineering Interns provide support to the maintenance team to maintain and repair facilities that are critical to supply drinking water to the City of New York. They support contractors in their efforts to maintain and repair equipment in the shaft facilities. They work alongside trade staff in maintenance and repair of equipment. They perform inspections and testing of equipment, provide access to facilities to third parties, and conduct facilities inspections weekly. They occasionally review drawings and submittals, operate sump pumps and valves, and deliver equipment.

Work includes working with valves, water regulators and general plumbing and water conveyance equipment, electrical motors, generators, transformers, lighting and general electrical equipment, elevators, cranes, HVAC equipment, alarm and security apparatus, buildings and structures and associated equipment such as entry ways doors stairways.

The selected candidate will need to become familiar with shaft maintenance including the different systems in the facilities e.g., HVAC, mechanical, electrical, etc., and contracts that maintain various systems. They will work with project engineers, assist with overseeing maintenance contracts, performing thorough field inspections, system operation activities and special projects pertaining to the New Croton Aqueduct and City Tunnel facilities while complying with shaft maintenance practices, policies, and procedures. They will assist project engineers to evaluate engineering problems associated with mechanical/electrical equipment, i.e., repairs, replacement, substitution, etc.

Civil Engineering Interns must be able to visit shaft site daily. Shafts are not heated or air conditioned for the most part. May experience cold or bad weather and have to work in hot and humid environments. May have to work at high elevations on ladders, cranes, etc., may also need to work in confined spaces.

Incumbent required to wear hard toed or steel toe boots when visiting shafts and may have to wear a variety of PPE (Personnel Protective Equipment) equipment such as safety vests, hard hats, and safety harnesses on occasion.


Appointments are subject to OMB approval.
For additional information about DEP, visit www.nyc.gov/dep

Recruitment Contact: recruit@dep.nyc.gov

DEP is an equal opportunity employer with a strong commitment to the diversity of our organization and workforce. Your voluntary response to the NYCAPS on-line application section for referral information will assist us tremendously in our ability to track the success of our outreach and recruitment efforts. Please be sure to indicate your source of referral to this job.

NOTE: This position is open to qualified persons with a disability who are eligible for the 55-a Program and also meet the education and experience requirements as listed in the job posting notice. Please indicate on your resume or cover letter that you would like to be considered for the position under the 55-a Program. This position is also open to non 55-a Program candidates who meet the education and experience requirements as listed in the job posting notice.

CIVIL ENGINEERING INTERN - 20202

1. A baccalaureate degree in civil engineering from an accredited college. A degree in any other engineering area or in civil engineering technology is not acceptable.

NYS Driver’s License is required.

This position is also open to qualified persons with a disability who are eligible for the 55-a Program. Please indicate at the top of your resume and cover letter that you would like to be considered for the position through the 55-a Program.

As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website at https://studentaid.gov/pslf/.

New York City Residency is not required for this position

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.