Building Energy Performance Summer Intern (Washington State)

ABOUT THE ROLE

Sheehan Engineering is seeking motivated summer interns to join our team in a combined office\-technical and field role supporting our growing portfolio of building energy performance compliance work. This internship will primarily help advance our mission to bring building owners and operators into compliance with the Washington State Clean Buildings Performance Standard (CBPS), but will also assist with other building energy performance programs across the country.

The role is split between onsite fieldwork and desk\-based technical work. In the field, you will travel to client facilities throughout the region — alongside our engineering staff and growing into independent site visits as experience is gained — to document existing building conditions, inventory equipment, and gather the operational information our team needs to produce high\-quality deliverables. You will then help turn that fieldwork into finished products: assisting our engineers with drafting EMPs, developing O\&M Programs, and completing ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager benchmarking across our client portfolio.

On an as\-needed basis, you'll also support our Building Energy Performance Standard (BEPS) and benchmarking work in other jurisdictions virtually — no travel required — helping with data collection, Portfolio Manager entry, documentation, and analysis for clients outside Washington State.

Throughout the summer, you'll receive direct mentorship from a licensed professional engineer, gain exposure to real compliance projects across multiple property types and regulatory programs, and build a portfolio of hands\-on technical experience in a specialized, high\-demand field.

COMPENSATION \& ENGAGEMENT

This is a paid summer internship running 8 to 12 weeks, with flexible start and end dates that can be coordinated around your academic calendar. Full\-time (40\-hour) and part\-time (20\-hour) positions available. Compensation is $25\-$27 per hour, commensurate with experience and determined upon engagement, paid bi\-weekly. Mileage is reimbursed per current IRS rates for travel to client sites. The role is field\-based in the Pacific Northwest; no relocation or housing assistance is provided.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Conduct site visits to client facilities alongside engineering staff (and, as experience grows, independently), documenting existing building conditions with thoroughness and accuracy.
• Perform equipment inventory takeoffs across HVAC, electrical, lighting, controls, and building envelope systems — capturing nameplate data (model, serial number, capacity, operational status), physical dimensions, and configurations to support energy calculations and benchmarking.
• Photograph building equipment, mechanical rooms, utility infrastructure, and overall property conditions for engineering documentation.
• Locate and document utility meters (electricity, natural gas, district energy), tracing distribution systems to identify which equipment and zones each meter serves.
• Conduct brief interviews with facility staff to gather operational knowledge — schedules, setpoints, control sequences, and system histories — that may not be apparent from physical observation alone.
• Organize and submit field data, photographs, and documentation to engineering staff following company templates and standards.
• Support development of Energy Management Plans (EMPs) for client buildings by translating field observations into draft facility descriptions, building system inventories, and operating schedules under the review of our professional engineers.
• Assist in drafting Operations \& Maintenance Programs (OMPs), including documenting existing maintenance practices, cataloging equipment service requirements, and building out recommended preventive maintenance schedules.
• Perform ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager benchmarking across our client portfolio — entering property attributes, utility data, and operating characteristics, and reviewing benchmarking results and energy use intensity (EUI) metrics for quality control.
• Coordinate site access logistics with facility contacts and maintain professionalism as a representative of Sheehan Engineering.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Currently enrolled as an undergraduate (year 2 or above) in an ABET\-accredited program in mechanical engineering, architecture, building sciences, or a related field.
• Basic working knowledge of commercial building systems, including HVAC equipment types, distribution systems, and their roles in building operations.
• Valid driver’s license and reliable personal vehicle; must be willing and able to travel to client sites throughout your region on a regular basis.
• Self\-starter with strong initiative, eagerness to learn, and the ability to exercise sound judgment in the field as experience is gained.
• Organized, detail\-oriented, and able to produce accurate and complete field documentation.
• Professional demeanor when interacting with facility staff and building operators.

WHY SHEEHAN ENGINEERING

Sheehan Engineering is a licensed professional engineering firm specializing in building energy performance services. We bring deep technical expertise to energy audits, assessments, commissioning, and compliance programs — with a commitment to independence and objectivity in every engagement.

As the Pacific Northwest navigates the requirements of the Clean Buildings Performance Standard and broader decarbonization goals, the demand for qualified energy engineering professionals is growing rapidly. Joining Sheehan Engineering means gaining real\-world, resume\-building experience in a field at the forefront of the built environment’s energy transition.

Learn more at sheehan\-eng.com.

HOW TO APPLY

Interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter to:

kevin@sheehan\-eng.com

Please indicate your location (Seattle, Portland, or Spokane area) in your subject line.

Pay: $25\.00 \- $27\.00 per hour

Work Location: Remote