Student Design Trainee III, Arch, Engr Planning

Company Description

Company Description
Part-time
Company Description

The Port of San Francisco is seeking a Student Design Trainee III to join the Utilities team within the Engineering Division.
Appointment Type: This is a Temporary Exempt (TEX) position with an anticipated duration of up to three (3) years. This position is excluded by the Charter from the competitive civil service examination process and incumbents are considered “at will” and shall serve at the discretion of the Appointing Officer.

• Application Opening:
  August 25, 2026
• Application Filing
• Hourly Rate: $42.6875
• Recruitment G

The Port of San Francisco is an enterprise agency of the City and County of San Francisco and is governed by a Commission of five members appointed by the Mayor. The Port Commission is responsible for overseeing a broad range of waterfront commercial, maritime, and public access facilities that are held in public trust for the people of California. The Port’s jurisdiction covers approximately 7.5 miles of waterfront land from Pier 98, near Hunter’s Point in the southern part of San Francisco, to Fisherman’s Wharf in the northern part of the City.

The Port’s diverse business portfolio includes over 550 ground, commercial, retail, office, industrial and maritime industrial leases including cargo shipping, lay berthing, excursion boats, ferry boats, fishing and fish processing/distribution, tourism, filming, harbor services, and cruise operations. With some of the most flexible cargo handling facilities on the West Coast, as well as naturally deep water, the Port can handle various types of cargo such as, dry-bulk, neo-bulk, roll-on/roll-off, and project cargoes.

The Port of San Francisco has many internationally recognized landmarks such as Fisherman’s Wharf, Pier 39, the Exploratorium, the Ferry Building and Oracle Park, home of the San Francisco Giants baseball team. With its unique and historic properties, the Port is home to a variety of tenants and uses. The Port Commission over the last five decades has led a remarkable transformation of the Port;

maintaining its industrial maritime heritage while developing new uses, including commercial and public activities, that have helped San Francisco remain one of the most visited and popular cities on the globe. For more information about the Port of San Francisco, visit  Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Work Hours and Location

• Work location is in-person at the Port’s Pier 1 Office on the San Francisco Waterfront, within walking distance of the Ferry Building and Embarcadero BART & MUNI station
• Flexible, year-round part-time schedule (maximum 1,040 hours per year)
• Ability to adjust your regular work schedule each semester depending on your class schedule, and take unpaid time off for exams, summer travel, etc.

Job Description

The Port is seeking a motivated Mechanical Engineering student intern to join Engineering Division’s Utilities group that supports engineering, maintenance, and capital improvement project across Port facilities. This position offers hands‑on experience with mechanical and electrical systems used in maritime, waterfront, commercial buildings and industrial infrastructure. The intern will work under the guidance of Port professional engineers to assist with field inspections, data collection, design support and project documentation.

What You Will Do

• Assist with field inspection of pumps, HVAC systems, electrical systems, cranes, and other waterfront mechanical and electrical equipment.
• Contribute to engineering drawings, design concepts, and technical documentation.
• Perform real engineering calculations and help develop project cost estimates.
• Visit active construction sites and learn how a project moves from design to reality.
• Support improvements focused on sustainability, climate resilience and long-term asset reliability.
• Work alongside experienced engineers who will mentor you and support your growth.

What You Will Learn

• How mechanical and electrical systems operate in a maritime environment.
• How to assess equipment performance and plan preventative maintenance.
• How public infrastructure projects are designed, permitted and…