International Airport- Environmental Science Graduate Intern

Job Overview

King County International Airport (KCIA) is seeking a graduate level intern to work in collaboration with the KCIA Engineering team's Environmental section. In this position, you will gain hands‑on experience in airport environmental compliance, industrial stormwater permitting, industrial monitoring, green energy, infrastructure design, and interdisciplinary team planning to accomplish the airport’s environmental stewardship goals.

The responsibilities of the Environmental Science Intern include performing site inspections, collecting water, soil, and air samples, revising and editing technical documents, assisting with planning and communication with stakeholders, updating digital records, and working with environmental staff on emergent projects. This internship will allow you to apply your academic skills to gain firsthand knowledge of airport layout and operations from a technical perspective and learn processes involved with environmental permitting and compliance with State and Federal regulations.

KCIA’s internship cohort program provides opportunities to learn about careers in airport environmental management and to be supervised and mentored by an airport professional. As part of KCIA’s internship cohort, you will have the opportunity to learn from, mentor, and work with fellow KCIA interns with other areas of expertise and backgrounds. Through these experiences, we aim to build a strong team that will become future airport and government leaders.

KCIA is one of the busiest primary non‑hub general aviation airports in the nation, located just four miles south of downtown Seattle. It averages 180,000 aircraft operations each year and supports more than 16,000 jobs with an annual economic impact of $3.5 billion. The airport serves small, commercial passenger airlines, cargo carriers, private aircraft owners, helicopters, corporate jets, and military aircraft. It is also the final delivery center for the Boeing Company’s 737 aircraft and serves as the company’s military flight center.

The Museum of Flight is located on the airport property, and many teams and dignitaries use KCIA for events.

• Perform site inspections and stormwater sampling for compliance with NPDES permit
• Update digital files and create new media for communicating environmental projects and solutions
• Perform basic research of equipment and basic data calculations
• Assist in organizing and verifying consultant/contractor project documents
• Assist with site cleanup activities including the Lower Duwamish stormwater system line cleanings, source control sampling and tracing
• Provide input for revisions to the airport Stormwater Pollution and Prevention Plan
• Attend meetings and planning sessions
• Participate in green maintenance and landscape planning to offset airport carbon emissions
• Perform general office support and maintain records for assigned work unit
• Respond to inquiries from airport staff and consultants regarding work
• Airport environmental data collection, QA/QC, and/or reporting

• Enrolled in a graduate level master’s or doctorate program with focus on issues related to Environmental Science and prior coursework in Environmental or Natural Sciences from an accredited institution
• Competence in using Microsoft Office programs such as Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Word
• Knowledge of basic GIS and AutoCAD applications
• Basic familiarity with environmental cleanup methodologies, green infrastructure and landscape principles, and State and Federal environmental regulations
• Familiarity with map types, Google Earth imagery, and other GIS applications
• Skill in working effectively and cooperatively with internal and external customers from diverse backgrounds
• Excellent communication skills and professionalism while performing work in public and online settings
• Passionate and willing to work in a team environment and independently

Up to one‑year internship starting a week after the 2026 school year ends. Part‑time/Full‑time hours: 20‑40 hours per week depending on student availability and school schedule.

This team works in a…