Engineering Internship – Texas Playa Conservation Initiative

ENGINEERING INTERNSHIP – TEXAS PLAYA CONSERVATION INITIATIVE

Location: Lubbock, TX

Duration: Spring Semester 2026 (January 19th through May 1st)

Part-time (20 hours per week @ $20/hour)

OVERVIEW:

Ducks Unlimited is offering a paid engineering student internship focused on playa lake restoration across the Texas Panhandle. The student intern will work directly with Ducks Unlimited staff based in Lubbock, Texas. Fieldwork will generally occur within 60 miles of Lubbock, though some projects may extend throughout the Texas Panhandle.

This opportunity is part of the Texas Playa Conservation Initiative. The student intern will collaborate with DU field staff, gaining hands-on experience in habitat restoration and conservation engineering. The student intern will be employed by Ducks Unlimited, Inc., and will work under the supervision of their academic advisor. This student internship may qualify for academic credit through the student’s home university.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Travel to playa lake restoration sites with Ducks Unlimited biologists.

* Collect and analyze field data to determine restoration needs, including:

• Pit filling
• Sediment removal
• Graded water control structures
• Conduct topographic surveys using GPS and basic surveying equipment.
• Evaluate hydrologic conditions and drainage patterns.
• Prepare basic project site drawings and restoration recommendations, including material estimates and preliminary cost projections.
• Document field conditions and restoration progress.
• Communicate findings and project needs to Ducks Unlimited staff, academic advisors, and conservation partners.
• Engage with Ducks Unlimited staff for career guidance and technical support.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

• Wetland and habitat restoration engineering practices.
• Field-based project planning and assessment.
• Conservation collaboration and landowner engagement.
• Applying civil/geotechnical engineering principles to ecological restoration.
• Using field techniques such as GPS mapping, elevation profiling, and sediment depth measurement.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Students currently enrolled in engineering courses.
• Interest in conservation, hydrology, or habitat restoration.
• Willingness to work outdoors in varied conditions.
• Ability to travel to field sites with DU staff.
• Strong communication and problem-solving skills.

PREFERRED SKILLS:

• Basic knowledge of GIS, AutoCAD, or surveying tools.
• Experience with field data collection or environmental monitoring.
• Soil mechanics.

COMPENSATION:

This is a paid internship at a rate of $20/hour. Maximum hours are 20 per week during the period of January 19th through May 1st, 2026.

ACADEMIC CREDIT:

Students should consult with their home university to determine if this internship qualifies for academic credit. Coordination with an academic advisor is required to ensure proper enrollment and credit at their home university.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

Applications accepted only through the Ducks Unlimited ADP Job Board, and must include a cover letter, resume, and an academic reference contact.

APPLICATION DEADLINE:

This position will be posted until a suitable applicant pool has been received.

DUCKS UNLIMITED, INC. IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER It is the policy of Ducks Unlimited, Inc. to afford equal employment opportunity to all qualified persons regardless of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, military status, disability, age, or genetic information, except where age or gender is a bona fide occupational qualification as allowed by the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It is the policy of Ducks Unlimited, Inc. to afford equal employment opportunities to all qualified persons regardless of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, lactation and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age (40 or over), disability (physical, mental or visual), genetic information, marital status (including registered domestic partnership status), military and veteran status, immigration status, or any other category protected by federal, state or local law.