2027 Summer Internship - Geotechnical Engineering & Water Resources - TCLW - Hybrid

Freeport McMoRan • Phoenix, AZ

5d • $29 - $36 • Hybrid

About The Position

Freeport-McMoRan is hiring a temporary, full-time summer intern to support geotechnical and water resources engineering work in a mining environment. Under close supervision, the intern will apply principles of soil mechanics, hydrology, hydrogeology, hydraulics, slope stability analysis, and related disciplines to technical functions and projects supporting the safe and efficient operation of tailings storage facilities (TSFs), heap leach pads (HLPs), and/or water dams.

The internship offers hands-on exposure to field activities, engineering analysis, data review, and collaboration with site-based teams. The hybrid program combines virtual work with regular in-person collaboration. For this position, interns are expected to live within a reasonable commuting distance—50 miles one-way—of Freeport's Resource Management Center Tucson office. Interns living farther away must relocate and would be eligible for travel and housing assistance. Positions usually run from May through August.

The role is intended for full-time students enrolled at an accredited four-year university or recent graduates in North America. The position may be eligible for immigration work visa sponsorship subject to business needs, performance and safety expectations, and site approval.

Requirements

• Currently enrolled full-time at an accredited four-year university, pursuing a bachelor's degree or higher in Civil Engineering or a closely related field; or a recent graduate (within 12 months before the internship start date) with a bachelor's degree or higher in Civil Engineering or a closely related field.
• Experience with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Familiarity with AutoCAD Civil 3D, MineSight, Power BI, or GIS-related software.
• Strong data analysis and problem-solving skills.
• High accuracy and attention to detail.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Initiative, organizational skills, and ability to work well under pressure.
• Ability to collaborate and work effectively in a team environment.
• Ability to follow health, safety, and environmental procedures in active mining and tailings management environments.
• Willingness to learn, ask questions, and apply engineering concepts in office and field settings.
• Interest in mining, tailings management, water resources, or geotechnical engineering.
• Ability to understand, apply, and communicate verbal and written work and safety-related instructions, procedures, job assignments, and applicable safety standards in English.
• Ability to multitask, work under pressure, and meet time-sensitive deadlines.
• Ability to regularly stand, sit, demonstrate manual dexterity, talk, hear, and see; occasional lifting of moderately heavy objects up to 30 pounds.

Nice To Haves

• Master's degree student in Geotechnical Engineering or Civil Engineering, with emphasis on geotechnical, geological, or water resources disciplines.
• Registered Engineering Intern (EI) or Engineer-in-Training (EIT), or passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Exam.
• Knowledge of geotechnical instrumentation installation, operation, monitoring systems, and associated data.
• Knowledge of geotechnical cross sections and stratigraphy development using AutoCAD or MineSight.
• Knowledge of geotechnical site investigations, including drilling and Cone Penetrometer Testing (CPT).
• Knowledge of soil characterization, interpretation of geotechnical laboratory tests, and geotechnical engineering analysis.
• Knowledge of water resources engineering, including hydrology, hydrogeology, hydraulics, and sediment transport.
• Knowledge of hydro-modeling tools such as HEC-HMS, HEC-RAS, or MIKE-11.
• Knowledge of GoldSim software for water balance modeling.
• Ability to use ArcGIS tools for data visualization and analysis.
• Interest in applying engineering analysis to support safe, sustainable, and responsible resource development.

Responsibilities

• Assist with geotechnical and water management projects related to tailings storage facilities, heap leach pads, and/or water dams.
• Support geotechnical monitoring programs by collecting, organizing, and analyzing data from instrumentation systems.
• Support field investigations, including drilling programs, Cone Penetrometer Testing (CPT), test pits, sampling, and related field work.
• Generate cross sections, profiles, maps, and engineering figures using survey, instrumentation, and geological data.
• Support beach profiling campaigns, bathymetric surveys, drone surveys, and other QA/QC activities related to tailings deposition and earthworks.
• Perform field inspections of slopes, embankments, beaches, drainage systems, ponds, and other operational areas, and document geotechnical observations.
• Support field data collection and verification for water management and water balance modeling tasks.
• Prepare technical inspection reports, summaries, and presentation materials.
• Collaborate with site operations, engineering, environmental, and water resources teams.
• Assist with data validation, trend reviews, and preparation of technical summaries to support engineering decisions.
• Perform other duties and special projects as required.

Benefits

• Estimated pay range of $29.00–$36.00 per hour, based on education level and relevant experience.
• Hands-on experience in a dynamic and innovative environment.
• Opportunity to work on meaningful projects and initiatives that drive organizational impact.
• Exposure to various aspects of business operations across North America sites.
• Opportunity to develop and enhance technical and analytical skills.
• Mentorship and professional development opportunities.
• Travel and housing assistance for interns who are required to relocate because they live more than 50 miles one-way from the Tucson office.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Intern