Grid Interconnection Consulting Intern (Summer 2026)

Sargent & Lundy•Chicago, IL

102d•$18 - $27•Onsite

About The Position

This position in Sargent & Lundy’s Consulting group will require you to focus on our utility planning and advisory projects. You will collaborate with members of the Consulting Business Group and expand your academic background in Engineering. Responsibilities include preparing new generator interconnection applications, reviewing ISO feasibility and system impact studies, performing independent power system studies, supporting project teams with due diligence, tracking project activities, preparing technical reports, and providing technical support to clients. In this role, we expect people to be willing or able to solve problems using modern tools such as automation and AI to improve workflows, reduce rework, and deliver cost-effective designs. Many engineers in these roles build or use automation to create calculations, summarize technical documents, or draft design documentation, including appropriate use of agentic AI tools, with strong engineering judgment and verification of results.

Requirements

Pursuing a BS or MS in Electrical Engineering with strong academic background and coursework emphasis in Power Systems Analysis with at least six semesters or equivalent quarters completed at an accredited university.
Minimum overall GPA of at least 3.0.
Excellent verbal/written communication skills.
Experience in writing technical reports and proposals.
Solid interpersonal skills and ability to work with and guide others.
Project planning and leadership skills.

Nice To Haves

Previous power systems engineering experience.
Knowledge of power regions and ISOs/RTOs – PJM, MISO, NYISO, ERCOT, SPP, CAISO, and ISO-NE.
Experience in modeling inverter-based resources and renewable generation, such as Wind Turbine Generators (WTG), photovoltaic (PV), Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), and hybrid generation, and associated collector system for interconnection applications within software programs PSS/E, PSLF, and/or PSCAD.
Experience in using transmission planning software, particularly PSS/E and TARA, for load flow modeling and contingency studies.
Experience in dynamic transient, stability, and other advance studies in EMTP-RV or PSCAD is a plus.
Programming or scripting (e.g., Python, MATLAB, advanced Excel) to automate calculations, design checks, reporting, or data transformation is valued but not required.
A minor, certificate, or other training in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Software Engineering, or related fields that helps you apply automation or agentic AI to real engineering problems.

Responsibilities

Collaborate with members of the Consulting Business Group and expand your academic background in Engineering.
Help prepare new generator interconnection applications, including development of conceptual single line diagram, verification of compliance with reactive power requirements, and development of PSS/E model to support the applications.
Reviewing ISO feasibility and system impact studies to provide guidance to our clients, who are ISO Interconnection Customers.
Performing independent power system studies, mostly on thermal and voltage contingency analyses, to support our client’s generator interconnection planning strategies.
Performing advanced grid system studies to evaluate specific scenarios and impacts as required by our clients, such as higher renewable penetration and retirement of existing units and evaluation of transmission and non-transmission alternatives.
Support project teams with due diligence of power generation projects, power system planning projects, and feasibility studies.
Track and evaluate project activities and progress, and associated data.
Prepare technical reports and other Consulting deliverables, including conceptual designs and specifications.
Provide technical support to clients.