Materials Technology Intern

Maricopa County • Phoenix, AZ

2d • $16 • Onsite

About The Position

The Materials Technology Intern is a summer internship opportunity to work within the Materials Testing Laboratory at the Maricopa County Department of Transportation (MCDOT). The intern will support the lab’s efforts to digitize historical testing records, organize and standardize laboratory data, and develop reporting tools to better understand and communicate laboratory performance and accomplishments. The intern will have the opportunity to visit MCDOT’s various Divisions, including Roadway Maintenance, Engineering, Construction and Materials, Transportation Systems Management & Operations, and Strategic Communications and Outreach, and learn about various subject areas. By the conclusion of the internship, the intern will have gained hands-on experience in data management, quality control monitoring, and performance reporting within a public-sector laboratory environment, and will have used tangible tools to support data-driven decision-making and communication with leadership.

Requirements

• Be currently enrolled as a senior in an undergraduate program in Engineering, Data Science, Statistics, Computer Science, Mathematics, or a closely related field. Graduate students in a related field may also be considered
• Completion of coursework in statistics, quality control, data analysis, or a related subject
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy when working with large datasets and historical records

Nice To Haves

• Technical skills: Advanced Excel proficiency, including complex formulas, structured tables, data validation, conditional formatting, and automated or repeatable workflows (beyond basic data entry and pivot tables)
• Experience cleaning and organizing datasets from multiple sources (e.g., historical records, Excel files, or PDFs)
• Hands-on experience designing and building Power BI dashboards
• Experience with Python or a similar programming language for data processing or analysis
• Pursuing a degree in Civil Engineering or having prior experience with construction materials testing

Responsibilities

• Complete the entry of historical laboratory testing records from printed log sheets into a centralized electronic database, ensuring accuracy and completeness
• Clean, organize, and standardize laboratory data, including historical and current records, to ensure consistent formats, naming conventions, and data quality
• Extract and compile laboratory testing data from electronic sources, such as Excel files and PDFs, using efficient, repeatable methods
• Develop Excel/Power BI-based dashboards and summary reports to track laboratory testing performance by test type, project, and overall
• Create and update control charts in Excel to monitor laboratory testing results and quality control trends
• Document data processes, workflows, and assumptions, including data sources, cleaning steps, and dashboard refresh procedures
• Complete micro-learning sessions with all MCDOT Divisions, including those that provide support functions for MCDOT projects, during a one-week rotation

Benefits

• Work with a greater purpose
• Opportunities to learn about maintaining work-life balance in a professional setting
• Providing valuable insight into public sector construction
• Hands-on experience in a materials lab

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Intern