Protective Design Engineer Internship - Summer 2026
About The Position
At KPFF, we are looking for Protective Design Engineer Interns to join our team of engineers in San Francisco and Portland who are eager to apply their skills to projects that focus on the safety, resilience, and security of the built environment.As an intern with us, you will have the opportunity to contribute to projects that involve blast analysis, progressive collapse evaluation, anti-ram design, and structural hardening for federal, commercial, and infrastructure clients. You won't just observe, you'll play an active role in the engineering process and learn how protective design integrates with structural engineering to safeguard people and critical facilities.Here's what you can expect:Hands-on project work: Support protective design projects through modeling, analysis, and design of structures that meet rigorous safety and security criteria.Exposure to unique methods: Learn about blast-load considerations, progressive collapse mitigation, and advanced protective measures alongside experienced protective design specialists.Comprehensive mentorship: Receive guidance from engineers who are experts in both structural and protective design.Site and field exposure: Gain experience with construction administration, site visits, and interactions with multidisciplinary teams, clients, and partners.Team collaboration: Work in a collaborative environment where protective design intersects with structural, civil, and other engineering disciplines.Career development: Build a strong foundation in protective design that will set you apart as you enter the engineering profession.
Requirements
- A strong passion for pursuing a career in structural or protective design engineering, ideally with interest in resilience, safety, and security of structures.
- Currently enrolled in a Bachelor's program in Civil or Structural Engineering (junior level or higher, with at least three years of completed coursework) or a Master's program in structural engineering.
- Excellent communication and teamwork skills.
- Strong time management and organizational abilities.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Word
- Ability to work on a computer for extended periods of time.
- Comfort with conducting site visits and navigating construction sites, including climbing ladders and walking on uneven terrain.
- Ability to lift up to 15 pounds of equipment or materials.
Nice To Haves
- Coursework or exposure to structural dynamics, steel design and/or concrete design is preferred.
- experience with structural analysis software (ETABS, SAP2000, RISA, or LS-DYNA) is a plus.
Responsibilities
- Support protective design projects through modeling, analysis, and design of structures that meet rigorous safety and security criteria.
- Learn about blast-load considerations, progressive collapse mitigation, and advanced protective measures alongside experienced protective design specialists.
- Receive guidance from engineers who are experts in both structural and protective design.
- Gain experience with construction administration, site visits, and interactions with multidisciplinary teams, clients, and partners.
- Work in a collaborative environment where protective design intersects with structural, civil, and other engineering disciplines.
Benefits
- Paid overtime opportunities when project needs require additional hours.
- Exposure to a wide variety of projects that add real value to your academic and professional development.
- Mentorship and training that are part of KPFF's investment in future engineers.
- Networking and career growth opportunities, including the potential for full-time employment after graduation.
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What This Job Offers
Career Level
Intern
Number of Employees
1,001-5,000 employees
