Substation Communication Engineering Intern - MN

Xcel Energy•Minneapolis, MN

12h•$19 - $25•Hybrid

About The Position

This internship offers practical exposure to the monitoring, control, and protection of electric utility infrastructure. Intern responsibilities will be tailored to the student's education level, with all engineering tools, systems, and processes taught through training and mentoring. Under supervision, the intern will learn about programming Remote Terminal Units (RTUs) using Distributed Network Protocol (DNP), assist with configuring network settings for substation cyber assets, observe and help investigate network event logs, and gain a foundational understanding of the Energy Management System (EMS), system protection concepts, and cybersecurity in electric power operations. This role is observational and assistive, designed to build understanding rather than require prior technical proficiency. Through practical exposure, mentoring, and collaboration, the intern will develop professional confidence, communication abilities, and people skills, which are critical for early-career engineers and provide value to the organization.

Requirements

Current student, Freshman or higher
Enrolled in an ABET accredited college or university
Pursuing a degree in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering
Able to work full-time during the summer (up to 40 hours a week)
Able to work part-time during the school year (up to 20 hours a week)
Able to commute to the designated work location in-person, per our hybrid work policy.

Nice To Haves

Interest in the energy industry and the future of energy.

Responsibilities

Assist with the configuration, testing, and troubleshooting of communication equipment used in utility substations and power system networks.
Support the maintenance and monitoring of telecommunications infrastructure.
Utilize engineering software such as Power System Center to configure, analyze, and verify protective relay and communication settings.
Analyze network performance data and generate reports to identify communication issues, improve system reliability, and support engineering projects.
Create and update technical documentation, including network diagrams, equipment records, operating procedures, and project specifications.
Learn how Remote Terminal Units (RTUs) are programmed using Distributed Network Protocol (DNP).
Assist with configuring network settings for substation cyber assets.
Observe and help investigate network event logs.
Gain foundational understanding of the Energy Management System (EMS), system protection concepts, and cybersecurity considerations in electric power operations.