System Protection Engineering Intern

Xcel Energy•Denver, CO

2d•$21 - $25•Hybrid

About The Position

Are you looking for an exciting job where you can put your skills and talents to work at a company you can feel proud to be a part of? Do you want a workplace that will challenge you and offer you opportunities to learn and grow? A position at Xcel Energy could be just what you’re looking for. Project Description: Work with the System Protection Engineering staff to support modeling of electric power system and performing simple short circuit studies to assist engineers. Additional tasks include analyzing lightning data for event outages, shadowing engineer in day-to-day task, and learning how to test equipment in laboratory. Typical intern responsibilities may include but are not limited to: Support in event analysis for outages by analyzing lightning correlation Short circuit modeling tasks for new assets, retired equipment processing, and distribution and transmission equipment modeling. Support laboratory testing of relays for firmware updates and protection scheme verification. Perform short-circuit coordination for distribution feeder relays using short circuit software and coordination module Assist in management of protective relay database, including running of queries and verifying materials returned from the field This position is for a June 1, 2026 start date. This position may have the possibility to extend beyond the internship’s initial term based on the candidate’s successful performance and Xcel Energy’s business needs. As a leading combination electricity and natural gas energy company, Xcel Energy offers a comprehensive portfolio of energy-related products and services to 3.4 million electricity and 1.9 million natural gas customers across eight Western and Midwestern states. At Xcel Energy, we strive to be the preferred and trusted provider of the energy our customers need. If you’re ready to be a part of something big, we invite you to join our team. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. Individuals with a disability who need an accommodation to apply please contact us at [email protected]. Non-Bargaining The anticipated starting base pay for this position is: $21.20 to $24.60 per hour This position is eligible for the following benefits: Pension, 401(k) plan, Paid time off (PTO), Holidays Benefit plans are subject to change and Xcel Energy has the right to end, suspend, or amend any of its plans, at any time, in whole or in part. In any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information including but not limited to dates of school attendance and graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information. Deadline to Apply: 04/09/26 EEO is the Law | EEO is the Law Supplement | Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination | Equal Opportunity Policy (PDF) | Employee Rights (PDF) All Xcel Energy employees and contractors share responsibility for protecting the company's information and systems by adhering to cybersecurity policies, standards, and best practices, recognizing that cybersecurity is everyone's responsibility. ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT Xcel Energy endeavors to make https://www.xcelenergy.com/ accessible to any and all users. If you would like to contact us regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process, please contact Xcel Energy Talent Acquisition at [email protected]. This contact information is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications. You. Us. Together. At Xcel Energy, we’re more than an energy company. We’re reinventing how we power communities. Redefining how we care for customers. Reaffirming our commitment to the planet. We’re committed to leading with equity and inclusion. You’re not waiting for change – you’re creating it. You’re driven to protect the environment, support your community, and seek innovation. You want a career that grows with you and an employer who values you. You are reliable, trustworthy and bring integrity to everything you do. We are leading the way in clean energy. We’re using technology and innovation in every facet of our company. We’re providing safe, stable jobs with robust benefits. We keep our customers at the center of all we do. We’re committed to hiring a workforce that reflects the communities we serve. Together, we can provide carbon-free electricity by 2050. Together, we can take care of the environment and our communities. Together, we can create a place where everyone belongs. Together we’re building a better tomorrow.

Requirements

Current student, Sophomore status (as of May 2026) or higher
Enrolled in an ABET accredited college or university and pursuing a degree in engineering (electrical, mechanical, civil, or chemical)
Able to commute to the corporate office in Denver, CO.
Able to work full-time during the summer (up to 40 hours a week). If the interns have proven that they are able to be productive or effective working remotely without supervision, then we can allow part time (min 8 hours/week) from home in the Fall 2026 semester and onwards. We will still require full-time every summer (40 hours/week) as hybrid in office on Tuesday-Thursdays.

Nice To Haves

2.8 GPA (out of a 4.0 scale) or higher
Completed 1 year of undergraduate coursework, including classes in basic circuits
Experience and proficiency in spreadsheets.

Responsibilities

Support in event analysis for outages by analyzing lightning correlation
Short circuit modeling tasks for new assets, retired equipment processing, and distribution and transmission equipment modeling.
Support laboratory testing of relays for firmware updates and protection scheme verification.
Perform short-circuit coordination for distribution feeder relays using short circuit software and coordination module
Assist in management of protective relay database, including running of queries and verifying materials returned from the field