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Job Description
Marketing Statement
Ride BART to a satisfying career that lets you both: 1) make a difference to Bay Area residents, and 2) enjoy excellent pay, benefits, and employment stability. BART is looking for people who like to be challenged, work in a fast-paced environment, and have a passion for connecting riders to work, school and other places they need to go. BART offers a competitive salary, comprehensive health benefits, paid time off, and the CalPERS retirement program.
Job Summary
** IMPORTANT APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS AND GUIDELINES **
All applications must include the submittal of Transcripts and Essay along with resume. Failure to submit required documents may result in application not being considered.
Transcripts
A transcript of your collegiate class work (an unofficial transcript is acceptable). You may also include an additional page with information on any other relevant training/course work you may have completed.
Essay Requirement
Each applicant must submit a typewritten essay based on the questions below. The essay should be approximately 500 words (one page), double spaced, with 12-point type. Your first and last name, college major, college minor or technical area of interest, and project(s) desired should appear in the upper right-hand corner of the essay.
Your essay should cover the following:
1. What specific goals and objectives do you expect to achieve by participating in the BART Summer Engineer Internship Program?
2. Describe the educational background and any additional knowledge that has prepared you for the project(s) desired.
Submittal Guidelines
Attachments to include all documents (resume, essay, transcripts, etc) as .pdf files.
Submission of file(s) will be attached under “Attach Resume”.
Applications must be submitted in its entirety upon application completion for consideration.
Late submissions will not be accepted.
Disclaimer: The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools or AI generated content in essay submissions are strictly prohibited. Any detected use of AI may result in an application no longer being under consideration for the Engineering Internship Program. All work submitted must be original and crafted by the applicant.
Pay Rate
Reports To
Engineering Manager, or designee, Office of Infrastructure Delivery
Current Assignment
BART's Summer Engineering Internship Program is an opportunity for Engineering students to gain valuable training and experience that will enhance the student's educational goals and provide invaluable experience in a dynamic work environment. The Engineer Interns will partner with highly skilled engineers in planning, design and execution of Engineering projects at various BART facilities. Intern assignments directly contribute to BART’s commitment to excellence in Engineering.
At the conclusion of the Summer Engineering Internship Program, the Engineer Intern(s) may have the opportunity to compete in a selection process, which may lead to a conversion into a full-time Junior Engineer career opportunity. See Engineer Intern to Hire Program section below for more details.
The Engineering Internship program is a duration of eight (8) weeks beginning on June 16, 2025, and ending on August 8, 2025. All candidates selected must be able to attend the entire program. This position is located in Oakland, CA and does not have a remote work option.
For the Summer of 2025, this job announcement may be used to fill up to eleven (11) Engineering Intern opportunities. Candidates in their fourth year graduating with their Bachelor Degree in an Engineering Discipline listed below are preferred.
Candidates will be selected from one or more of the following desired engineering majors:- Civil Engineering
- Construction Engineering
- Computer Engineering
- Computer Science
- Electrical Engineering
- Industrial Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Mechatronics Engineering
- Structural Engineering
- Systems & Train Control Engineering
Example of Engineering Assignments:
Electrical Engineering Assignments
The intern(s) selected for this area will receive training on electrical systems including the installation of Uninterruptible Power Supplies, lighting replacement projects and power distribution projects. The incumbent will shadow staff engineers as they perform field surveys to analyze power consumption, determine lighting levels, and gather Engineering data. Duties will include development of reference drawings and contract related materials.
Traction Power (Electrical Engineering) Assignments
The intern(s) selected for this discipline will gain experience on medium voltage AC/ DC power substation design and installation criteria for large power components such as circuit breakers, transformers, rectifiers, and protective relay and control systems. Assignments include field surveys, design tasks, field installation, and testing. Assignments may include 3D computer modeling depending on candidate's experience.
Mechanical Engineering Assignments
The intern(s) selected for this area will apply mechanical Engineering theory and techniques to study, analyze and prepare Engineering studies, reports and designs. Areas include HVAC, pumps, ventilations, material science and associated areas.
Computer Systems Engineering Assignments
The intern(s) selected for this discipline will gain experience in computer programming, systems architecture, system / database administration, software testing, configuration control, and networked systems. Assignments may also include programmable logic control systems, supervisory command and control systems, computer network and communications systems.
Train Control Engineering Assignments
The intern(s) selected for this discipline will be introduced to the methods and means of automated revenue vehicle control. Emphasis will be placed on the hardware and software implementations on BART's core system. Conceptual focus will include station operations, routing, traffic control, speed profile management. Candidates may gain experience with various train control system equipment, programmable logic control systems, computer networks, fiber optic devices and low-level serial communication schemes.
Civil/Structural/Construction Management Engineering Assignments
The intern(s) selected for this area will gain experience in civil or structural Engineering design, site surveys and field inspections, Engineering calculations, project drawings and documentation, and construction inspection. Projects may include structural modifications, accessibility improvements, trackway projects, or other civil assignments.
Project & Document Control Assignments
The intern(s) selected for this area will assist in various aspects of project management and control to ensure the successful execution of projects within the organization. The incumbent will work closely with project managers and other team members to support the planning, monitoring, and reporting of project activities including project control/documentation and various other project management related tasks.
Candidates will be placed in office and/or field Engineering assignments as needed.
*** Engineer Intern to Hire Program ***
BART is introducing an “Engineer Intern to Hire” program where Interns may have an opportunity to compete, through a selection process, for full-time Junior Engineer positions at the end of the program, creating a great opportunity to launch a career with BART. Additional details will be provided once the successful Interns have been identified.
To be eligible for conversion to a Junior Engineer classification, the candidate must, but not limited to, fulfill the following:- Complete the requirements of the Engineering Internship Program
- Successfully pass the competitive selection process
- Meet the minimum qualifications of the Junior Engineer classification
- Be able to work as a full-time employee
Testimonials
Click here to review what previous Summer Engineering Interns that have completed our internship program have stated.
Selection Process
Applications will be screened to assure that minimum qualifications are met, including submission of documents from "Other Requirements" section. Those applicants will then be referred to the hiring department for the completion of further selection processes.
The selection process for this position may include a skills/performance demonstration, a written examination, and a panel and/or individual interview.
Placements will be based on vacancies in each engineering department.
The successful candidate must have an employment history demonstrating reliability and dependability; provide copies of certificates, diplomas or other documents as required by law, including those establishing his/her right to work in the U. S; pass a pre-employment medical examination which may include a drug and alcohol screen, and which is specific to the essential job functions and requirements. Pre-employment processing will also include a background check. (Does not apply to current full-time District employees unless specific job requires additional evaluations).
Application Process
** In addition to the Application Process cited below, see Application and Requirements at top of job posting **
External applicants may only apply online, at www.bart.gov/jobs. Applicants needing assistance with the online application process may receive additional information by calling (510) 464-6112.
Current employees are strongly encouraged to apply online, either at www.bart.gov/jobs, or on EmployeeConnect. Current employees may also apply using a BART paper application by delivering the completed form to the Human Resources Department, or by mailing it to P. O. Box 12688, Oakland, CA 94604-2688.
All applicants are asked to complete the application in full, indicating dates of employment, all positions held, hours worked, and a full description of duties. Online applicants are invited to electronically attach a resume to the application form to provide supplemental information, but should not consider the resume a substitute for the application form itself.
Examples of Duties
Performs a variety of basic level professional engineering duties with a designated mentor in the assigned division, including engineering specifications, computer systems applications, preliminary cost estimates, engineering drawings, calculations and analyses.
Conducts supervised field inspections and investigations.
Assists in designing computer hardware and software modifications.
Assists in designing and specifying special testing and service equipment to troubleshoot and maintain transit vehicles.
Supports work activities to ensure compliance with established policies and procedures; reviews proposed changes to approved plans and specifications.
Assist mentor in preparing engineering designs, specification costs and quantity estimates for engineering construction projects.
Conducts root cause analysis for Engineering projects with a focus on resolving inefficiencies.
Analyzes and resolves technical problems, including computer hardware and software.
Learns how to conduct special studies and prepare a variety of reports and correspondence.
Minimum Qualifications
Education: Pursuit of a Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related field from an accredited college or university. (See Other Requirements)
Experience: No experience required.
Other Requirements:
Must be a current enrolled student entering their 4th year of college, or in their final graduating year, at an accredited college or university actively pursuing a Bachelor of Science and/or (recent postgraduate) pursuing a Master of Science in Engineering in one of the desired engineering disciplines.
Must have completed basic Engineering courses to assist in completing analytical assignments.
Must have a minimum of a 3.25 cumulative grade point average.
Must possess sufficient mobility to perform field inspections and investigations.
Knowledge and Skills
Knowledge of:- Basic principles and practices of the engineering discipline to which assigned
- Appropriate sources of engineering information
- Computer applications as applied to the solution of engineering problems
- Engineering materials, equipment and methods
Ability to:- Apply basic engineering principles and practices to the solution of engineering problems
- Conduct engineering studies and evaluations and write clear and concise reports
- Analyze technical problems, including those involving computer hardware and software
- Learn engineering division procedures and applicable laws, codes and regulations
- Interpret and prepare drawings and specifications
- Learn to prepare construction and/or installation cost estimates
- Keep accurate records
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of the work
Equal Employment Opportunity GroupBox1
The San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants shall not be discriminated against because of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age (40 and above), religion, national origin (including language use restrictions), disability (mental and physical, including HIV and AIDS), ancestry, marital status, military status, veteran status, medical condition (cancer/genetic characteristics and information), or any protected category prohibited by local, state or federal laws.
The BART Human Resources Department will make reasonable efforts in the examination process to accommodate persons with disabilities or for religious reasons. Please advise the Human Resources Department of any special needs in advance of the examination by emailing at least 5 days before your examination date at employment@bart.gov .
Qualified veterans may be eligible to obtain additional veteran's credit in the selection process for this recruitment (effective Jan. 1, 2013). To obtain the credit, veterans must attach to the application a DD214 discharge document or proof of disability and complete/submit the Veteran's Preference Application no later than the closing date of the posting. For more information about this credit please go to the Veteran's Preference Policy and Application link at www.bart.gov/jobs .
Please contact the District's Human Resources Department for information.
Closing Date/Time: 3/14/2025 11:59 PM Pacific -
ABOUT THE COMPANY
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BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit)
Show moreThe BART story began in 1946. It began not by governmental fiat, but as a concept gradually evolving at informal gatherings of business and civic leaders on both sides of the San Francisco Bay. Facing a heavy post-war migration to the area and its consequent automobile boom, these people discussed ways of easing the mounting congestion that was clogging the bridges spanning the Bay. In 1947, a joint Army-Navy review Board concluded that another connecting link between San Francisco and Oakland would be needed in the years ahead to prevent intolerable congestion on the Bay Bridge. The link? An underwater tube devoted exclusively to high-speed electric trains.
Since 1911, visionaries had periodically brought up this Jules Verne concept. But now, pressure for a traffic solution increased with the population. In 1951, the State Legislature created the 26-member San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit Commission, comprised of representatives from each of the nine counties which touch the Bay. The Commission's charge was to study the Bay Area's long range transportation needs in the context of environmental problems and then recommend the best solution.
The Commission advised, in its final report in 1957, that any transportation plan must be coordinated with the area's total plan for future development. Since no development plan existed, the Commission prepared one itself. The result of their thoroughness is a master plan which did much to bring about coordinated planning in the Bay Area, and which was adopted a decade later by the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG).
The BART Concept is Born
The Commission's least-cost solution to traffic tie-ups was to recommend forming a five-county rapid transit district, whose mandate would be to build and operate a high-speed rapid rail network linking major commercial centers with suburban sub-centers.The Commission stated that, "If the Bay Area is to be preserved as a fine place to live and work, a regional rapid transit system is essential to prevent total dependence on automobiles and freeways."
Thus was born the environmental concept underlying BART. Acting on the Commission's recommendations, in 1957, the Legislature formed the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District, comprising the five counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco and San Mateo. At this time, the District was granted a taxing power of five cents per $100 of assessed valuation. It also had authority to levy property taxes to support a general obligation bond issue, if approved by District voters. The State Legislature lowered the requirement for voter approval from 66 percent to 60 percent.
Between 1957 and 1962, engineering plans were developed for a system that would usher in a new era in rapid transit. Electric trains would run on grade-separated right-of-ways, reaching maximum speeds of 75-80 mph, averaging perhaps 45 mph, including station stops. Advanced transit cars, with sophisticated suspensions, braking and propulsion systems, and luxurious interiors, would be strong competition to "King Car " in the Bay Area. Stations would be pleasant, conveniently located, and striking architectural enhancements to their respective on-line communities.
BART employees in the 1970s.
Hundreds of meetings were held in the District communities to encourage local citizen participation in the development of routes and station locations. By midsummer, 1961, the final plan was submitted to the supervisors of the five District counties for approval. San Mateo County Supervisors were cool to the plan. Citing the high costs of a new system-plus adequate existing service from Southern Pacific commuter trains - they voted to withdraw their county from the District in December 1961.
With the District-wide tax base thus weakened by the withdrawal of San Mateo County, Marin County was forced to withdraw in early 1962 because its marginal tax base could not adequately absorb its share of BART's projected cost. Another important factor in Marin's withdrawal was an engineering controversy over the feasibility of carrying trains across the Golden Gate Bridge.
BART had started with a 16-member governing Board of Directors apportioned on county population size: four from Alameda and San Francisco Counties, three from Contra Costa and San Mateo, and two from Marin. When the District was reduced to three counties, the Board was reduced to 11 members: four from San Francisco and Alameda, and three from Contra Costa. Subsequently, in 1965, the District's enabling legislation was changed to apportion the BART Board with four Directors from each county, thus giving Contra Costa its fourth member on a 12-person Board. Two directors from each county, hence forth, were appointed by the County Board of Supervisors. The other two directors were appointed by committees of mayors of each county (with the exception of the City and County of San Francisco, whose sole mayor made these appointments).
The five-county plan was quickly revised to a three-county plan emphasizing rapid transit between San Francisco and the East Bay cities and suburbs of Contra Costa and Alameda counties. The new plan, elaborately detailed and presented as the "BART Composite Report, " was approved by supervisors of the three counties in July 1962, and placed on the ballot for the following November general election.
The plan required approval of 60 percent of the District's voters. It narrowly passed with a 61.2 percent vote District-wide, much to the surprise of many political experts who were confident it would fail. Indeed, one influential executive was reported to have said: "If I'd known the damn thing would have passed, I'd never have supported it. "
The voters approved a $792 million bond issue to finance a 71.5 mile high-speed transit system, consisting of 33 stations serving 17 communities in the three counties. The proposal also included another needed transit project: rebuilding 3.5 miles of the San Francisco Municipal Railway. The new line would link muni streetcar lines directly with BART and Market Street stations, and four new Muni stations would be built.
The additional cost of the transbay tube -- estimated at $133 million -- was to come from bonds issued by the California Toll Bridge Authority and secured by future Bay Area Bridge revenues. The additional cost of rolling stock, estimated at $71 million, was to be funded primarily from bonds issued against future operating revenues. Thus, the total cost of the system, as of 1962, was projected at $996 million. It would be the largest single public works project ever undertaken in the U.S. by the local citizenry.
After the election, engineers immediately started work on the final system designs, only to be halted by a taxpayer's suit filed against the District a month later. The validity of the bond election, and the legality of the District itself, were challenged. While the court ruled in favor of the District on both counts, six months of litigation cost $12 million in construction delays. This would be the first of many delays from litigation and time-consuming negotiations involving 166 separate agreements reached with on-line cities, counties, and other special districts. The democratic processes of building a new transit system would prove to be major cost factors that, however necessary, were not foreseen.
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