San Francisco International Airport (SFO) Student Design Trainee Program (Summer Internship 2026) 5380, 5381, 5382

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) has an outstanding paid internship opportunity for you! 

Are you a college student or recent graduate with a passion for engineering planning architecture environmental IT transportation (landside) operations or related areas If so join SFOs summer internship program to gain hands-on training and mentorship in the various areas. SFO Internship Programs are available in the work sections below:

Design and Construction

SFOs Design & Construction is responsible for the long-term planning of the Airport as well as the development design & construction of all Airport infrastructure projects. This office oversees the architecture engineering environmental planning infrastructure information management and project management staff. Interns typically gain experience by assisting with various phases of projects from planning and design to execution and quality control. Learn about the different work sections you can be a part of:

• Project Management
• Architecture
• Civil Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Utility Engineering
• Electrical Engineering
• Construction Services Construction Management Inspection and Surveying
• Planning and Environmental Affairs
• Infrastructure Information Management
  • Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
• Sustainability & Resilience Office (SRO)

Chief Innovation and Technology Office

Chief Innovation and Technology Office oversees industry relations budgeting and hiring of IT to ensure that staff resources and competencies meet the changing needs of the business and prevailing industry trends.

• Strategic Initiatives
• Technology Sourcing Management (TSM)

Business Applications and Analytics (BAA)

The Business Applications and Analytics (BAA) team provides services to assess and digitize current systems and business processes for improvement opportunities.  We collaborate with business stakeholders in identifying opportunities for optimizing the Airports enterprise tools aiming to deliver turn-key solutions via low/no code development in PowerApps platforms.  The BAA team yields reports and dashboard development data research and analytics business intelligence consultation to the Airport businesses.  We work closely with internal IT teams to explore approaches for preparing and gathering data to enhance the ability to identify similarities and patterns within datasets for better business decision-making and optimize the utilization of Airport data.  We promote self-services by utilizing tools and platforms that bring data closer to end users.  The BAA team offers training to Airport managers and analysts on maximizing self-sufficiency through the proficient use of existing tools and optimizing data presentation in the most effective way.

Cybersecurity and Compliance

The need for effective cyber-security spans the entire realm of the digital world and includes all things communicating over modern networks.  The Cybersecurity team ensures the confidentiality integrity and availability of Airport information and information systems including traditional information technology (such as workstations servers laptops smartphones and other mobile devices) as well as operational technology (such as baggage handling airfield lighting video surveillance and other types of industrial control systems). We collaborate with the adjacent agencies to ensure Airport IT policies and practices adhere to both federally regulated mandates including but not limited to cybersecurity obligations established by the Department of Homeland Security Transportation Security Administration (DHS/TSA) under 49 CFR Part 139 and 49 CFR Parts 15 & 1520.

Innovation and Solutions (I&S)

Provides the Information Technology (IT) services and infrastructure to realize novel solutions to complex business problems by leveraging data.  Comprised of five different teams I&S employs advanced practices and methodologies to architect innovative solutions that can lead to higher business and operational performance.

• Enterprise Bus and Integration
• Data Engineering
• Cloud Infrastructure
• Software Quality Assurance (SQA)
• Airport Systems

Project Management and Delivery

Project Management and Delivery department provides a structure and process to consistently plan and deliver successful projects within scope schedule and budget.  We seek to accomplish this mission by providing project governance documenting and maintaining project standards project reporting tracking key performance indicators and supporting IT Project Managers with tools project forecasting and resource availability estimates.

IT Project Managers manage the overall health of the Airport IT projects and achieve a successful result.  Tasks include project initiation determining success criteria creating project plans managing stakeholder engagement vendor management risk analysis and project execution and closeout.

Operations

• Infrastructure Design and Engineering
• Technology Operations
• Technology Support and Network Operations Center (NOC)
• Technology Field Support

Transportation Engineering and Planning - Landside Operations 

SFOs Landside Operations oversees the Airports transportation planners traffic engineering and ground transportation services to encourage the use of alternative transportation modes and ensure passengers are moved efficiently on and off the Airport. They also disseminate accurate information on ground transportation programs and services to promote their use. Join SFO as an intern in Transportation Engineering or Transportation Planning and gain hands-on experience in creating safer more efficient ground transportation systems. Youll work alongside industry experts contribute to real-life projects and learn valuable skills in airport transportation planning landside traffic management and infrastructure design. Learn about the different areas you can be a part of:

• Traffic Engineering 

Explore our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for further information.

Qualifications :

Minimum Qualifications

Education: At the time of submitting application you must be enrolled in an accredited university or a community college in the following related fields: Mechanical Electrical Civil or Environmental Engineering Architecture Landscape Architecture Interior Architecture Architectural Technology Architectural Engineering Planning Urban Planning City Planning Regional Planning Computer Science/Information Services Program Cybersecurity Program Cloud Security Digital Forensics Geographical Information Systems Information Technology Project Management Mathematics Biology Natural Resources Environmental Horticulture.  

You must be returning to your associate undergraduate or graduate program or entering/continuing a graduate program in Fall 2026.

Students enrolled in second-to-last or last semester and will soon graduate are also encouraged to apply.

You can still apply if you are in your second-to-last or last semester as you may still be selected for the program within six months of graduation.

Experience:  
No previous experience is necessary. However previous internship experience may be used to determine the possible level of classification for which you are hired.

Additional Information :

Please read carefully:
You must attach the following:

• Proof of your community college undergraduate or graduate school education (Masters or PhD program). This can be official or unofficial transcript and/ or class schedule that shows your current enrollment or student status with your school.
• Applications without these attachments will be considered incomplete and may not move forward in the hiring process.

Submission date for college transcripts may be extended if it is impossible to obtain by February 6 2026. at 5 PM (Pacific Time) Applicants must submit a signed statement explaining why transcripts cannot be obtained by the filing date. Extension requests will be granted on a case-by-case basis. It is the applicants sole responsibility that all application materials and support documentation be received in a complete and legible form.

Application Opening:  Monday January 5 2026

Application Deadline: Friday February 6 2026 at 5 PM (Pacific Time)

Application Reopening Date: Wednesday March 18 2026

Application Reopening Deadline: Tuesday March 24 2026 at 5 PM (Pacific Time)

Interviews: February 23 - 27 2026

Selected applicants to be contacted with additional hiring instructions: April 20 - 24 2026

*Please note dates may be subject to change.*

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Security Clearance:
Candidates for employment with the San Francisco Airport Commission are required to undergo a criminal history record check including FBI fingerprints and Security Threat Assessment in order to determine eligibility for security clearance and may be required to undergo drug/alcohol screening. Per Civil Service Commission Rule Section 110.9.1 every applicant for an examination must possess and maintain the qualifications required by law and by the examination announcement for the examination. Failure to obtain and maintain security clearance may be basis for termination from employment with the Airport Commission.

Customs Clearance:
This position requires that the incumbent be qualified for unescorted access to the San Francisco International Airport U.S. Customs Security Area. An application for a U.S. Custom Access Seal may be submitted to Customs ONLY after employment has commenced.  Employment in this position requires that the incumbent submit an application for successfully acquire and maintain a Customs Access Seal. Per Civil Service Commission Rule 110.9.1 every applicant must possess and maintain the qualifications required by law and by the examination announcement for this examination. Failure to acquire or maintain customs access a requirement for this position may be basis for termination from employment with the Airport Commission. Customs Access Seal requirements and procedures are located in the Code of Federal Regulations Title 19 Part 122 Sections 181 or 189.

Additional Information Regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco:

Conviction History
Disaster Service Workers
Equal Employment Opportunity 
Information on requesting a reasonable ADA Accommodation
Veterans Preference
Seniority Credit in Promotional Exams
General Information concerning City and County of San Francisco Employment Policies and Procedures
Copies of Application Documents
Right to Work
Diversity Statement
Position Based Testing Information
Benefits Overview

HOW TO APPLY

Applications for City and County of San Francisco jobs are only accepted through an online process. Visit and begin the application process.

Select the Im Interested button and follow instructions on the screen

Applicants may be contacted by email about this recruitment and therefore it is their responsibility to ensure that their registered email address is accurate and kept up-to-date. Also applicants must ensure that email from CCSF is not blocked on their computer by a spam filter. To prevent blocking applicants should set up their email to accept CCSF mail from the following addresses (@ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and @).

Applicants will receive a confirmation email that their online application has been received in response to every announcement for which they file. Applicants should retain this confirmation email for their records. Failure to receive this email means that the online application was not submitted or received.

If you have any questions regarding this recruitment or application process please contact the analyst Ben Cen and Corinne Young at and

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex race age religion color national origin ancestry physical disability mental disability medical condition (associated with cancer a history of cancer or genetic characteristics) HIV/AIDS status genetic information marital status sexual orientation gender gender identity gender expression military and veteran status or other protected category under the law.

Remote Work :

No

Employment Type :

Intern