Last updated: October 2026
Burns & McDonnell had 256 intern and co-op requisitions open on its own applicant system on 3 October 2026, and 253 of them went up in September. That's the summer 2027 wave. In plain words: you apply during fall 2026, you intern in summer 2027.
The Kansas City engineering, architecture and construction firm has been around since 1898, has been 100% employee-owned since 1986 and works from more than 75 offices. It ranks #1 on ENR's 2026 Power Design Firms list, per its rankings page.
There's no deadline to wait for. Every req says it stays open "on an ongoing basis until filled," so your real deadline is the day your target group fills its seat.
Quick Facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Where to apply | Burns & McDonnell job search (search "intern"). Program overview on the internships page |
| Application window (summer 2027) | Open now: 256 intern and co-op reqs live on 3 Oct 2026, posted 27 Aug to 2 Oct 2026 (253 in September). No close date published |
| Rolling? | Yes. Each req "will remain open a minimum of 72 hours and on an ongoing basis until filled" |
| Eligibility | Enrolled in a related degree program; "Minimum of a 3.0 GPA strongly preferred" on 228 of 256 reqs; no visa sponsorship |
| Duration | Full-time summer internship; start dates and length aren't published. Co-ops run a full semester |
| Compensation | $17.75 to $41.00 an hour where a range is posted (107 reqs); median posted range $19 to $35. No range on Missouri or Texas reqs |
| Return offers | Conversion rate not published; the firm calls the internship "like a lengthy job interview" and hopes interns join full time |
| Locations | 25 states plus Puerto Rico; most reqs in Missouri (44, Kansas City HQ), Texas (24), Illinois (18) and Colorado (17) |
| # Programs | One intern program across 35+ functions: electrical, civil, mechanical, structural, environmental, project management and controls, CAD, architecture, 1898 & Co. consulting; plus co-ops |
Summer 2027 applications are open now and fill on a rolling basis. Spring 2027 co-op reqs are open too.
Externships are short, remote programs where you finish a real project for a real company, most commonly over 8 weeks. The Amazon Fulfillment Center Operational Strategy Externship builds the operations and metrics skills project controls interns use, and the Corporate Strategy Externship mentored by Eric Ries fits 1898 & Co. consulting applicants. Explore all Externships.
What Is a Burns & McDonnell Internship?
A Burns & McDonnell internship is a paid, full-time summer role inside one of the firm's business groups, such as Transmission & Distribution, Environmental Services or Global Facilities, where you support engineers, architects or project managers on live client work. The internships page says "hundreds of students" join each year, from freshmen to grad students, and every intern gets a mentor.
The work is real design support. Engineering reqs describe "correcting and updating designs" and "assisting lead engineers with various project duties," and interns spend time in offices, labs and on construction sites. The firm's own description: "Being an intern here is like a lengthy job interview."
When Do Burns & McDonnell Internship Applications Open for 2027–2028?
Burns & McDonnell posts its summer intern wave in one burst at the end of summer. This cycle, 253 of the 256 live reqs went up in September 2026, and two more posted on 1 and 2 October. None carries a year in its title, so the summer 2027 label comes from timing: interns on Reddit reported first-round video interviews on 23 September 2024 and 27 August 2025 for the previous two summers.
Co-op students have a nearer door. Five reqs are titled Spring 2027 Co-op, and two Fall 2026 CAD co-ops are still posted even though that term has started.
Applications for summer 2027 are open right now: 256 intern and co-op reqs across 25 states and Puerto Rico, each open until filled. Spring 2027 co-op reqs are open too.
First-round prerecorded video interviews for summer 2027, then a recruiter or Teams interview. Last cycle, one applicant went from video to Teams interview in two days. Seats in popular groups fill during this stretch.
Offers continue for summer 2027 seats that haven't filled. Spring 2027 co-ops start in January, so confirm your co-op term with the recruiter.
Remaining summer 2027 reqs stay posted only until filled. Late applicants can still find openings, but in fewer groups and cities.
The full-time summer internship in your business group and office, with a mentor and the Intern Spotlight speaker series. Return offers are decided by group, based on its workload.
How to read this page: our dates come from tracking previous recruiting cycles and daily posting data. Treat them as informed estimates based on historical patterns, not confirmed dates. The company's official careers page is always the most current source. If a role is posted there, go by that, even if this page suggests the window hasn't opened yet.
Why You Must Apply the Week Applications Open
This is a rolling window, and it moves fast. Each req stays open "on an ongoing basis until filled," and one applicant last cycle was told a spot had "just got filled" within days of interviewing.
Interviews start as soon as applications arrive: Reddit reports show prerecorded videos submitted on 27 August and 25 September 2025 for the summer 2026 cycle, so the week you apply matters more than the month.
Because each req is tied to one group and one city, a seat filling in your target office doesn't reopen elsewhere. Apply in October to every req where your major fits.
Which Burns & McDonnell Internship Programs Should You Target?
Burns & McDonnell posts a separate req for each function, business group and city. Here's how the 256 live reqs group by function:
| Track | Focus | Live reqs | Key details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical and instrument & controls engineering | Substations, transmission, network automation, power plants, mission-critical facilities | 52 | Largest track; Transmission & Distribution group dominates |
| Civil, structural, geotechnical and pipeline engineering | Transmission lines, substations, pipelines, roadways, water, aviation and federal sites | 68 | Many multi-city reqs, such as Charlotte/Atlanta |
| Mechanical, chemical and fire protection | Building systems, power, oil, gas and chemical, water treatment | 28 | Spread across Global Facilities and Power |
| Environmental science and engineering | Natural resources, air quality, remediation, regulatory compliance | 28 | Environmental Services group; field work common |
| Construction: project management, controls, procurement | Schedules, cost tracking, purchasing, quality, safety | 33 | Construction group; site exposure |
| CAD, architecture and design | Drafting, architecture, interior and sustainability design, VDC | 25 | Architecture reqs prefer NAAB programs |
| 1898 & Co. and corporate | Energy and utility analysis, technology consulting, GIS, software, IT, finance, HR, marketing | 22 | Business and IT majors welcome |
Read the req title closely before you apply: it names the group and the city. The applying and interviewing page explains the steps.
What Are the Eligibility Requirements?
Across the 256 live reqs we scanned on 3 October 2026:
• Enrollment: "Currently enrolled, and in good standing" in a related degree or certificate program. Many reqs say bachelor's or master's; some engineering reqs say bachelor's only.
• GPA: 228 of 256 say "Minimum of a 3.0 GPA strongly preferred."
• Work authorization: reqs require authorization to work in the US without current or future sponsorship, so the firm doesn't sponsor intern visas.
• Clearance: none of the 256 mention a security clearance or US citizenship.
• Involvement: reqs ask candidates to be "actively involved in campus, community or other volunteer activities."
Is the 3.0 GPA a Hard Cutoff?
Not on paper. The reqs say "strongly preferred," not required, and community members disagree on whether recruiters screen below it. Co-op students face a firmer rule: co-op reqs require enrollment "in a formal co-op program." Three Spring 2027 co-op reqs also mention the fall 2026 term in their text, so confirm the dates with the recruiter.
What Skills Does Burns & McDonnell Look For, and How Do You Build Them?
Burns & McDonnell's reqs are light on named software and heavy on fundamentals, and they fall into three buckets.
Engineering basics. 217 of 256 reqs describe applying "standard engineering techniques and procedures," updating designs and supporting lead engineers. Communication and leadership. Almost every req asks for strong verbal and written communication, leadership and problem solving. Office tools. 237 list Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook, while none names a specific CAD program, so treat AutoCAD or MicroStation as useful extras rather than requirements.
What Burns & McDonnell looks for in interns
Skills across 256 Burns & McDonnell intern & analyst job descriptions · live US intern and co-op reqs, October 2026
Method: phrase match over the full text of all 256 intern and co-op requisitions live on Burns & McDonnell's Taleo applicant system on 3 Oct 2026. The firm uses one qualifications template, so the soft-skill lines appear on almost every req; no req names a specific CAD program.
How Is Demand for Engineering Interns Moving Right Now?
Mechanical engineering intern postings · Sep vs Aug 2026
vs 207 in August
The engineering intern market opened in September. If you want an A/E/C internship for summer 2027, this month is when seats fill.
Daily US job-posting counts, Sep 1–30 vs Aug 1–31, 2026. Covers under half of US postings; shows direction, not market size. Pay = median of employer-published ranges only (87 postings in September, 36 in August).
Build These Skills Before You Apply
Each skill maps to a remote Externship you can finish while your Burns & McDonnell applications are in review.
| Skill (from real JDs) | JD evidence | Externship that builds it |
|---|---|---|
| Project controls and operations data | Project Controls and Procurement Intern reqs, Construction group | Amazon Fulfillment Center Operational Strategy |
| Consulting and client recommendations | Technology Consulting and Business Consulting Intern reqs, 1898 & Co. | Corporate Strategy mentored by Eric Ries |
| Collecting and analyzing data | "Participate in continuous improvement efforts by collecting and analyzing data" (co-op Req 264541) | Breaking Games E-Commerce Data Analysis |
| Security for critical infrastructure | 1898 & Co. describes itself as a "business, technology and security consultancy" | Hydroficient IoT Cyber Defense |
None of these replaces your engineering coursework, but each one gives you a finished project to talk through in a behavioral interview, which is where Burns & McDonnell's process puts most of its weight.
What Is the Burns & McDonnell Application and Interview Process Like?
The applying and interviewing page lays out the official steps, and interns fill in the rest:
1. Apply online. Create an account, upload your resume and get a confirmation email with a tracking link. Apply to each req (group and city) you want.
2. Prerecorded video interview. The first round is usually a one-way video. The firm posts its own "Excel in Prerecorded Interviews" video on the applying page.
3. Recruiter or team interview. A phone, Teams or in-person conversation with a recruiter, hiring manager or team members. Interns say it's mostly behavioral: your projects, a favorite class, why this group.
4. Decision and offer. "After the team completes all interviews, you'll be notified of its hiring decision," with the offer letter by email.
Some electrical reqs pool candidates for a whole division, with team placement decided later, according to a 2025 Reddit thread.
What Students on Reddit Say
The r/BurnsMcDonnell community is active, with employees and former interns answering questions, though opinions vary by group.
Two former interns reported about $30 an hour, one in Oil, Gas & Chemical and one in Transmission & Distribution on a second internship. Others recalled lower rates years ago and said pay depends on department and degree progress.
A project management intern without a return offer was told offers follow each group's backlog. One employee said every Power intern they knew got an offer, while an Oil, Gas & Chemical group could offer only about two of seven.
After the prerecorded video, the second interview for an electrical intern req is mostly behavioral. Expect to talk about your experience and a class you enjoyed, not a technical quiz, since the req recruits for a whole division.
How Do You Stand Out Among Hundreds of Interns?
Three moves, all doable this month.
Pick the group, not just the company. Req titles name the business group and city. Return offers depend on that group's workload, so research which groups are busy (Power and Transmission & Distribution are the biggest hirers right now) and say why you want that work.
Nail the one-way video. It's the first filter. Practice two-minute answers about a project, a team conflict and why Burns & McDonnell, and record yourself once before the real thing.
Show involvement. Every req asks for campus or community activity. A design team, ASCE or IEEE chapter role, or volunteer project belongs near the top of your resume.
On return offers, the firm doesn't publish a conversion rate, but it says it hopes interns "join us full time."
What Other Companies Should You Consider?
Comparing Burns & McDonnell with other design and construction firms? These hire summer 2027 interns from the same majors:
- AECOMone of the largest US design firms; a direct A/E competitorGuide →
- JacobsA/E/C and federal work across water, transport and facilitiesGuide →
- Kiewitemployee-owned builder strong in power and transmission constructionGuide →
- Quanta Servicestransmission and distribution contractor hiring the same EE and civil studentsGuide →
- FluorEPC firm in energy, chemicals and infrastructureGuide →
- Black & Veatchthe closest rival: employee-owned power and T&D firm in the Kansas City areaGuide →
Our engineering internships guide covers more summer 2027 options across the field.
FAQ
Can I still apply for a summer 2026 Burns & McDonnell internship?
No. Summer 2026 internships are over, and two Fall 2026 CAD co-ops still posted cover a term that's already started. What's open now is summer 2027: 256 intern and co-op reqs were live on 3 October 2026, plus Spring 2027 co-ops, all open until filled.
When do Burns & McDonnell summer 2027 applications open?
They're open now. 253 of the 256 live reqs posted in September 2026, and each stays open "on an ongoing basis until filled." There's no published close date, so seats in popular groups and cities can fill within weeks. Apply in October rather than waiting for spring.
How much do Burns & McDonnell interns make?
Where a range is posted, it's $17.75 to $41.00 an hour, and the median posted range is $19 to $35. Only 107 reqs show a range, mostly in pay-transparency states. Missouri and Texas reqs don't post one, and final pay depends on education, experience and location.
What is the Burns & McDonnell interview process?
Usually a prerecorded video interview first, then a recruiter or team interview by phone, Teams or in person. Interns describe both rounds as mostly behavioral, focused on your projects, classes and interest in the group. The firm then notifies you of its decision and emails the offer letter.
Is there a GPA requirement?
There's a strong preference, not a stated requirement. 228 of the 256 live reqs say "Minimum of a 3.0 GPA strongly preferred." Applicants below 3.0 can still apply, but you'll need relevant projects, campus involvement or prior internship experience to make up the gap.
Does Burns & McDonnell sponsor visas for interns?
No. The reqs require candidates to be authorized to work in the US without current or future sponsorship. None of the 256 live reqs mention a security clearance or US citizenship, so permanent residents and other authorized workers can apply.
Does Burns & McDonnell offer co-ops?
Yes. Five Spring 2027 co-op reqs were open on 3 October 2026, in electrical, civil-structural, pipeline engineering and architecture. You must be enrolled in a formal co-op program, and since some reqs mention fall 2026 in their text, confirm the term with the recruiter.
Do Burns & McDonnell interns get full-time offers?
Often, but it depends on your group. The firm calls the internship "like a lengthy job interview" and hopes interns join full time, yet it publishes no conversion rate. Interns on Reddit say return offers follow each group's workload, so busier groups extend more of them.
Burns & McDonnell's summer 2027 reqs are open now, and they fill one seat at a time. Apply this month, and use a remote Externship to add a finished project to the resume you're sending.
About the Author
Bifei Wang has spent 17 years focused on human flow and the growth of young professionals, spanning international education, career training and coaching, and recruitment process outsourcing. Over 7 years at Extern, he has had one-on-one sessions with thousands of students exploring careers in consulting, finance, tech, marketing, and data, giving him a firsthand view of how the job market has shifted for early-career professionals and what it actually takes to break in.
