Kiewit Internship 2027–2028: Programs, Deadlines & How to Apply

Last updated: September 2026

Peter Kiewit started laying bricks in Omaha in 1884. A hundred and forty-two years later, the company his family built is the #4 contractor in America by ENR ranking and posted $18.2 billion in revenue in 2025. Kiewit Corporation is privately held and employee-owned, a distinction it shares with very few firms its size. With 34,500 employees and a 4,000-person engineering organization, the company operates across transportation, power, oil and gas, water, industrial, building, mining, and marine markets. From the Eisenhower Tunnel through the Colorado Rockies to nuclear power plants and LNG terminals, Kiewit self-performs more of its work than almost any competitor, maintaining one of the largest construction equipment fleets in North America. Hundreds of interns join each year for hands-on field and office experience with a safety culture built on one simple rule: "Nobody Gets Hurt."

Quick Facts

20+ Summer 2027 intern requisitions are live as of September 2026 across engineering, design, finance, safety, and equipment tracks. The Kiewit Scholars track at five partner universities has a hard deadline of October 31, 2026. All other postings fill on a rolling basis. Expect to be assigned to a project location that may not be near your school.

Externships are short, remote professional experience programs where you finish a real project with a real company. The EIC Energy Transition Venture Capital Market Research Externship and the Yinan Zhao Investing & Financial Modeling Externship build the energy market and financial analysis skills a Kiewit application needs. Explore all Externships.

What Is a Kiewit Internship?

A Kiewit internship is a full-time summer placement at the #4 ENR contractor and one of the largest employee-owned companies in the United States. Hundreds of interns join annually across field engineering, design engineering, safety, equipment, finance, and project management. Interns take on real challenges on active construction projects spanning highways, power plants, nuclear facilities, industrial plants, and water infrastructure. The company's Kiewit Scholars Program at five partner universities provides $10,000 per year in scholarship money plus guaranteed internship access. Reddit reviews consistently describe the experience as a career accelerator even among people who chose other employers: "Taught me I didn't want to work there full time but wouldn't have traded out the opportunity." Interns are paid hourly and eligible for overtime, with field interns regularly working 50-70 hour weeks.

When Do Kiewit Internship Applications Open for 2027–2028?

Kiewit opens summer intern postings in mid-to-late August and hires on a rolling basis through fall and winter. As of September 2026, 20+ summer 2027 requisitions are live across engineering disciplines and business functions. The Kiewit Scholars posting at five partner universities has a hard deadline of October 31, 2026. Non-Scholars postings remain open until filled, but Kiewit moves fast: multiple Reddit and Indeed sources confirm offers within 24-48 hours of final interviews. Campus career fairs from September through November are a primary recruiting channel.

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

Kiewit has 20+ summer 2027 postings live as of September 2026, and positions fill as qualified candidates are matched to active construction projects. The Kiewit Scholars deadline is a hard October 31, 2026 close. For non-Scholars tracks, Kiewit moves faster than most employers: Reddit and Indeed sources consistently report offers within 24-48 hours of the final interview. The company assigns interns to project locations based on business needs and development goals, and showing flexibility about where you are willing to work is a significant differentiator in the interview. Waiting until spring means most field engineering seats on the best projects are already filled. Apply within two to three weeks of your target posting going live.

Which Kiewit Internship Programs Should You Target?

Kiewit runs summer internships, co-ops, and the Kiewit Scholars scholarship program across multiple engineering and business functions.

Additional tracks include Safety Specialist, Quality Specialist, Sustainability, and Project Management (Technology Group). Co-op and fall/winter term positions are also available. Monitor kiewitcareers.kiewit.com/Internships for new openings.

What Are the Eligibility Requirements?

From official Kiewit summer 2027 intern postings:

• Education: Currently pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in civil engineering, construction management, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, structural engineering, or related field.

• Availability: Full-time during the summer, approximately May through August. Ability to travel or relocate as needed.

• Physical requirements: Ability to access all points of a construction site in wide-ranging climates and environments.

• Driver's license: Must have a valid driver's license and reliable transportation to and from work.

Will I Have to Relocate for a Kiewit Internship?

Very likely. Kiewit explicitly states it goes where the work is. Interns are assigned to projects based on work availability combined with development goals, and you may be placed at a construction site in a different state from your school or home. One Indeed reviewer was told three different locations in the month before their start date. Kiewit provides relocation support including housing assistance and mileage reimbursement for distant assignments. Reddit interns describe relocating multiple times across summers (DC to Omaha to Honolulu). Showing flexibility about location in your interview is a significant differentiator.

What Skills Does Kiewit Look For, and How Do You Build Them?

Kiewit sits at the intersection of heavy construction management and engineering design, and its intern hiring reflects a company that self-performs more work than almost any competitor. Across summer 2027 postings, the pattern is clear: AutoCAD and Civil 3D appear in nearly every engineering track, Primavera P6 scheduling is essential for field roles, and safety awareness ('Nobody Gets Hurt') is embedded in every posting. The self-performance model means interns interact directly with craft workers, subcontractors, and equipment operators, demanding strong verbal communication and adaptability alongside technical skills.

How Is Demand for Construction & Infrastructure Engineering Interns Moving Right Now?

Build These Skills Before You Apply

Every skill in the chart maps to a remote Externship where you finish a real company project before the application window closes.

The EIC externship develops energy-transition literacy for Kiewit's power and nuclear practice, the Yinan Zhao project trains the financial modeling that every Kiewit field and finance role demands, and the Amazon externship builds the operational thinking that construction project management requires.

What Is the Kiewit Application and Interview Process Like?

Kiewit's interview process moves fast, with offers often coming within 24-48 hours of the final round:

1. Find postings on kiewitcareers.kiewit.com/Internships or the Students and Recent Graduates page. Join the Talent Community for alerts.

2. Apply online through the SuccessFactors ATS. Submit your resume, transcript, and cover letter.

3. Attend campus events. Kiewit recruits actively at career fairs and campus visits. Check olivia.paradox.ai/co/Kiewit27/UpcomingEvent for scheduled campus visits.

4. Phone/video screen with a recruiter. One Indeed reviewer described being contacted the next day after applying online.

5. 30-minute behavioral interview with the hiring manager. STAR-format questions focused on work ethic, teamwork, safety awareness, and problem-solving. Kiewit looks for candidates who demonstrate a strong work ethic and willingness to go where the work is.

6. Receive your offer. Offers often come within 24-48 hours of the final interview. Kiewit assigns your location at offer time, sometimes adjusting closer to the start date.

For the Kiewit Scholars track, apply by October 31, 2026 through the dedicated posting (Req 181955). Our HireVue question guide with a free AI mock tool covers the behavioral-question format.

What Students on Reddit Say

Kiewit internship discussions on Reddit are some of the most detailed in the construction industry, covering hours, pay, relocation, and career impact.

How Do You Stand Out at a 142-Year-Old Employee-Owned Contractor?

Three moves, all executable before fall 2026. First, embrace the relocation reality. Kiewit assigns interns to projects based on business needs and development goals. Show enthusiasm for going where the work is rather than requesting a specific city. Interviewers want to hear that you are flexible. One Reddit intern who did three summers across DC, Omaha, and Honolulu noted that quality work earns you options to travel. Second, know the safety culture. 'Nobody Gets Hurt' is not a tagline. Reference safety awareness in your interview: mention OSHA 10, hazard identification, or a safety observation from prior experience. Every Kiewit posting lists passion for safety as a qualification. Third, demonstrate work ethic explicitly. The qualification section says 'strong work ethic, willing to do what it takes to get the job done right the first time.' Share examples of long hours, physical work, or going beyond what was required. This is not a nine-to-five culture.

What Other Companies Should You Consider?

Kiewit competes for construction and infrastructure engineering intern talent with other large contractors and engineering firms.

Our engineering internships summer 2027 guide maps the full landscape of construction and infrastructure opportunities.

FAQ

When should I apply for a Kiewit summer 2027 internship?

Apply now. As of September 2026, 20+ summer 2027 intern postings are live on kiewitcareers.kiewit.com. Postings began in mid-August 2026. Kiewit hires on a rolling basis and positions fill as candidates are matched to projects. The Kiewit Scholars track has a hard deadline of October 31, 2026.

How much do Kiewit interns earn?

The official posted range for the Kiewit Scholars internship is $17 to $25 per hour. Indeed reports engineering interns averaging $26.61 per hour. Critically, Kiewit interns are paid hourly and eligible for overtime at 1.5x after 40 hours. Field interns commonly work 50-70 hour weeks, significantly increasing total compensation.

Will I have to relocate for a Kiewit internship?

Very likely. Kiewit explicitly states it goes where the work is. Interns are assigned to projects based on work availability and development goals. You may be placed at a construction site in a different state from your school. Kiewit provides relocation support including housing assistance and mileage reimbursement.

How many hours will I work as a Kiewit intern?

It depends on your role. Office-based interns in design engineering and finance typically work 40 to 50 hours per week. Field engineer interns commonly work 50 to 70 plus hours per week. All hours are paid at your hourly rate with overtime after 40 hours. The overtime pay is substantial.

Does Kiewit offer return offers to interns?

Yes. Strong performers regularly receive full-time offers. One Reddit thread quotes a Kiewit structural intern offer stating it will include a full-time position after graduation if expectations are met. An Indeed reviewer confirmed being given a job upon completing their internship. The Kiewit Scholars program is a multi-year pipeline.

What is the Kiewit Scholars Program?

A scholarship and internship program at five partner universities: Colorado School of Mines, Iowa State, Purdue, CU-Boulder, and Nebraska-Lincoln. Scholars receive $10,000 per year and guaranteed access to Kiewit internship opportunities. Ten scholars are selected each year at each school through a competitive application process.

What should I expect in a Kiewit interview?

A two-round process: a phone screen with a recruiter followed by a 30-minute behavioral interview with a hiring manager. Questions focus on work ethic, teamwork, problem-solving, and safety awareness using the STAR format. The process moves fast, with offers often coming within 24-48 hours of the final interview.

Is a Kiewit internship worth it if the hours are long?

The Reddit consensus is overwhelmingly yes, even among people who chose not to work at Kiewit full-time. The most common sentiment: taught me I did not want to work there full time but would not have traded the experience. Kiewit on a resume is recognized industry-wide, the overtime pay is substantial, and the field exposure is hard to replicate.

Kiewit's 20+ summer 2027 postings are live now, and the rolling model means the best project assignments fill first. Spend the runway building proof: a remote Externship in energy or financial analysis turns interest in construction into a finished project your fall 2026 application can point at.