INTERN Alaska Field Engineer - EarthScope Student Career Internship Program

Position Overview

The Alaska Field Engineer Intern will assist senior staff with all aspects of planning,  implementing and documenting field operations throughout the Alaska region of the Network of the Americas (NOTA). Additionally, the intern will help with data entry, equipment testing, and warehouse organization in Anchorage.

• This position is full-time, non-exempt, based in Anchorage, AK
• Undergraduate and graduate students are eligible to apply
• Internship is up to 15 weeks starting in April, 2024          
  • Ideal applicant will be able to start with partial weeks for training in late April to early May, 2024, then begin full-time work by mid to late May, 2024
• Interns are paid a weekly stipend of $800/week for 11-15 weeks
• Interns must participate for the full internship period

Position Description

The Field Engineer Intern position will assist the Operations team at EarthScope in support of the operation and maintenance of the Alaska region of the NSF-fund Network of the Americas (NOTA), a 1200-station network of geophysical instrumentation. This position will provide the student an opportunity to become familiar with geophysical instrumentation, learn about earth processes, work outdoors, and assist with fieldwork to support NOTA operations. This position will be based in Anchorage, AK. A variety of safety training will be provided for the successful candidate. No housing accommodations will be provided. 

Essential Job Functions

• Assist engineers with NOTA station maintenance: planning, preparation, and fieldwork
• Under supervision, test hardware components (GNSS, meteorological, tiltmeter, stainmeter, etc.) for instrumentation found within the NOTA network
• Interface with senior staff to work through and solve various engineering issues
• Write maintenance reports and assist with uploading backlog photos to a database
• Create and/or update process documentation
• Act as an ambassador for EarthScope with project stakeholders
• Use existing network monitoring tools to assist with monitoring and improving the performance of the NOTA

Working Relationships 

Internal

• Reports to EarthScope NOTA Alaska Engineering Manager
• Interacts and collaborates with peers and colleagues across the organization.
• Responds and reports to stakeholders on project status and results.

External

• Interacts with community members relative to the supported project.

Supervision

• Interacts effectively with various EarthScope staff to ensure the completion of assigned responsibilities. Self-motivated and self-starter. May provide guidance on technical matters to others. Does not have supervisory responsibility.

REQUIRED SKILLS

EarthScope Core Competencies 

• Accountability and Responsibility
• Relationship Building
• Skilled Problem Solver
• Customer Focus
• Strategic Thinking

Physical Work Demands

• Able and willing to sit and/or stand to work at a computer
• Able and willing to move about a typical office, warehouse and outdoor work/research environment on a daily basis
• Able and willing to travel to remote locations for multiple days at a time
• Able and willing to travel extensively in fleet trucks, small aircraft and helicopters
• Able and willing to lift and move up to 70 pounds consistently

Mental Work Demands

• Regular and on-time attendance
• Hours may exceed 40 hours per week
• Frequent travel by conventional (motor vehicle) and unconventional (small airplane and helicopter) means

Note: To perform this position successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential responsibility satisfactorily. The requirements listed above are representative of knowledge, skill, and/or ability required and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities or qualifications associated with this position.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE

Required Education

• University/graduate level student in Earth sciences or relevant STEM field

Required skills

• Basic computer skills, including use of MS Office applications
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to both work independently and as a member of a team
• Willingness for extensive travel throughout Alaska

Preferred Skills

• Knowledgeable in the safe use of power tools
• Knowledgeable in some programming language (e.g. MATLAB, python, GMT)
• Some wilderness first aid experience
• A passion for working outdoors

QUESTIONS SECTION (to be completed on application)

1. If you are applying for more than one internship position at EarthScope please indicate your first choice and your second choice.

2. Why do you want to work at EarthScope this summer?

3. Please tell us about your skills and experience that would make you a good candidate for the Alaska Field Engineer Intern position.

4. Please tell us about your experience (academic, professional, or amateur) working in the earth sciences or engineering. Which of the skills listed in the position descriptions required and desired sections do you have or would you like to expand?

5. Please tell us about any experience (academic or professional) working with geophysical methods and related technical skills. Which of the skills listed in the position descriptions required and desired sections do you have (GPS, seismology, InSAR, lidar, gravity, sea level altimetry; programming languages; GIS; graphics software)? 

6. Project management is a big part of successful field engineering. Please tell us about a team project that you worked on recently. What was the project, who was on your team, what was your role, and what was the outcome of the project? 

7. Describe one project that you worked on either individually or as a team that you feel most proud of and what your part was in the project.

8. I have attached my Statement of Interest that clearly articulates my professional or academic goals.

9. I have attached a copy of my most recent unofficial transcript. 

10. I have supplied the names of three people who are willing to serve as a reference for my application. I understand that they may be called in connection with my application review.