1 DOT Internship Program - SME

Full Job Description

This is a student internship position under the 1DOT Internship Program with the Department of Transportation. Selected students will begin on May 31, 2026.

To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must meet the education requirements for the grade at which you are requesting consideration by June 1, 2026 and be continuing your education the following semester (proof of enrollment is required).

GS-5 - Completion of four academic years of post-high school study leading to a bachelor's degree or four academic years of pre-professional study.

GS-7 - Completion of one academic year of graduate level education; OR bachelor's degree with Superior Academic Achievement* *Superior Academic Achievement- In the upper one-third of graduating class; OR a GPA of 3.0 or higher out of 4.0, as recorded on official transcript, or based on courses completed during final 2 years of curriculum; OR a GPA of 3.5 or higher out of 4.0, based on average of required courses completed in major or required courses in major completed the final 2 years of curriculum.

This position has an education requirement. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application package. Official transcripts will be required prior to a final offer of employment.

You may use 2026 in-progress semester/quarter hours to qualify for a higher grade level.

Qualifications will be determined based on completed and in-progress hours stated on your unofficial transcript submitted at the time of application.

You must provide updated transcripts that show any/all degrees conferred, current grades and registration with cumulative GPA to support your educational claims (acceptance letter is also required if applicable to current academic status).

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education - https://ope.ed.gov/dapip/#/home.

Special Instructions for Foreign Education: Qualifying education from colleges and universities in foreign countries must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.S.

colleges and universities.

Applicants educated in whole or in part in foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree.

A listing of these accredited organizations can be found on the Department of Education's website - click here.

You must provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation with a course by course listing along with your application.

Failure to provide such documentation when requested will result in lost consideration.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas: Knowledge of subject area typically provided by college-level courses sufficient to perform a variety of assignments to broaden skills and gain practical experience.

Ability to assist higher graded teammates in developing material for briefings, reports, presentations and conference materials. Ability to participate in meetings, events, and briefings.

Skill in oral and written communication.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social).

Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.

You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

For additional information about applying to Federal Pathways Internship Positions, please click on the following link: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=GS-PIP Applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the start of the internship.

Major Duties:

To qualify for this Internship, you MUST be a continuing student enrolled or accepted for enrollment for the current/upcoming semesters in a college, trade school, and other qualifying educational institution of higher education and pursuing a baccalaureate or graduate degree on at least a part-time basis as determined by the academic institution for the duration of the internship as a condition of employment.

You will be required to provide documentation to support eligibility. Students may be employed throughout the academic year.

1DOT Internship Program is designed to provide interns an opportunity to broaden their perspectives on issues facing government.

Interns will work throughout the Department of Transportation (DOT) and support higher-level management in coordinating, facilitating, and implementing activities within the office to which they are assigned; and be exposed to and participate in activities, innovations, and challenges facing the Transportation Industry.

The Student Trainee works in support of the office they are assigned to which may include: Performing a variety of assignments selected to broaden skills and provide practical experience aimed at developing the employee's skills and knowledge to perform progressively complex assignments.

Assignments designed to orient, train, and increase the student's knowledge in his/her perspective area of study.

Assisting specialists/analysts in developing material for briefings, reports, presentations and conference materials needed by supervisor and executive management.

Developing documents, such as research-based papers, graphs, charts, and other data to be used by transportation officials in defining transportation challenges and recommending options and potential solutions.

Assisting management in collecting, organizing and maintaining program and/or functional documentation and materials. Participating in meetings, events, and briefings.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) is looking for students, college, trade school, and other qualifying educational institution of higher education with an interest in transportation, majoring in science, technology, mathematics, economics, computer science/IT, cybersecurity and research-based majors.

The DOT is seeking students who have demonstrated leadership, innovation, and self-initiative.

The 1DOT Internship Program integrates on-the-job training with pertinent education by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

The individual series are listed below for your reference and information to include the applicable qualification standard: GS-0199 – Social Science Student Trainee Series (e.g.

Economist; Social Sciences, public policy or similar fields) GS-0299 – Human Resources Student Trainee Series GS-0399 – Administrative Support Series (e.g.

Communications, Public Affairs, Program and Management Analyst, Data Analytics) GS-0599 – Financial Management Student Trainee Series (e.g.

Finance; Budget; Auditing, Accounting; Pay or similar fields) GS-0899 – Engineering and Architectural Student Trainee Series (e.g.

Civil; Chemical; General; Aerospace; Electrical Mechanical; Mechanical Corrosion; Metallurgical and Materials; Petroleum Engineering; or students with an interest in oil and Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) GS-1199 – Business and Industry (e.g.

Contracting, Inspections, Acquisitions, or similar fields) GS-1599 – Mathematics and Statistics Student Trainee Series (e.g.

Statistics; Mathematics; Data Science, Database Management or similar fields) GS-1899- Safety Inspector Trainee GS-2199 – Transportation Student Trainee Series (e.g.

Transportation Safety, Transportation Specialist; Railroad Safety; Highway Safety; Traffic Management; Aviation or similar fields) GS-2299 – Information Technology Management Student Trainee Series (e.g.

Information Technology; Computer Science; Cybersecurity or similar fields) https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#GS-TECH=&url=List-by-Occupational-Series