Environmental Engineering Intern

What Are My Responsibilities as an Environmental Engineering Intern at Steel Dynamics?

• Support the ISO 14001 Environmental Management System by maintaining procedures, records, and continuous improvement actions across air, water, stormwater, waste, hazardous waste, spill prevention, and radiation programs.
• Assist with environmental permitting by gathering data, drafting submittals, coordinating with consultants, and communicating with regulatory agencies.
• Collect, validate, and analyze environmental data for emissions, water quality, and waste streams, and build tracking tools and reports to demonstrate compliance with permit limits.
• Conduct field inspections of emission points, stormwater controls, waste accumulation areas, and radiation detection portals, document findings, and follow up on corrective actions.
• Perform sampling and monitoring to verify compliance with permit conditions, maintain chain of custody, and organize sampling records.
• Prepare or assist with required regulatory reports including emission inventories, Title V reports, SARA and Tier II submissions, deviation logs, discharge monitoring reports, and routine quarterly and annual filings.
• Participate in root cause analyses for exceedances or abnormal trends and help develop corrective and preventive actions with operations and maintenance teams.
• Support operation and performance tracking of pollution control equipment such as baghouses, scrubbers, and oxidizers, and recommend improvements where appropriate.
• Contribute to sustainability and decarbonization initiatives focused on emissions reduction, waste minimization, water stewardship, and recycling.
• Assist with contractor and vendor coordination, waste profiling and manifests, and value driven procurement to meet program goals.
• Help prepare for audits and inspections by organizing documentation, participating in walk throughs, and supporting responses to findings or Notices of Violation.
• Develop and deliver basic training or job aids for environmental requirements, and partner with the SDI Corporate Office on projects as needed.

What Qualifications Do I Need?

• Pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Environmental, Chemical, or Civil Engineering (environmental emphasis)
• Clear communication and organized documentation skills to collaborate with operations and support compliance reporting
• Minimum of 2.7 GPA

Examples of Projects Steel Dynamics Environmental Engineering Interns Have Completed

• Participate in hands-on environmental compliance projects by tracking air quality metrics, reviewing emission sources, and aligning operations with federal and state regulatory standards.
• Create and manage detailed spreadsheets to monitor environmental compliance, specifically tracking sulfur dioxide (SO₂) emissions and evaluating results against EPA and IDEM limits.
• Support the air permitting process by compiling required documentation, collaborating with third-party consultants, and maintaining communication with regulatory agencies to ensure permit accuracy and timely submissions.
• Conduct field assessments of emission points and process areas to verify control equipment performance, identify potential non-compliance issues, and recommend corrective actions.
• Troubleshoot instances of elevated emissions using root cause analysis and process flow reviews, working with operations teams to implement technical solutions that improve environmental performance.
• Assist with environmental reporting by compiling and interpreting data for quarterly or annual reports, including Title V reports, emission inventories, and deviation logs.
• Gain direct exposure to chemical processing systems such as baghouses, scrubbers, and oxidizers, learning how these systems influence emissions and process efficiency.
• Support waste and water compliance efforts by reviewing sampling results, identifying permit exceedances, and participating in internal audits of hazardous material handling and stormwater systems.
• Work alongside Environmental Managers to prepare for agency inspections, respond to Notice of Violations (NOVs), and implement corrective action plans.
• Develop a strong foundation in environmental management systems (EMS), learning how data collection, documentation, and operational discipline contribute to long-term regulatory compliance and sustainable operations.

Steel Dynamics, Inc., and all affiliated entities are equal opportunity employers.