Engineering Internships

Josh, Former Engineering Intern
BS Mechanical Engineering, Purdue Calumet
Electric Standards Engineer, Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO), Merrillville, IN

I learned more than I could have imagined
When my professor in thermodynamics told me NiSource was looking for interns, I couldn’t have imagined how much I would learn. I worked with four engineers who, combined, had over 90 years of experience in the field. I assisted them in projects that ranged from research and category changes for material standards to working with linemen and project and planning engineers for construction standards. I even did some AutoCAD. I can’t believe the experience I gained in such a short period of time.

What impressed me was the environment
You feel like you’re part of a team here. Throughout my internship, everybody that I talked with was eager to help—they were so open and honest. The team I work with is terrific, which is great, because while I’m responsible for my own projects, I still rely on their knowledge and expertise. You learn something new every day. In fact, we regularly meet with vendors, agencies and even other standards departments throughout the state to share processes and new information. It’s a tremendous place to grow.

How I contribute
I’m really proud of what I do. I can see how it impacts our service, and our bottom line. For example, we just reviewed standards for our transformers, and met with vendors and toured plants to approve the vendor with the best quality and pricing. Or, when a part fails, we investigate by meeting with field crews and overseeing installations. I put my own research into each company standard that I work on. I feel like my community—and my company—are counting on my work, because it means better, more reliable service.

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Mark, Former Engineering Intern
BS Mechanical Engineering Technology, Purdue West Lafayette
Corrosion Control Engineer,
Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO), Plymouth, IN

What sparked my interest?
Honestly, I didn’t really know this career field existed when I first started college, but my dad worked for NiSource, and I heard about the internship. It was my experience here that sealed the deal. I feel lucky that I found out what a great place the energy field is for engineers before I graduated, because I was able to shift my focus. In my major, I know many graduates that went into manufacturing that have already been laid off, but there will always be a market for energy.

My typical day?
There really isn’t one. Today, I’m doing some short locating on some natural gas lines in Goshen, Indiana. Short locating is done when there is a suspected case of the current provided to the pipeline going where it should not be, which causes corrosion. My job as a corrosion engineer is all about ensuring the safety of the pipeline. Because safety is our number one concern, it’s an extremely satisfying position to be in.

What’s my favorite part of the job? I really enjoy the freedom and variety of the job. Typically, I’ll spend 75% of my time in the field and 25% in the office. You’re in charge of your schedule, so you can manage your time so you can get things done. You take ownership and responsibility for your work. Right now, my in-office time is centered on the two interns that I am supervising and taking training for different areas that I want to be qualified in. If you’re self motivated and driven, you’ll do well here.

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