Engineering Cooperative Education Program - Co-Op

The Illinois Tollway is dedicated to providing and promoting a safe and efficient system of highways while ensuring the highest possible level of service to our customers. Whether it's I-PASS, the Move Illinois Program, open road tolling or keeping you safe with our H.E.L.P. trucks, we are committed to delivering great benefits and services to customers.

The Tollway is a user-fee system – no state or federal tax dollars are used to support maintenance and operations. Operations are funded by toll and concession revenues.

Under the leadership of the Board of Directors and Executive Staff, the Tollway is committed to achieving the following goals: increase collaboration with regional transportation and planning agencies, promote the regional economy, maintain financial integrity, foster environmental responsibility and sustainability, maintain the safety and efficiency of the Tollway system, further transparency and accountability, enhance customer service, and maintain public trust.

The Illinois Tollway 2026 Engineering Cooperative Education (Co-Op) program is designed to enhance students’ academic curriculum through hands‑on work experience. Under the guidance of an Illinois Tollway engineer, interns will perform engineering work arranged in the phases of construction, design and planning. Embedded within technical learning and skill application will be soft skills trainings such as presentation skills, professional communication and others provided by the Illinois Tollway’s Professional Learning Department.

During the Cooperative Education Program, participant's responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Assist with the development and administration of programs, procedures, and guidelines which aligns the workforce with the strategic goals of the department and the Tollway
• Identify opportunities to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of programs, processes, and the performance of departmental operations
• Collaborate with departmental leaders to get results through influence and consensus building
• Perform research, identify relevant issues, trends, insights and gaps, and provide analysis to develop strategy and drive decision making
• Monitor project efforts and measure the effectiveness of improvements through regular status reports that indicate visible improvements and successful outcomes
• Rotational assignments with different facets of transportation engineering is expected and will require transportation to and from the project site.
• Work sites will vary within the Tollway’s 294-mile system with some remote working involved on the occasion
• Present on various topics and projects within the Tollway throughout the Co-Op program
• Complete other special projects and duties as assigned

• Fieldwork experience on active construction projects
• Partner with engineering mentors to guide learning
• Includes job shadowing and group community service activities
• Summer or year‑round internship available
• Flexible scheduling for part‑time hours

The Engineering Cooperative Education (Co-Op) is offered both as a year‑long program, from June 2026 to May 2027, or a summer program from June 2026 to August 2026. Summer hours will be 20‑30 hours per week and fall/spring hours will be 15 hours per week.

Visit  for more information.

• Currently enrolled at an accredited college or university studying civil engineering or a related program with an interest in learning about roadway engineering and construction project management

• Schedule commitment of 30 hours maximum per week during the summer and fall/spring terms for 15 hours per week
• Must have reliable transportation to Tollway HQ and various construction sites within the Tollway's 294‑mile system on a frequent basis.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Access, Word, and Power Point
• Strong interpersonal, communication, organizational, and analytical skills
• Superior organizational, problem‑solving and critical‑thinking skills
• Strong written and oral communication skills

• Strategic and creative thought partner and problem‑solver
• Majoring in Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, Transportation and Infrastructure Systems, or related field
• Ability to effectively interact with various Tollway personnel, within and outside the Engineering and Planning Departments, and with various professionals, individuals, public bodies and agencies outside the Authority

The Illinois Tollway is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, marital status, national origin or ancestry, disability, unfavorable discharge from military services, age, order of protection status, military status, sex or sexual orientation.