Cultural Resources Intern

About the opportunity

SWCA is seeking one Cultural Resources Intern for Summer 2026 to support both office and field projects in our Pasadena, San Diego, or Riverside, CA offices. The Cultural Resources Intern will support a diversity of field-based and office-based projects and will work with talented, multidisciplinary teams of cultural resources professionals. Your role as a Cultural Resources Intern will be assisting with cultural resources and archaeology data entry, artifact analyses, reporting, and fieldwork during the summer field season.

You should be able to work outside during fieldwork sessions that generally last for a week or more.

This internship will occur during summer 2026 (early June to Mid-August). Earlier start dates or later end dates will be considered on a case-by-case basis and are encouraged. This is a paid, 40-hour per week internship. Interns will be paid $21.38/hour. This role will be primarily field based, with some travel and overnight lodging required. Desktop assignments will be assigned for working days not in the field.

Interns will ideally be located within commuting distance of an SWCA office.

Please submit a cover letter and resume to be considered for this position. Applications will not be considered without a cover letter.

Final date to receive applications:
Our team will begin reviewing applications immediately, and interviews will be scheduled with qualified candidates on a rolling basis. The application process will remain open until we have received a robust pool of qualified candidates. Once we have identified suitable individuals, we may close the application process without prior notice. We appreciate the time and effort invested by all applicants and will carefully consider each submission.

Help drive SWCA to be the best workplace and industry leader in sustainability, bringing sound science and creative solutions to global environmental challenges while maintaining a dedication to employee-ownership. Established in 1981, SWCA has a long-standing presence in the United States and is known for sound science and creative solutions.

We are #OneSWCA and collaborate across all our offices, programs, and disciplines. We are #Always Learning, we #Never Settle, and we #Give Back. We are 100% employee‑owned, and we build our success together. It is imperative for the successful candidate to fit SWCA's unique culture. Do you appreciate sustainability and environmental awareness? Is giving back to your community a priority? SWCA is a team of scientists, planners, technical experts, and corporate services professionals that are committed to our culture.

Our company purpose is to preserve natural and cultural resources for tomorrow while enabling projects that benefit people today. You are invited to be a part of our success story.

Cultural Resources Intern positions are usually both field and office based. Interns typically receive:

• Hands‑on experience with surveying and site recording methods
• Experience following local State Historic Preservation Office and federal agency guidelines for performing archaeological fieldwork.
• Introduction to precontact and historic artifact identification.
• Introduction to cartography and archaeological map analysis.
• Opportunities to participate in various types of cultural resources management fieldwork.
• Exposure to a nationally recognized cultural compliance consulting firm and lead professionals in the field.
• Coordination with academic staff to meet course credit requirements.
• Understanding the significance criteria for the California Register of Historical Resources and National Register of Historic Places.

Required

• Current enrollment in a community college, college, or university, pursuing a certificate of proficiency, Associates degree, or Bachelor's degree with a focus on cultural resource management, anthropology, archaeology, or a related field.
• Individuals who completed a bachelor's degree with a major or minor in anthropology, archaeology, cultural resource management, or related field in the past 12 months will also be…