Join our growing team and discover why Summit Utilities, Inc. continues to earn national and regional recognition as an employer of choice. Our recognitions include Best Places to Work in Maine (2019–2025); Best Places to Work in Arkansas (2020, 2023, 2025); Best Places to Work in Oklahoma (2022–2025); Best Places to Work in Missouri (2023 and 2026); Best Places to Work in Colorado (2025); Forbes America’s Best Small Employers (2023); and, most recently, Proud and Purposeful Employer (2026).
Summit is a growing natural gas utility providing safe, reliable, and clean burning natural gas service to homes and businesses in Arkansas, Colorado, Maine, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas. Being part of the Summit team means embracing excellence and innovation, committing to safety each and every day, and doing all that we can to serve each other, our customers, and the communities where we live. We aim to bring warmth and energy to everything we do.
We have an exciting opportunity open for a Data Engineer Intern based in Fort Smith, Fayetteville, or Little Rock, AR.
POSITION SUMMARY
Summit Utilities is seeking a Data Engineer Intern to support the development, maintenance, and enhancement of enterprise data pipelines and integration solutions. This internship is designed for currently enrolled undergraduate and graduate students who want hands-on experience building real data solutions in an enterprise-scale environment. Working under the guidance of senior engineers, analysts, and database administrators, the Data Engineer Intern contributes to active pipeline and integration work while building practical skills in SQL, scripting, and modern data integration practices. Ideal candidates have coursework, project, or prior internship experience with SQL and a programming language such as Python, along with demonstrated curiosity, attention to detail, and a strong desire to learn.
PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Assist senior engineers with building, testing, and maintaining data pipelines that ingest, transform, and stage data from source systems into enterprise data repositories.
- Write, troubleshoot, and optimize SQL queries and views under the guidance of experienced engineers.
- Help implement data quality checks, logging, and documentation that keep pipelines reliable and understandable.
- Participate in standups, sprint planning, code reviews, and team source control practices, and shadow support ticket and on-call response.
- Complete an assigned project or deliverable and present the results to the data and analytics team.
EDUCATION AND WORK EXPERIENCE
- Currently enrolled in a bachelor's or master's degree program in Computer Science, Information Systems, Data Analytics, Data Science, Engineering, Mathematics, or a related field; undergraduate candidates at rising junior or senior standing preferred
- Coursework, academic or research projects, or prior internship experience involving databases, data analysis, or software development.
- Experience writing SQL queries against a relational database.
- Familiarity with at least one programming or scripting language, such as Python; exposure to cloud data platforms or version control tools such as Git is a plus.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES
- Foundational understanding of relational databases and core data concepts, including the ability to write and debug basic SQL.
- Interest in data pipelines, ETL/ELT concepts, and workflow automation, with a willingness to learn modern cloud data engineering tools.
- Strong problem-solving and analytical skills with attention to data accuracy and reliability
- Clear verbal and written communication, including comfort asking questions, raising issues early, and documenting work so that others can reuse it.
- Self-motivated and coachable, able to manage time and follow through on assigned tasks; friendly, team-oriented, and aligned with PEAKS values and organizational goals.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and/or skills required of all personnel so classified.
Summit offers competitive pay and medical/dental/vision and other benefits that provide flexibility, choice, and support to our employees when they need it most. We understand that home and family are essential pieces of your life, and our benefits are designed to support you both at work and at home.
Summit Utilities, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability or veteran status.
Skills Required
- Currently enrolled in a bachelor's or master's program in Computer Science, Information Systems, Data Analytics, Data Science, Engineering, Mathematics, or a related field
- Coursework, academic or research projects, or prior internship experience involving databases, data analysis, or software development
- Experience writing SQL queries against a relational database
- Familiarity with at least one programming or scripting language, such as Python
- Foundational understanding of relational databases and core data concepts
- Interest in data pipelines, ETL/ELT concepts, and workflow automation
- Strong problem-solving and analytical skills with attention to data accuracy and reliability
- Clear verbal and written communication skills
- Ability to manage time, follow through on assigned tasks, and work effectively on a team
- Rising junior or senior standing
- Exposure to cloud data platforms or version control tools such as Git
What We Do
Summit Utilities, Inc. is a privately-held holding company that owns and operates several natural gas distribution and transmission subsidiaries that operate in Arkansas, Colorado, Maine, Missouri, Oklahoma, and the Texarkana, Texas area. The company provides safe, clean and affordable natural gas to businesses and residents in six states through Arkansas Oklahoma Gas, Colorado Natural Gas, Summit Natural Gas of Maine, Summit Natural Gas of Missouri, Summit Utilities of Arkansas, and Summit Utilities of Oklahoma. Each of Summit’s natural gas distribution and transmission subsidiaries constructs and installs natural gas distribution systems with the goal of supporting economic development by providing clean-burning, safe and reliable natural gas to residential and commercial customers through exceptional customer service and commitment to community. Overall, Summit entities serve approximately 625,000 customers and operate more than 23,400 miles of pipeline. Being part of the Summit team means embracing excellence, diversity and innovation, committing to safety each and every day, and doing all that we can to serve each other, our customers and the communities where we live. We aim to bring warmth and energy to everything we do. To see our latest job openings, please visit: https://summitutilitiesinc.com/careers See also: Colorado Natural Gas at https://www.linkedin.com/company/colorado-natural-gas/ Summit Natural Gas of Missouri at https://www.linkedin.com/company/summit-natural-gas-of-missouri/ Summit Natural Gas of Maine at https://www.linkedin.com/company/summit-natural-gas-of-maine/ Arkansas Oklahoma Gas (AOG) at https://www.linkedin.com/company/arkansas-oklahoma-gas-corp./ and Summit Utilities https://www.linkedin.com/company/summit-utilities
