Reaching out to you

We consistently visit spring and fall engineering career fairs at various universities, along with othe college career fairs across the state. Several of our interns have become full time employees, including one who is now a Vice President!

Along with other Kansas electric cooperatives, Sunflower partners with Kansas State University to introduce students to career opportunities in the utility industry. We do this by offering trips to field locations so that our students can explore and learn about generation and distribution facilities all over Kansas.

Sunflower employees serve on advisory boards for Flint Hills Technical College, Pratt Community College, Cloud County Community College, and Fort Hays State University and have mentored students at Garden City High School. In 2014 and 2015, the Kansas Board of Regents declared Sunflower on the Champion Level for its support of students.

Internship Opportunities

Engineering Internships – These are paid summer internships at our facilities across central and western Kansas. You must be currently enrolled as a junior or senior in a bachelor-level engineering program at an ABET institution.

Generation Engineering Intern (ChemE, ME, IE, EE, CE)
Planning Engineering Intern (EE)
Transmission Engineering Intern (EE)
Structural Design Engineering Intern (CE)

Ernie Pfeifer, computer systems administrator at Sunflower Electric Power Corporation, right, works with Zach Young, a Sunflower intern, as they work together on a server on Friday, July 20, 2018, at the Sunflower's office in Hays. (Photo by Steven Hausler, Sunflower Electric Power Corporation)

Coal Operations Intern – This is a paid, four-week summer internship at Holcomb Station. To be considered, you must be enrolled in a Power Plant Technology program at an accredited school. You will get to assist with hands-on opportunities to learn various aspects of power plant equipment and performance.

Line Technician Intern – This is a paid summer internship at one of our transmission facilities. A high school diploma is required. Completion of a recognized Line Technician Program is preferred.

Relay Technician Intern – This is a paid summer internship at one of our transmission facilities. A high school diploma is required. An associate’s degree in industrial electrical, instrument and control, or electronics field is preferred.

Other Internships have been offered in these departments:

Computer Systems
Human Resources
Substation Technician
Transmission Technician (Drafting)

Our internships give students hands-on experience in their fields of study. Students may get to travel across our service territory to see how their role fits in with the rest of the company and our Members. Some of our interns even have the responsibility of going out with our crews in the middle of the night for emergency or storm situations!

Apprenticeship Programs

Lineman from Sunflower Electric Power Corporation work to repair power lines damaged in a spring thunderstorm on 5-9-13 north of Great Bend. (Photo by Steven Hausler)

Sunflower has several full-time apprenticeship programs that are different from our internships. Apprenticeships are common in our field positions, including line, relay, substation, and metering. They are comprised of a four-year training program, which requires bookwork, quizzes, tests, and/or hands-on labs. In addition, the employees are required to earn on-the-job experience. In addition, each apprentice is expected to reach journey level at the end of the fourth-year training period.

Career Paths

Electric cooperatives need employees for all types of positions. Find out what career pathways lead to successful careers at electric cooperatives.