Internship helps Schulich student explore energy sector

For Yuri Lemermeyer, a final-year electrical engineering student at the Schulich School of Engineering, landing an internship at AltaLink wasn’t just luck, it was intentional. 

“I was pretty selective with my job applications,” says Lemermeyer. “I wanted to work in the energy sector, specifically in power systems, and AltaLink was a top choice. The interview went really well, and I was excited to join.” 

AltaLink, a Calgary-based transmission company, owns and operates more than 85 per cent of Alberta’s high-voltage transmission system. Lemermeyer’s role placed him on the life cycle-maintenance engineering team, where he contributed to long-term planning and asset strategy. 

Support from the Engineering Career Centre 

Lemermeyer says the university’s Engineering Career Centre (ECC) played a key role in helping him prepare for the opportunity. 

“The ECC helped connect me with AltaLink through the Elevate job portal,” says Lemermeyer. “They also helped me tailor my resume and prepare for the interview. It was a huge help.” 

The ECC connects students with industry partners and offers career support through workshops, career fairs and mentorship programs. 

Internship contributions and team impact 

Candice Perry, BSc (Eng)’05, manager of lifecycle maintenance engineering at AltaLink and a Schulich alum, says Lemermeyer quickly became a valuable member of her team. 

“Yuri’s enthusiasm stood out right away,” says Perry. “He was eager to learn, collaborative and took initiative. He supported our business-case leads, worked with Power BI software and helped us meet key deadlines for our regulatory filing.” 

Perry says Lemermeyer’s work contributed to the company’s general tariff application, which is submitted to the Alberta Utilities Commission. 

“He played a big role in helping us get our business cases across the finish line,” says Perry. 

Developing future engineers 

AltaLink offers a robust Engineer-in-Training (EIT) program that includes site visits, office rotations and field experience.  

Perry says the company is committed to supporting young engineers. 

“We actively recruit co-op and summer students,” says Perry. “Interns bring fresh perspectives and innovative thinking. They energize the team and help us see things differently.” 

She adds many interns return as full-time employees, and the company is always open to future collaborations with Schulich, including panels and mentorship opportunities. 

A well-rounded learning experience 

For Lemermeyer, the internship played a key role in helping him develop both technical and soft skills, including communication and presentation. 

“I had to present to managers and VPs, and that really boosted my confidence," says Lemermeyer. “It was a well-rounded learning experience that gave me a better understanding of what I’m interested in and where I might fit in the industry.” 

He encourages other students to pursue internships early in their academic careers. 

“An internship gives you a real taste of what you’ll be doing after graduation. It helps build skills you can’t get in school and gives you a head start,” says Lemermeyer.