Recruiting the next generation of public health professionals presents persistent challenges. The Commissioned Officer Student Training and Extern Program (COSTEP) is the internship program for students interested in the US Public Health Service (PHS). Historically, recruitment efforts depended on word of mouth and in-person university career fairs, which required significant officer travel and preparation but yielded limited results. To support a growing need for engineers and bridge the recruitment gaps in the engineering category, a strike team of six PHS engineer officers piloted a new approach that leveraged digital platforms to increase visibility, broaden outreach, and engage engineering candidates for the COSTEP internship nation-wide. Methods: The team’s primary strategy for recruitment was targeted online engagement. Using Handshake, a career networking platform already trusted by universities and students, the team connected directly with prospective applicants across the country. In addition, the strike team organized a series of interactive webinars, featuring PHS engineers who presented on career opportunities and answered participant questions in real time. These sessions provided prospective interns with both guidance and personal insights, helping them envision a future serving in public health. Results: Within a single year, recruitment increased more than 330% from 6 to 26 engineering interns. These interns came from 19 states and 17 universities and were placed at three agencies across 22 sites in 15 states, supporting projects that benefited more than 4 million national park visitors and 400 federally recognized tribes. Candidate feedback highlighted two key strengths of the new approach: the accessibility of online platforms and the value of authentic, direct interaction with recruiters. Importantly, this success was achieved by a small strike team of only six officers, underscoring that effective digital engagement can multiply impact without requiring large manpower or travel budgets. Conclusion: Organic interest alone is not enough to attract students to public health internships. The increase in engineering applicants and participants in the COSTEP internship resulted from intentional efforts—well-designed materials, clear and timely programming, a focus on the student experience, and genuine connections between students and engineers. This initiative shows that modernized recruitment can significantly improve outcomes in a competitive market. While this effort targeted engineers, the strategies and lessons learned are applicable across all PHS categories and beyond to strengthen the future federal healthcare workforce.