Summer Intern - Civil Engineer

Arcadis; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Arcadis is seeking motivated engineering students for its paid intern or placement programme. You will join civil engineering teams across highways, rail and water, gaining hands-on experience on projects from local schemes to international developments.

You will learn to design using Civil 3D/OpenRoads/BIM, while applying resilience, creativity and analytical thinking to real-world challenges and site-based work where required.

Qualifications

• Working towards a degree in civil or structural engineering.
• Demonstrates resilience, creativity, analytical thinking and teamwork.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to influence stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Support design of civil infrastructure across highways, rail, energy and water sectors.
• Work with multidisciplinary teams on local and international projects.
• Gain hands-on experience through real projects and site visits.
• Learn about project delivery, contracts and commercial constraints.

Skills

Resilience

Creativity

Analytical Thinking

Team Player

Education

BEng Civil Engineering

MEng Civil/Structural Engineering (Rail track)

Tools

Civil 3D

OpenRoads

BIM

Job description

Application Closing Date: 6 November 2026 - Please note we reserve the right to close roles sooner, so Early Application is encouraged.

Arcadis is the world's leading company delivering sustainable design, engineering, and consultancy solutions for natural and built assets.

We are more than 34,000 people, in over 30 countries, dedicated to improving quality of life. Everyone has an important role to play. With the power of many curious minds, together we can solve the world’s most complex challenges and deliver more impact together.

Role description

Our paid Intern & Placement programme is designed to give you a hands‑on insight into the work we do as a company and help to develop skills and knowledge within your chosen field. Supported by signposted training, the programme is based on Arcadis’ core values, giving you both technical training and support to help you develop both personally and professionally whilst with us. You will be exposed to real projects and clients and given a range of experiences to immerse yourself into over the course of your 10–12‑week internship or 12‑month placement.

As an engineer joining Arcadis, you will be given the opportunity to specialise within your chosen discipline of engineering and we ensure you obtain the appropriate experiences that you need to become a technical expert. Being an Engineer at Arcadis is about applying a human filter to all your technical expertise and training, and making an impact through innovation and creativity.

Role accountabilities

Our civil engineering teams work across highways, rail, energy, and water, delivering safe, high‑quality, and sustainable design solutions for clients and communities. As a Placement student, you will be supported and mentored while contributing to projects ranging from local schemes to major international developments. You will work with diverse, multidisciplinary teams and work on projects to compliment your Academic learning to date.

Using advanced software and digital tools, you will design new infrastructure, and in many cases assess existing assets for repair or reuse. Gaining hands‑on experience across sectors, applying your knowledge to real‑world challenges. You will learn about project delivery models, contracts, and commercial constraints, while collaborating with other disciplines and attending site visits to ensure your designs are safe, buildable, and sustainable. Civil engineers are central to tackling the climate emergency, therefore you will help deliver resilient, low‑carbon solutions, contributing to maximising environmental, social and economic impact.

Our work varies and covers projects of all scales across the different sectors;

• As a civil engineer in highways and transportation, you will help shape the future of transport infrastructure—designing safe, sustainable, and innovative solutions that connect people and communities. You will work on a wide array of infrastructure such as roads, junctions, bridges, and active travel routes. Your role may include designing foundations, earthworks, retaining structures or drainage systems using tools like Civil 3D, OpenRoads, and BIM.
• As a civil engineer in rail, you will help design and deliver the infrastructure that supports the railway network. From station infrastructure, and bridges, to utility crossings, drainage, safe access and support structures for railway systems. Your work will span a wide range of civil engineering challenges. You will collaborate across disciplines in a complex, safety‑critical environment, integrating designs that meet strict rail standards and health and safety requirements. Using latest digital tools and engineering software, you will help develop solutions that are resilient, and future‑ready. Your contributions will directly impact the reliability and sustainability of rail transport. You will gain experience across all stages of project delivery, from concept to construction, and work on both UK and international projects that shape the future of rail, including light rail and tram systems.

No matter the sector, our programme is an opportunity for you to grow your skills and ability in the delivery of sustainable solutions. The work will involve some site work visits and inspections.

Accepted degrees

• Roles within Highways and Transportation are open to candidates with either a BEng or MEng in Civil or Structural Engineering
• Roles within Rail you must be working towards an MEng in Civil or Structural Engineering.

Qualifications & Experience

• You will be working towards a degree in a relevant subject
• You will demonstrate typical Arcadian skills including Resilience, Creativity, Analytical Thinking and being a Team Player
• You will have excellent communication skills and the ability to use your technical knowledge to influence and consult stakeholders.
• Willing to travel and stay away from homewhen required (where possible we embrace virtual working)
• Comfortable with Site based working, when required for projects

Why Arcadis?

We can only achieve our goals when everyone is empowered to be their best. We believe everyone's contribution matters. It’s why we are pioneering a skills‑based approach, where you can harness your unique experience and expertise to carve your career path and maximize the impact we can make together.

You’ll do meaningful work, and no matter what role, you’ll be helping to deliver sustainable solutions for a more prosperous planet. Make your mark, on your career, your colleagues, your clients, your life and the world around you.

Together, we can create a lasting legacy.

Join Arcadis. Create a Legacy.

Our Commitment to Equality, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging

We want you to be able to bring your best self to work every day which is why we take equality and inclusion seriously and hold ourselves to account for our actions. Our ambition is to be an employer of choice and provide a great place to work for all our people. We believe that by working together diverse people with different experiences develop the most innovative ideas. Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the heart of how we improve quality of life and we work closely with our people across six ED&I Workstreams: Age, Disability, Faith, Gender, LGBT+ and Race. A diverse and skilled workforce is essential to our success.