Summer Internship - Civil Engineering - Site Development - Manchester

Arup; Manchester; On-site; GBP 96,000 - 191,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Mentoring from leadership

Site visits to local projects

Learning sessions

Social events

Job summary

Arup is offering a 6–12 week Summer Internship in Manchester, inviting you to work alongside experienced engineers on real projects. You will contribute to design, analysis, and reporting while exploring challenges with curiosity.

The program includes leadership sessions, site visits, and social events to support your development. We’re looking for second or third year Civil Engineering students with strong maths and science foundations and familiarity with AutoCAD/Civil 3D or MicroStation.

Qualifications

• Strong maths/science-based A Levels or equivalent.
• Second or third year at university pursuing Civil Engineering.
• Familiar with AutoCAD/Civil 3D or MicroStation; willingness to learn other tools.

Responsibilities

• Assist design and drafting on live projects with engineers.
• Prepare design reports, drawings, calculations, and specifications.
• Support site visits and client/stakeholder meetings as needed.
• Collaborate with disciplines to develop sustainable infrastructure solutions.

Skills

Maths & science

Critical thinking

Communication

Education

Second/Third year Civil Engineering student

Tools

AutoCAD/Civil 3D

MicroStation

InfoDrainage

GIS

ProjectWise

Job description

You see the world through a unique lens and that’s exactly what we need. We embrace how you see things differently – it’s essential for creating a sustainable future.

Arup is a global consultancy with advisory and technical expertise across more than 150 disciplines. We guide, plan and design the future of the built environment. Globally, each year we recruit hundreds of graduates and students who help us see things differently and solve the most complex challenges facing our clients, climate and communities.

The opportunity

On this 6–12-week Summer Internship, you'll work alongside skilled professionals and from day one be working on real life meaningful projects - adding add value to clients, while exploring challenges with curiosity and creativity. You'll learn from others and begin creating your professional network ready for when you graduate. There will be regular learning sessions with our leadership team, opportunities for site visits to local projects and all kinds of social events that will support your learning and development.

Our aim is to welcome as many students as possible back into our other programmes, be that another internship or potential graduate position. This placement is the stepping-stone to your future. Dedicated to sustainable development, Arup is a collective of designers, consultants and experts working globally. Founded to be humane and excellent, we collaborate with our clients and partners using imagination, technology, and rigour to shape a better world.

Arup's Civil Engineering teams excel through the wide-ranging nature of our work, bringing together expertise across numerous disciplines. Our teams engage in projects such as masterplanning, public realm enhancements, sustainable urban drainage solutions, earthworks, landscaping and site development for buildings, flooding and coastal risk management, utility co-ordination, water and wastewater treatment, and infrastructure development. We are also involved in data centre design, rail projects, energy initiatives (including energy infrastructure upgrades and renewable energy schemes) and highway design. From initial concept to construction, our teams contribute at every stage of projects, working with both public and private sector clients.

Our engineers take on a variety of roles within these projects. Typical positions include sustainable urban drainage engineer, site development engineer, water and wastewater engineer, flood risk/river engineer, highway engineer, utility diversions coordinator or engineering advisory roles. This diversity enables our engineers to gain broad experience and develop specialised skills across the civil engineering sector.

We believe that enthusiasm, collaboration, and clear communication underpin our achievements. Our teams value diverse perspectives, often acting as integrators or facilitators by working closely with colleagues from a wide range of backgrounds, as well as with clients, contractors, and statutory approval organisations. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone's contributions are welcomed and respected, helping us to deliver the best results for all.

Our teams deliver sustainable design services that address society's need to respond to the climate emergency. We help our clients to avoid and reduce carbon emissions, manage climate risk, improve natural capital, and enhance the resilience of their infrastructure to improve communities and their environment through efficient, well planned and considerate design.

You will work with a broad range of clients, such as national or local government and transport organisations, local authorities, contractors, energy and water companies, and private property developers.

You will also have the opportunity to undertake site visits and surveys, meet with clients and stakeholders, and collaborate with others both within and outside of Arup.

• Depending on your team, typical day-to-day tasks may include:
• Carrying out assessment, analysis, design, preparing design reports, drawings, calculations, and specifications.
• Developing infrastructure designs for projects and sites in the urban environment, including large-scale infrastructure, energy, water and wastewater, urban transport (rail and highways), site infrastructure, brownfield redevelopment, buildings projects, public realm, pavements, utilities and drainage design solutions.
• Collaborating with Arup colleagues in other disciplines to develop integrated and sustainable engineering designs.
• Meeting with clients, local authorities, and other stakeholders, including site visits.
• Using specialist analysis and design software such as AutoCAD/Civil 3D/Bentley MicroStation, InfoDrainage, GIS, ProjectWise, and use of AI/Data/Digital tools to support engineering design.

Joining Arup is an excellent opportunity for an placement at the start of your career to gain experience across a diverse range of projects and sectors. Arup will support your professional development, providing the necessary experience and training to deepen your skills and progress with your undergraduate studies.

Is this role right for you?

Do you fit the below criteria:

Strong maths/science-based A Levels / BTechs (or equivalent).

In your second or third year (if MEng)at university, working towards a strong second-class honours degree in Civil Engineering (or above), preferably with skills in AutoCAD/Civil 3D/MicroStation.

Alongside your degree, we look for the following core attributes;

• Changemakers: A passion for sustainable development and creating a better world is key.
• Innovative minds: We’re looking for critical thinkers who embrace new ideas and challenge the status quo.
• Growth seekers: You have a growth mindset, always eager to learn and explore new ways of working.
• Adaptable adventurers: You’re ready to take on any challenge that comes your way.
• Energy, collaboration, and effective communication: Fundamental to our success.

Advert Closing Date

12 November 2026

Please note, in the event of high applicant volume, this role may be closed ahead of the advertised closing date. Early application is recommended

What we offer you

At Arup, we care about each member’s success, so we can grow together.

Guided by our values, we provide an attractive total reward package that recognises the contribution of each of our members to our shared success. As well as competitive, fair and equitable pay, we offer a career in which all of our members can belong, grow and thrive – through benefits that support health and wellbeing, a wide range of learning opportunities and many possibilities to have an impact through the work they do.

We are owned in trust on behalf of our members, giving us the freedom, with personal responsibility, to set our own direction and choose work that aligns with our purpose and adds to Arup’s legacy. Our members collaborate on ambitious projects to deliver remarkable outcomes for our clients and communities. Profit Share is a key part of our reward, enabling permanent members to share in the results of our collective efforts.

We take an approach to flexible working that supports the diversity and wellbeing of our members.

Next steps

We've designed our application process to be straightforward and supportive, giving you the opportunity to showcase your skills and potential. Applications are reviewed as they're received, so we encourage you to apply as early as possible.

The process includes an online application, psychometric testing, application review, case study, interview and offer stage. Our friendly Early Careers team is available throughout the process to answer questions and help you feel confident every step of the way.

Different people shared values

Arup is an equal opportunity employer that actively promotes and nurtures a diverse and inclusive workforce. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, regardless of age (within legal limits), gender identity or expression, marital status, disability, neurotype or mental health, race or ethnicity, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, and whether you’re pregnant or on family leave. We are an open environment that embraces diverse experiences, perspectives, and ideas - this drives our excellence.

Guided by our values and alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, we create and contribute to equitable spaces and systems, while cultivating a sense of belonging for all. Our internal employee networks support our inclusive culture: from race, ethnicity and cross-cultural working to gender equity and LGBTQ+ and disability inclusion – we aim to create a space for you to express yourself and make a positive difference. Discover more about life at Arup at www.arup.com/careers/your-life-at-arup.

We are committed to making our recruitment process and workplaces accessible to all candidates. Please contact [e-mail] to let us know if you need any assistance or reasonable adjustments throughout your application or interview process, and/or to perform the essential functions of the role. We will do everything we can to support you.

As a Disability Confident Level 2 Employer in the UK, we will strive for one third of all our interview places to be allocated to candidates who have disclosed they are disability confident and best meet the requirements of the role.

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