Summer Placement Student - Ground Engineering - Leeds (Fy27)

Aecom; Ledston; On-site; GBP 12,000 - 18,000; Full time

Job summary

AECOM invites ambitious students for a Summer Placement in Ground Engineering based in Leeds. You will gain hands-on experience across desk studies, site inspections, data management, and 3D geological modelling under expert supervision.

You'll contribute to design support, geotechnical modelling, and tender documentation while collaborating with multidisciplinary teams and maintaining safety and environmental standards throughout. A clean driving licence is a plus.

Qualifications

• Pursuing a degree in Civil Engineering, Engineering Geology, or Geology with a 2:1 or higher expected.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office; experience with AutoCAD or Civil 3D is advantageous but not essential.
• Strong interest in geotechnics and enthusiasm for collaborating with multi-disciplinary colleagues and clients.
• Willingness to travel for work, including site visits and other AECOM offices.

Responsibilities

• Support Ground Investigation Projects, including desk studies, site inspections, rockface surveys, and geomorphological mapping.
• Assist data collection and interpretation of geological and geotechnical data using appropriate tools.
• Help prepare interpretative and design reports, ground models, and technical documentation.
• Contribute to design and assessment of foundations, retaining walls, slope stability, and earthworks under guidance.
• Develop skills in 2D and 3D numerical modelling using AECOM software packages.
• Assist in preparing Ground Engineering tender documents including Works Requirements and drawings.
• Collaborate with engineers, geologists and environmental specialists to deliver integrated solutions.
• Adhere to health, safety and sustainability considerations in project work.

Skills

MS Office

AutoCAD

Civil 3D

Geotechnical interest

English communication

Teamwork

Design computations

Health & safety awareness

Driving licence (clean)

Education

Civil Engineering / Engineering Geology / Geology degree

Tools

AutoCAD

Civil 3D

Job description

Our Ground Engineering team in the United Kingdom and Ireland (UK&I) comprises 150 professionals who provide a comprehensive range of services, including project management, feasibility studies, ground investigation design and interpretation, detailed design, contract administration, and construction supervision. We work on ground engineering projects across the UK&I and internationally, supporting both internal and external clients. Our primary focus areas include energy, water, nuclear (decommissioning and new build), power, road and rail, aviation, ports and harbours, as well as commercial and industrial developments, and landslip investigation and remediation.

We work for leading UK and International clients, including National Grid, BP, Sellafield, Associated British Ports, Transport Scotland, National Highways, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, Network Rail, and local authorities, as well as for prominent contractors and developers. Our impressive portfolio features a range of regional and national projects, such as the Great Grid Upgrade, STEP Fusion, pumped storage hydro projects in the Scottish Highlands, Snowdonia VIP, A83 Rest and be Thankful, M54-M6 Link Road, water schemes for various water utilities clients (UK&I) and HMNB Devonport redevelopment. Additionally, we are involved in overseas projects such as Eastlink in Sweden.

As a Ground Engineering intern at AECOM, you will contribute to a variety of projects, gaining hands-on experience in activities such as:

• Support Ground Investigation Projects – Assist with desk studies, site inspections, rockface surveys, and geomorphological mapping. Help plan and procure ground investigations, and support senior staff in supervising on-site activities.
• Data Collection and Analysis – Contribute to the gathering, management, and interpretation of geological and geotechnical data using tools such as Openground for data management and Leapfrog for 3D geological modelling.
• Technical Reporting – Assist in preparing interpretative and design reports, ground models, and technical documentation, ensuring accuracy and adherence to relevant guidelines and standards.
• Design Support – Help in the design and assessment of foundations, retaining walls, slope stability, earthworks, and rock slope stabilisation under the guidance of experienced engineers and geologists.
• Numerical Modelling – Develop skills in 2D and 3D numerical analysis using AECOM’s software packages, supporting geotechnical modelling and simulations.
• Tender Documentation – Assist in preparing Ground Engineering tender documents for construction. E.g., Works Requirements and drawings
• Collaboration and Teamwork – Work alongside multidisciplinary teams, including engineers, engineering geologists, and environmental specialists, to deliver integrated project solutions.
• Health, Safety, and Sustainability Awareness – Apply health and safety practices during site and office-based tasks, with consideration for environmental and sustainability principles in all project work.

Qualifications

• Currently pursuing a degree in Civil Engineering, Engineering Geology, or Geology, with an expected 2:1 classification (or equivalent) or higher.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office; experience with AutoCAD or Civil 3D is advantageous but not essential.
• Strong interest in geotechnics and enthusiasm for engaging with multi-disciplinary colleagues and clients.
• Willing to travel for work, including visits to project sites and possibly other AECOM offices.
• Effective communicator in English, skilled in writing, presenting, creating drawings, and preparing reports.
• Highly organised, able to prioritise tasks, and work collaboratively within a team or independently with initiative.
• Creative, practical, and detail-oriented, with a methodical approach to problem-solving, planning, and design.
• Comfortable using computers for design work and calculations.
• Driven to achieve excellent results for clients and the business, while balancing project goals, budgets, and timelines.
• Aware of health & safety, environmental, and sustainability considerations in engineering.
• A clean driving licence is a plus but not essential.

Additional Information

• Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible, as CVs will be reviewed, and candidates selected on a rolling recruitment basis for either immediate or advanced offer starts.
• Please include a covering letter with your application, detailing all predicted and/or obtained academic grades, the dates you are able to work (to/from), and the locations you are interested in.
• We support and encourage office attendance across all grades to foster a collaborative working culture and facilitate on-the-job learning for early career staff.
• You must have the right to work in the UK.

At AECOM, we are committed to maintaining a secure and trustworthy recruitment process and take any fraudulent hiring activity seriously. To support this commitment, all newly hired employees are required to attend an in-person Day 1 onboarding at an AECOM office location as a condition of employment.

About AECOM

AECOM is the world’s trusted infrastructure consulting firm, delivering professional services throughout the project lifecycle – from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. On projects spanning transportation, buildings, water, new energy and the environment, our public- and private-sector clients trust us to solve their most complex challenges. Our teams are driven by a common purpose to deliver a better world through our unrivaled technical and digital expertise, a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion, and a commitment to environmental, social and governance priorities. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm and its Professional Services business had revenue of $16.1 billion in fiscal year 2025. See how we are delivering sustainable legacies for generations to come at aecom.com and @AECOM.

Freedom to Grow in a World of Opportunity

You will have the flexibility you need to do your best work with hybrid work options. Whether you’re working from an AECOM office, remote location or at a client site, you will be working in a dynamic environment where your integrity, entrepreneurial spirit and pioneering mindset are championed.

You will help us foster a safe and respectful workplace, where we invite everyone to bring their whole selves to work using their unique talents, backgrounds and expertise to create transformational outcomes for our clients.

AECOM provides a wide array of compensation, benefits and well-being programs to meet the diverse needs of our employees and their families. We’re the world’s trusted global infrastructure firm, and we’re in this together – your growth and success are ours too.

Join us, and you’ll get all the benefits of being a part of a global, publicly traded firm – access to industry-leading technology and thinking and transformational work with big impact and work flexibility. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in each person’s potential, and we’ll help you reach yours.

We are a Disability Confident Employer and will offer an interview to applicants who have a disability or long-term condition, who meet the minimum/essential criteria for the role. Please let us know using this email address [e-mail] if you would like to apply through the Disability Confident Interview Scheme.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

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Summer Placement Student - Ground Engineering - Leeds (FY27) Leeds, England, United Kingdom