Intern - Building Performance Engineering

Buro Happold; Riyadh; Hybrid; SAR 13,000 - 27,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working arrangements

Salary and benefits package

Job summary

Buro Happold is offering a Building Performance Engineering Intern role in the Middle East Buildings Environment team. The internship focuses on sustainable design, energy efficiency, and net-zero strategies, with hands-on modelling and analysis under supervision.

You will work with engineers, architects, and sustainability consultants, contributing to real projects while developing practical skills in energy data analytics, daylighting, and thermal comfort.

Qualifications

• Current student or recent graduate in one of the listed disciplines.
• Interest in building performance and net‑zero design.
• Basic understanding of building services and energy systems.
• Interest in energy modelling, building simulation and data-led decisions.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with eagerness to learn new software.

Responsibilities

• Assist with energy and carbon modelling using tools such as IES-VE.
• Support thermal comfort assessments and façade optimisation studies.
• Analyse daylight, natural ventilation, and mixed-mode ventilation strategies.
• Assist with sustainability assessments against LEED, WELL, Mostadam, Estidama and Passivhaus.
• Support post-occupancy evaluations, energy modelling, energy audits and reviews.
• Conduct research on sustainable building technologies and net‑zero strategies.
• Prepare calculations, presentations, reports and project documentation under supervision.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams including engineers, architects and sustainability consultants.
• Develop awareness of Health and Safety requirements.

Skills

Building performance

Energy modelling

Analytical thinking

English communication

Team collaboration

Curiosity/learning mindset

Programming/data analysis

Education

Building Services or MEP Engineering

Mechanical Engineering

Electrical Engineering

Environmental Engineering

Architectural Engineering

Sustainability-related discipline

Tools

IES-VE

Rhino/Grasshopper

Energy data analytics

Job description

Join our Middle East Buildings Environment team as a Building Performance Engineering Intern and gain practical experience in sustainable design, energy efficiency, and building performance.

Here at Buro Happold, expect the exceptional.

From the projects you will work on to the clients we work with. From career-defining opportunities to an inclusive and diverse practice where we all contribute to a more equitable world. From our reputation to our relationships. Wherever your Buro Happold career takes you, it’ll be anything but ordinary.

Your next role

Buro Happold has a clear strategic plan, strong learning culture and entrepreneurial mindset that will allow you to thrive.

You’ll be part of something bigger than us all where sustainability, equity, social and performance outcomes matter. All of Buro Happold is committed to doing the right thing, even when that’s the hardest thing. This is a genuine opportunity to make impact - and leave real legacy.

Your key duties

We are seeking a motivated and enthusiastic intern who is interested in building performance engineering and sustainable, net-zero carbon design. This internship offers an opportunity to develop practical knowledge of how buildings can be designed and operated to improve energy efficiency, occupant comfort, health, and well‑being.

• Assisting with energy and carbon modelling using tools such as IES‑VE.
• Supporting thermal comfort assessments and façade optimisation studies.
• Helping analyse daylight, natural ventilation, passive cooling, and mixed-mode ventilation strategies.
• Assisting with sustainability assessments against frameworks such as LEED, WELL, Mostadam, Estidama, and Passivhaus.
• Supporting post‑occupancy evaluations, operational energy modelling, energy audits, and building‑performance reviews.
• Conducting research on sustainable building technologies, climate resilience, energy data analytics, and net‑zero carbon strategies.
• Preparing technical calculations, presentations, reports, and project documentation under supervision.
• Collaborating with multidisciplinary project teams, including building‑services engineers, architects, sustainability consultants, and project managers.
• Developing awareness of workplace and site Health and Safety requirements.

Your Skills And Experience

We are looking for a current student or recent graduate in one of the following disciplines:

• Building Services or MEP Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Architectural Engineering, Engineering Design or Engineering Science, Physics, Sustainability, or a related discipline.
• A genuine interest in building performance, sustainability, energy efficiency, and net‑zero carbon design.
• Basic understanding of building services, energy systems, HVAC principles, or environmental design.
• Interest in energy modelling, building simulation, and data‑led design decisions.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, with an eagerness to learn new software and technical methods.
• Good written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a collaborative team.
• A positive, proactive, and professional approach to learning and contributing to project work.
• Awareness of the importance of Health and Safety in an office and construction‑site environment.

Preferred Skills

• Basic familiarity with IES‑VE or other building-performance simulation tools.
• Exposure to Rhino, Grasshopper, or parametric modelling tools.
• Awareness of sustainability certification systems such as LEED, WELL, Mostadam, Estidama, or Passivhaus.
• Basic knowledge of energy‑efficiency standards and guidance, such as ASHRAE 90.1, CIBSE TM54, NABERS‑UK, or ISO 50001.
• Interest in HVAC controls, energy metering, building‑management systems, and operational energy performance.
• Interest in coding, data analytics, machine learning, or automation for sustainable building design.
• Previous university projects, coursework, or research relating to environmental design, energy, carbon, or building performance.

What We Offer You

• Bring your knowledge and expertise to one of the world’s most respected consultancies.
• Hybrid working arrangements
• Attractive salary and benefits package
• A strong commitment to your continuous development. Whatever stage in your career, we have a learning and development programme that will enable and empower you
• Entitlement to two memberships to professional bodies or subscriptions
• An international culture that wherever your career takes you at Buro Happold, you won’t be far from the exceptional.

At Buro Happold, everyone else’s extraordinary is just our everyday. Apply today and be a part of our legacy.

A place for everyone

Buro Happold values individual’s flexible approaches to working patterns as an important part of the way you work and achieve balance. We welcome applications from those who are seeking flexibility in their careers.

Our exceptional portfolio of projects is the result of the diversity of thought, identities, backgrounds and experiences that shape us. Appreciating each other’s differences is key, we want employees to feel they don’t have to mask elements of their identity to thrive.

We are working to change the lack of representation of marginalised groups in the built environment and are particularly keen to hear from anyone who feels they are underrepresented in the industry. We have much to learn from one another. Embracing difference allows us to develop the most innovative and elegant solutions.