Summer Intern - Civil Engineering - Energy, Water & Resources - Southampton

This job is with ARUP, an inclusive employer and a member of myGwork – the largest global platform for the LGBTQ+ business community.

See it differently. 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 Civil Engineering team apply their expertise of utilities, drainage, highways and earthworks to design and deliver resilient infrastructure across energy, water, transport and other sectors. From flood defences and low-carbon energy systems to sustainable urban environments, we combine technical expertise and creativity to solve complex challenges and shape a built environment that supports communities and a low carbon future.

The Opportunity: On this 6-12 week Internship you'll work alongside skilled professionals and from day one you will be working on real life meaningful projects - adding 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 Civil Engineering teams thrive on the diversity of our work. Projects undertaken by our teams include highway and public realm design, masterplanning, sustainable urban drainage, flood risk and alleviation, flooding and coastal risk management schemes, river restoration, utilities co-ordination, water and wastewater treatment and infrastructure, rail and energy related projects (including offshore wind, tidal, hydrogen and solar projects). We often play a key role in large-scale, multi-disciplinary infrastructure projects, involved from the initial concept stage through to detailed design and construction for both public and private sector clients.

Our Industrial Placement Engineers work in diverse roles such as river and coastal and maritime engineering, dams and reservoirs, sustainable urban drainage, green infrastructure, tunnels, brownfield regeneration, site development, water or wastewater infrastructure and treatment, offshore wind structural and geotechnical design, renewables engineering advisory including floating offshore wind, tidal and hydrogen projects. Energy, collaboration, and effective communication are fundamental to our success. Our teams often act as integrators or facilitators, working closely with internal specialists and external bodies, including clients, contractors, and statutory approval organisations. 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 government and transport organisations, the Environment Agency, energy companies and developers, local authorities, contractors, and water companies, as well as private 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.

In the Civil Engineering team, typical day-to-day tasks may include:

• Carrying out assessment, analysis, and design, supporting the preparation of design reports, drawings, calculations, and specifications.
• Collaborating with Arup colleagues in other disciplines.
• Working with landscape architects, environmental specialists, and planners.
• Involvement in meetings with clients, local authorities, and other stakeholders, including site visits.
• Specifying and analysing survey information and constraints for solution development.
• Developing and appraising options and supporting the production of engineering solutions and business cases.
• Partaking in sustainability reviews, producing low/zero carbon strategies, embodied carbon calculations, carbon implementation plans, materials assessments, sustainability related studies, reporting and design.
• Undertaking feasibility studies, preparing engineering sketches and technical reports.
• Creating digital solutions to manipulate, analyse, and report on large and complex datasets.
• Using specialist analysis and design software such as Microdrainage/Infodrainage, GIS, AutoCAD/Civil 3D/Bentley MicroStation, ProjectWise, Navisworks, Flood Modeller, Tuflow, DHI packages, InfoWorks, Orcaflex, Python, LS-DYNA.

Joining Arup is an excellent opportunity for an Industrial Placement Engineer to gain experience across a diverse range of projects and sectors, providing a platform to begin your professional journey and develop the skills, knowledge, and networks that will shape your future career.

Is this role right for you? We're looking for candidates with curiosity, personal drive and technical know-how. If you can combine these skills with an understanding of and willingness to learn about the Civil Engineering sector, and you have a desire to deliver excellent services for clients, we'd like to hear from you.

We're looking for the following qualifications, attributes and skills:

• Partly completed a degree in Civil Engineering or relevant Engineering degree or equivalent, expecting a 2:1 or above.
• Enthusiasm for a career in Civil Engineering, underpinned by a knowledge and understanding of our sector and work.
• Strong numerical skills and excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• A good communicator who thrives on working either on your own or in a team environment.
• Drive for technical excellence and an analytical thought process.
• Creativity and a desire to think beyond the norm.
• Aptitude to work on your own initiative, be proactive and take responsibility.
• Have a willingness to learn new skills and a desire to deliver high quality work for a range of Clients.
• Have a passion for creating a sustainable future for all and Shaping a Better World.
• Wish to explore how digital methods and automation can improve and enhance the work we deliver.

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.

Advert Closing Date: 18 December 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 graduates.

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, 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.

We are committed to making our recruitment process and workplaces accessible to all candidates. Please contact UKEarlyCareersRecruitment@arup.com 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.