Summer Placement - Civil Engineer - Infrastructure - Manchester Manchester, United Kingdom

Buro Happold group.; Manchester; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 24,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global engineering firm is looking for a current student to join their Infrastructure team for an 8-week paid placement in Manchester during Summer 2026. The role involves working on diverse infrastructure projects, promoting sustainability and collaboration within a progressive engineering environment. Ideal candidates will be studying Civil Engineering and have a passion for design and problem-solving. The opportunity includes flexible working hours and the chance to grow within the engineering field.

Benefits

Competitive reward package

Flexibility in working hours

Opportunity for international travel

Qualifications

• Current student in Civil Engineering.
• Enthusiasm for engineering design and sustainability.
• Desire to engage actively with colleagues.

Responsibilities

• Work with a diverse range of infrastructure projects.
• Assist with problem-solving and coordination.
• Contribute to multi-disciplinary project teams.

Skills

Passion for engineering design

Interest in sustainability

Team collaboration

Education

Currently studying towards a Civil Engineering degree

Job description

Number of Positions

1

Contract Type

Fixed Term Contract

Real Living Wage

Working Hours

37.5

Location

Manchester

Closing Date

31/01/2026

Job Category

Early Careers

Business Unit

UK+ Infrastructure

Your next role

We have an exciting opportunity for a current student to join our Infrastructure team, based in our vibrant office in Manchester.

At Buro Happold we offer an integrated multi-disciplinary service throughout the whole project life cycle, from planning through to design and implementation. We take pride in working closely with clients, collaborators and stakeholders to deliver cost-effective and sustainable outcomes. Recognising that infrastructure is often the “glue” that binds developments together, we aim to take a proactive approach to problem solving and coordination.

We are a truly global company with our offices and live projects spanning the world. We work with leading architects, project managers, contractors, local and national authorities and developers and are currently working on some of the most exciting projects in the UK and around the world. We can offer fantastic career opportunities and the chance to be at the cutting edge of creativity in the built environment. Our project portfolio and global initiative provides excellent opportunities for international travel.

What sort of projects do the Infrastructure team work on?

The work the Infrastructure team undertakes is diverse in terms of scale, location, development type and the point at which we are engaged through the life of the project. We strive to ensure that our placement students are given the opportunity to work across a varied portfolio of projects to broaden your skills during the early stages of your career.

Our expertise ranges from city-scale master planning through to campus and building-scale development infrastructure. Here are some of the projects that we are currently engaged on:

Regeneration – Buro Happold has provided engineering solutions for a number of key regeneration projects in the UK such as the redevelopment of the iconic Battersea Power Station where, alongside providing the development’s infrastructure solutions, we led the design of two new tube stations and their integration into the surrounding development, unlocking a new transport solution for the site and wider Vauxhall Elms and Battersea opportunity area.

Public Realm Improvements – our infrastructure team works closely with landscape architects to deliver high quality public realm such as Mayfield in Manchester, a landmark regeneration project that has transformed a derelict area of central Manchester into the first new public park on the banks of the River Medlock in more than a century.

Stadia and Arena – Claimed to be the largest building construction project currently in the UK, our team has been busy with the start on site at Everton. We have been working on this project providing all infrastructure design from site selection stage through to our current engagement for the contractor, as their designer. We have also overseen the completion of the new Compton and Edrich stands at Lord’s Cricket Ground. Our team has also been designing the new Co-op arena in Manchester – the largest capacity indoor arena in Europe, which has just started on site.

Healthcare – we recently have delivered two large masterplan projects for Hamad Medical Corporation in Qatar working alongside international architects for whole city districts. In parallel we were engaged on an exciting research project for the same client to define a prototype for the Hospital of the Future, a very topical subject in the current climate. We are also currently working with the Guys and St Thomas Trust in London, Hampshire Hospital Trust and a community hospital in London.

We would like to hear from you if:

• You are currently studying toward a Civil Engineering degree
• You have a passion and enthusiasm for engineering design, sustainability and making a meaningful contribution to society
• You show a real interest in the projects being worked on, like to understand where your contribution fits
• You want to actively engage with colleagues on work projects and see the value of learning from and sharing knowledge with them.

When you join Buro Happold you are embedded in a fun engineering family that supports your career development.

We place great importance on having a safe and inclusive environment and will seek to make any arrangements that may be required to enable all who work with us to thrive. We have flexible working hours and hybrid working, and welcome applications from all backgrounds and walks of life. If you have any questions about how this could apply to your specific circumstances, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.

What's in it for you?

A plethora of interesting and challenging projects to stretch your professional skills, a friendly and close knit team, flexible working and a competitive reward package. The opportunity to work on multidisciplinary projects alongside a range of specialist engineers, scientists and designers both within Buro Happold and our collaborators.

Application Process

The recruitment timeline can vary depending on the role and team you are applying to. Successful applications are progressed to interview stage within 2-3 months from the closing date of the advert. We will endeavour to keep you informed throughout the time that your application is being considered, however, due to the volume of applications received and the size of our team, we are not able to respond to individual requests for status updates.

This is a paid role for current university students for an 8‑week placement taking place during Summer 2026. Exact dates can be flexible depending on candidate and team availability.

The annual salary for this placement will be in line with the UK Real Living Wage.

Buro Happold values an individual's flexible approaches to working patterns as an important part of how 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. We are particularly keen to hear from anyone who feels they are underrepresented in the industry. We have much to learn from one another. Embracing differences allows us to develop the most innovative and elegant solutions.

Please let us know if there are any adjustments we could make to the application process to make it easier and more comfortable for you. Contact [e-mail] so we can work with you to support you throughout your application.