Engineering jobs in Ireland: Build your legacy on major projects

I'm Kevin, a Director at AtkinsRéalis Ireland, where I lead a 250-strong team delivering multi-discipline design services across aviation, water, energy, and buildings & places. My background is in civil and structural engineering. With nearly two decades of experience as a project engineer, manager and director, I've overseen everything from standard reinforced concrete design to complex stakeholder engagements on national infrastructure projects.

Today, me and my team's focus is on growth. We're strengthening our capacity to deliver Ireland's most vital projects, while creating careers people are proud of. For me, it's about culture, opportunity and legacy – making sure nobody leaves the office thinking they didn't get the chance to work on something impactful.

Ireland's infrastructure moment is now, and we are delivering both client-side and as design partners on programmes that will define the next decade and beyond. If you want real ownership of the infrastructure projects defining the future of Ireland, AtkinsRéalis is where to take your career.

Major infrastructure projects shaping Ireland's future

The team at AtkinsRéalis Ireland is playing a central role in delivering the National Development Plan, which represents over €100 billion in capital infrastructure over the next five years. High-profile projects, like Metrolink, daa Capital Investment Plan, Water Supply Project and DART+, are shaping the country's future. We're proud to be a team, based in Ireland, delivering these projects for Ireland.

Engineering careers in Ireland: We're looking for leaders

Over the past three years, we've doubled in size – and we've done it without losing our entrepreneurial edge. People here are encouraged to put their hands up for opportunities that excite them, to bring forward ideas and to challenge the status quo.

When you join us here in Ireland, we'll ensure you have the support and opportunities to challenge yourself, develop your skills and demonstrate what you're truly capable of.

If you show you're ready, we'll give you early exposure to the demands we face as a growing business in an exciting market: whether that's leading bids, strengthening client relationships, or presenting on International Internships. Trust is how we build future leaders.

When I say we want to hire leaders, I mean we want to find them at every level, whether you're an early-careers team member learning your trade, someone taking the next step to owning and overseeing delivery or ready to take on the challenge of shaping and steering our business for the next ten years. We want you.

One of our Associate Directors joined us just four years ago as a project engineer. Others are coming through international training programmes, or stepping into major programme delivery once they demonstrate ability and appetite for the challenge. Here, your advancement isn't determined by tenure – it's about your capabilities and where you want to take them.

Why work at AtkinsRéalis Ireland vs other engineering firms?

AtkinsRéalis Ireland is no "shopfront" for the global organization.  Irish talent delivers here; we are local teams who know the terrain. Our offices in Dublin, Cork, Galway and Dundalk work closely with clients and communities, while drawing on UK and global resources when needed to support on projects of international significance. And equally, we're driving innovations for implementation across the AtkinsRéalis global business. For example, our work on BIM in Ireland helped shape approaches that are now used more widely across AtkinsRéalis.

As far as opportunities go, we're significantly expanding our capabilities and market presence. We're already delivering across buildings, transport, water, energy and aviation, and we're scaling quickly. At Dublin Airport, for example, we're delivering ground-breaking work as part of a €2.9 billion capital investment programme – from sustainably designed lounges to high-efficiency airside upgrades. We're also actively delivering large bundled school projects and offshore substations for wind energy, and we have a team of over 100 people working with Uisce Éireann to expand water and wastewater infrastructure nationally. There's real opportunity here for people with an entrepreneurial mindset to help us expand further into these sectors. 

Engineering culture in Ireland: Flexibility, wellbeing and support

While we're focused on growth, we're also proud of our culture. As a diverse group, we enjoy each other's unique perspectives and experiences. On a daily basis, I sit on the floor with the team and maintain strong relationships across every part and experience level in the business. The way I see it, if I don't make time for my people, they won't make time for each other. So, we Talk. We debate. And over the years, we've formed close bonds. That openness and community ethos is what makes us different from a corporate machine. The team continues to ensure that everyone feels included and valued.

"Looking up, not down" is a mindset we try to instill across the team: if everyone takes just 5% off their line managers' desks, it frees up leaders to look ahead instead of always looking down or backwards. Rising to meet challenges is how we identify the people with true leadership potential – and that always comes with the team's support.

There's no getting away from the fact that we work in a high-pressure sector. But we work in cycles, recognizing the need to step off the gas and recover. We call this balance between high- and low-intensity work the "Wobbly Line".  It's central to getting the best out of our people in a way that's sustainable for the long term – keeping everyone motivated, safe and mentally well. This is underpinned by our wellbeing programme called Thrive, which is attended by all the senior leaders of our business.

We also offer agile and flexible working, flexible holidays, and an annual international working allowance. It's a great benefit, especially for our growing group of international team members with family back home in places like India, South Africa and Eastern Europe.

Engineering jobs in Ireland: Civil, structural, environmental

We're hiring across all disciplines – civil, structural, architectural, water, mechanical and electrical. However, there are a few areas where we're particularly keen to grow: environmental roles, design managers, project coordinators, and digitally minded professionals who bring something special to the table.

But above all, we're looking for leaders. Whether you're starting out or stepping into senior roles, we want people who are ready to shape the future with us. People who think in outcomes, not just deliverables. Women and men who see the bigger picture of what infrastructure excellence  makes possible. If that's you, you'll thrive here.