Ground Engineering and Tunnelling Placement Scheme 2025

Choose a sustainable future

Do you want to join a team that asks questions and dares to see things differently? A team that is engineering a better future for our planet and its people.

We are AtkinsRéalis, a world-class engineering services and nuclear organisation. When you join us, you'll help create world-class sustainable solutions that connect people, data, and technology. We're transforming infrastructure and energy systems, growing partnerships with our clients, and bringing the most complex projects across the globe to life.

Our global team of 36,000+ employees speak over 70 languages and represents 130 nationalities across six continents. Our work covers a variety of sectors, including transportation, infrastructure, environment, water, energy, defence, technology and aerospace.

Join our Placement Scheme where you'll be trusted with complex work and supported by your peers, line managers and senior leaders. Through a combination of on-the-job learning and practical skills development within your chosen role, you’ll work on real projects from day one that offer scale and variety collaborating with others and creating meaningful impact on the world around us.

With our excellent training and a supportive environment, you'll thrive in great company.

Reaching your full potential means being able to bring your whole self to work and being respected for the different opinions, strengths and experience you bring. We’re not all the same, and that’s our greatest strength. Find out more about why we believe 'Different, makes a difference’.

Where you could work

You can join the following business areas:

Infrastructure:

As an Engineering Geology, Geotechnical or Tunnelling Engineering placement student you could be involved in one of the most exciting civil engineering sectors. You’ll help to support and deliver the technical aspects of a variety of engineering and multidisciplinary designs across a range of challenging and exciting projects in the UK and internationally.

You could play a part in designing and constructing new and innovative infrastructure in the road, rail and water markets, working on tunnelling and power supply projects, or maybe geohazard assessments or offshore geotechnics. Together we share knowledge and create a better, more sustainable future for all by safeguarding our natural resources. Whatever your ambitions we’ve a role to match your passion and degree, while our training will help you develop highly sought after industry skills.


Industrial placement locations: Birmingham, Bristol, Epsom (Surrey)
Summer placement locations: Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff, Croydon, Epsom (Surrey), Glasgow, Leeds, London, Manchester

Find out more about our Infrastructure teams and locations.

What you can bring

• A passion for working in a consultancy environment
• Embracing equality, diversity and inclusion in everything you do
• A desire to work collaboratively with a curious approach, challenging yourself to find new solutions
• Enthusiasm and drive to develop your skillset and seek out development opportunities within a supportive team
• Motivation to achieve professional accreditation (where applicable)
• Comfortable to embrace agile ways of working and learning new technologies.

Meeting your needs

We aim to promote a workplace which allows our people to perform at their best. So, as well as ensuring you’re rewarded for your efforts, we also have a variety of initiatives in place to create a healthy workplace and support your well-being to include:

• Access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) providing you with immediate and confidential help for any work, health or life matters
• Join any of our employee networks for social interaction, peer support and personal development, as well as contributing to the development of policies and working practices

In addition to the above, our top performing placement students (who’ve completed at least 8 weeks on placement with us) have the opportunity to be nominated onto our Graduate Development Programme.

To view all available benefits, visit our Total Rewards portal. Our placement salaries are between £24,570 and £28,808 depending on role and location.

How do I apply?

Click "Apply Now" below to start your application. 

Do also check out our Connectr platform for tips and advice on applying. You can message your questions directly to one of our mentors.

We’re a Disability Confident Employer and can make adjustments to support you to perform at your best during the recruitment process. Please contact us confidentially at placements@atkinsrealis.com to find out how we can support you.

Our deadline for applications is Monday 3rd February 2025. We will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis. Our programmes are incredibly popular, so apply as soon as possible as roles will close based on volume of applications.

More about us

AtkinsRéalis is a world-leading design, engineering and project management organization. We design and deliver major projects on the built and natural environments all around the world. We believe that digitally enabled engineering has the power to radically improve the way we are all housed, connected, powered, and protected and can change our relationship with our communities and our planet for the better. Learn more.

We are committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community - a place where we can all be ourselves, thrive and develop. To help embed inclusion for all, from day one, we offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements and employee networks to support staff from different backgrounds. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we value applications from all backgrounds, cultures and ability.

This role may require security clearance and offers of employment will be dependent on obtaining the relevant level of clearance. If this is necessary, it will be discussed with you at interview. The vetting process is delivered by United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) and may require candidates to provide proof of residency in the UK of 5 years or longer. If applying to this role please do not make reference to (in conversation) or include in your application, details of any current or previously held security clearance.

Visit our International Students page to find out more about visas and requirements.