Students

Student Placement Programme

ROD's student placement programme gives students the opportunity to work alongside the designers of some of the most complex infrastructural projects in Ireland and the UK.

From landmark bridges to complex road schemes, state-of-the-art buildings to groundbreaking greenways, we offer you a broad choice of projects in which to get involved.

By joining our project teams, you'll put the knowledge you've gained in college to work, and learn what life in a leading engineering consultancy is really like.

How the programme is designed

The programme is designed to be flexible, so our placements vary in duration from two weeks up to one year.

Students may apply to work in any of the following areas:

• Bridges
• Buildings
• Geotechnical
• Site
• Transportation and traffic
• Water services

Support

As you move through different challenges on live projects, a student coordinator from within your chosen team will encourage you to push forward and develop your personal and professional skills.

What makes our programme different

At ROD, you won’t be asked to sit quietly in front of a PC in a far corner of the office.  You’ll join teams working on live projects.

We’ll encourage you to make the most of your time with us, and we'll make sure you enjoy the experience to the full.

What do you look for in a student?

We look for students who are:

• keen to learn
• have good interpersonal
• have good analytical skills
• can multitask and take direction

What will I be doing?

Your role may involve:

• researching, compiling and evaluating project data
• preparing and writing reports
• performing calculations for infrastructure projects
• drafting proposals and correspondence

Where will I be based?

We offer student placement opportunities in our Dublin and UK offices:

• The Chase, Arkle Road, Sandyford, D.18
• Unit 2.1, Block 2, Woodford Business Park, Turnapin Little, D.17
• 82-87 Pegholme, Wharfebank Mills, Ilkley Road, Otley, UK

How’s the social life?

We’re a friendly group.

Our sports and social committee organises surfing weekends, ski evenings at the Ski Club of Ireland, step and cycle challenges, wellness weeks and much more.

You’ll find lots of ways to get involved.

What do I need to apply?

At the time of application, you must be undertaking a Level 8 degree in civil or structural engineering or equivalent or be enrolled on an accredited master's degree programme.

When should I apply?

Applications for our 2025 programme are now closed.  We are, however, accepting applications for our 2026 programme.

How to apply

• Send your CV and cover letter in one MS Word file to careers@rod.ie 
• Save your CV and cover letter as 'First Name Surname CV'. For example, John Smith CV
• Only CVs and cover letters written in English will be accepted

Rebecca Glynn

I undertook a student placement in ROD in 2025 as part of my ME in Structural Engineering with Architecture at University College Dublin (UCD). During my eight-month placement, I worked with ROD’s buildings group, where I gained invaluable, hands-on experience.

I applied the theoretical knowledge from university to real-world projects, learning how to carry out design calculations and use industry-specific software. My day-to-day responsibilities included technical report writing, attending site visits, and participating in CPD sessions, all of which deepened my understanding of the profession.

At ROD, I always felt supported in my learning. No question was too small, and the team was enthusiastic and generous in sharing their knowledge. The collaborative culture fostered a strong environment for growth, where everyone, regardless of experience, was eager to learn from one another. Working alongside highly skilled and experienced engineers has motivated me to strive for the same level of excellence in my own career. 

The structured nature of the student placement programme contributed to creating a welcoming environment for me while working alongside lots of young, like-minded professionals made the transition from university to the workplace feel seamless.

Beyond the technical experience, ROD placed great emphasis on social connection. Whether it was surf trips or tag rugby, participating in social events was actively encouraged, making my placement not just educational but genuinely enjoyable.

Liam O'Sullivan

I joined ROD on a six-month placement in January 2025 as part of an MAI degree in Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering I am undertaking at Trinity College Dublin (TCD). It was the positive feedback of former ROD interns in TCD that encouraged me to apply for the programme.

I was placed in the bridges group, where I was given the opportunity to learn and grow as a structural engineer. While I was mostly based in the Sandyford office, I had the chance to accompany qualified and experienced engineers on site investigations of bridges. This was a great learning experience and gave me a better appreciation of the critical role bridges play in Ireland’s road network. 

The transition from the classroom to the office was made easier by the friendly and helpful office culture in ROD. And the benefit of being part of a growing company meant that I met lots of other students on ROD’s student placement and graduate development programmes. 

During the week, ROD hosted CPD talks that not only offered an insight into the work of its other groups, including transportation, water, environment and buildings, but also tackled important subjects away from work such as health and wellbeing. ROD also provided numerous social events for us to participate in, including five-a-side football, tag rugby and surfing weekends away.  

Niall Heffernan

I joined ROD’s student placement programme on an eight-month internship in 2025. The placement formed part of a BEng in Civil Engineering I am undertaking at the Technological University of the Shannon Athlone (TUS).

I worked in ROD’s transportation group, where I was involved in the planning and design of some significant road schemes, including the N81 Route Improvement and the N15 Corcam Bends Road scheme, as well as in the delivery of several transport assessments and traffic management plans. The mix of projects was invaluable. It gave me a broader perspective on the theoretical and practical aspects of civil engineering, helping me to connect what I am studying in college to real-world projects.

While most of my time was spent in the office, I gained some valuable site experience on the Dublin Port Tunnel Crossover scheme and on the Alexandra Road Upgrade. This gave me a clearer understanding of the link between the design work that is undertaken in the office and what happens on site.

From day one, what stood out for me about ROD was how approachable and supportive everyone is, be they graduates, technicians, senior engineers or directors. My time with the company was enjoyable and rewarding, and I would highly recommend the placement to students looking to work on meaningful projects and for the opportunity to learn from engineers at every level.