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What it is

  • You’ll do a year in industry helping engineers build and test water-related engineering systems.
  • You’ll support design work, drawings and documentation, plus testing/validation and system integration across projects.
  • You’ll rotate across mechanical, electrical, controls, software and project engineering work during the year.

Who it's for

  • Undergraduates on a course with a sandwich/industrial year, studying Mechatronics, Mechanical, Electrical, Control Systems or Software Engineering (or a related engineering degree).
  • CAD, programming, automation, electronics, testing or engineering project experience is helpful but not required.

This overview was generated using AI

At HR Wallingford, we design smart, resilient solutions across the natural and built environments to help everyone live and work more sustainably with water. By harnessing research, data insights and the power of our collective expertise, we help the world to better understand the changing influence and impact of water.

Do you want to contribute to exciting and innovative engineering projects while working alongside experienced engineers and technical specialists?

This is an opportunity to undertake a one-year industrial placement within our Engineering & Technology team based at either our Wallingford or Manchester office. The placement has been designed to provide broad engineering experience across multiple disciplines, helping you develop practical skills and gain valuable insight into how complex engineering solutions are designed, developed and delivered.

We have a vacancy for an industrial trainee commencing in July 2027. The position is ideally suited to an undergraduate student whose degree programme includes a sandwich year in industry.

About the role

As an Industrial Placement Student within Engineering & Technology, you will work alongside specialist engineers supporting the development and delivery of engineering solutions for both internal and customer projects.

The placement will provide exposure to a range of engineering disciplines, including:

  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Controls Engineering
  • Software Engineering
  • Project Engineering

Typical activities may include:

  • Supporting design and development activities across engineering projects.
  • Assisting with the creation and maintenance of engineering drawings, schematics and technical documentation.
  • Supporting testing, validation and commissioning activities.
  • Assisting with electrical, controls and software development tasks where appropriate.
  • Supporting system integration and engineering investigations.
  • Contributing to continuous improvement and research and development initiatives.
  • Participating in engineering reviews, project meetings and technical workshops.
  • Assisting with the management of engineering data and project documentation.
  • Supporting project planning, progress reporting and cross-functional collaboration.

This placement is designed to give you a broad understanding of multidisciplinary engineering and the opportunity to work with a variety of engineering teams throughout the year.

About you

You will be studying towards a degree in Mechatronics Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Control Systems Engineering, Software Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.

You will be enthusiastic about learning, curious about how engineering systems work and motivated to develop your professional skills within a supportive environment.

You will also have:

  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Good organisational skills and attention to detail.
  • The ability to work independently with guidance and as part of a team.
  • A proactive approach and willingness to take ownership of assigned tasks.
  • A genuine interest in engineering, technology and innovation.

Experience with CAD software, programming, automation, electronics, testing, or engineering projects would be advantageous but is not essential.