At Jacobs, we’re challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world’s most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.
Your impact
Are you ready to launch your career? Our Summer Placement offers you the chance to gain real-world experience in the Transport Planning discipline within Jacobs’ Global Professional Services.
For approximately eight weeks over the summer, you’ll work in our Chelmsford office, in Essex. Here, you’ll collaborate with world-class professionals in a dynamic environment, applying the skills you’ve honed in the classroom to real business challenges.
In this fast-paced, professional setting, you’ll gain invaluable experience that will set you apart in your future career.
You’ll also have opportunities to connect with colleagues across Jacobs from different disciplines, broadening your professional network and gaining insights from across the business.
Our goal is to ensure that your time with Jacobs leaves you with a positive, impactful learning experience.
The opportunity
We’re excited to be offering a Transport Planning Summer Placement in our Chelmsford office.
As a Summer Placement Student you will be working with our Transport Planners/Engineers and will join our Transport Planning and Mobility Solutions team which is part of our Cities & Places business unit. We aim to create thriving places across different scales: from regions to cities, neighbourhoods to sites, by offering an integrated design approach. Our business unit brings together transport planners, engineers, architects, designers, surveyors, urban designers, environmental experts and project managers to provide collaborative and coordinated value design solutions for our clients both nationally and internationally.
Our team’s skillset covers the full remit of multi-modal transport planning from high level policy and strategy advice through transport modelling/appraisal to active travel, streets design, traffic engineering and junction design.
Join us and you’ll have the chance to work on projects for a range of local, national and international clients. Our Chelmsford office is specifically focused on delivering projects for our local authority Client and you will be assigned to projects that align with your interests, career aspirations and academic background. Day to day tasks could include:
- Supporting design and engineering traffic management solutions to enhance transport networks for all users.
- Considering walking and cycling improvements aligning with local and national sustainability goals.
- Helping to develop and appraise various transport schemes and initiatives.
- Assessing travel needs and opportunities to improve the way people travel to undertake their daily activities.
- Support the undertaking of feasibility studies.
- Assist with transformational placemaking to reduce the impact of transport on the built and natural environment.
- Using spatial and economic analysis to understand benefits for communities.
- Building and using transport models to appraise schemes.
- Developing plans and strategies.
- Delivering transport schemes aligning to current policy context (e.g. decarbonisation, sustainability and economic recovery).
Here’s what you’ll need
- On track to complete a degree in Geography, Economics, Maths, Urban Planning, Civil Engineering, Physics or Natural Sciences.
- A flexible and innovative self-starter who’s passionate about developing new skills.
- Enthusiasm and curiosity to apply your skills to solve real-world problems.
- Empathy and listening skills to help you truly understand our clients’ requirements. A well-rounded individual - have you worked in a bar? Been captain of a sports team or volunteered for a charity? Tell us - we’re looking for people with interesting stories and experiences!
- You must be available to join the 8-week programme starting 6th July 2026 – 28th August 2026.
- You must have the full right to work in the UK.
- You need to be a penultimate year student, finishing your degree in 2027.
Selection process
- Step 1: Apply Online
- Step 2: Shortlisted
- Step 3: In-person Interview
Joining Jacobs not only connects you locally but globally. Our values stand on a foundation of safety, integrity, inclusion and belonging. We put people at the heart of our business, and we truly believe that by supporting one another through our culture of caring, we all succeed. We value positive mental health and a sense of belonging for all employees.