Pictured (L-R): Erin Gray, Conall Bird and Cian Ó Cathasaigh.
About the programme
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.
FAQs
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:
- Arena House, Arena 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.
We have an active sports and social committee who like to organise wellness weeks, comedy club nights, surfing weekends, step challenges and much more.
You’ll find lots of ways to get involved.
To apply
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
- enrolled on an accredited master's degree programme
When should I apply?
We are currently accepting applications for our 2025 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
Meet our students
Erin Gray
I joined ROD on a six-month student placement in June 2024. The placement forms part of an ME in Civil Engineering with Business I am undertaking at UCD.
As a member of the bridges team, I am learning from experienced bridge engineers and building upon the skills I gained during my four-year degree. While I spend most of my time in the office, I have had the chance to go out on-site, carrying out bridge inspections nationwide on behalf of Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII). The mix of office work and field experience is helping me to grow both personally and professionally and has made me excited about my future in civil engineering.
From day one, everyone in the office has been incredibly welcoming. There are regular activities organised by the social committee, and the general day-to-day atmosphere is extremely positive. It is a memorable experience, and I would highly recommend the placement to any student looking to apply what they have learned in college to real, impactful projects.
Cian Ó Cathasaigh
I joined ROD’s student placement programme as part of an ME in Civil Engineering with Business programme I am undertaking at University College Dublin.
The six months I spent with the company gave me a great insight into the civil engineering industry and helped to develop my knowledge of research, report writing and data analysis.
During my placement, I worked on a PIARC (the World Road Association) special research project, which focused on artificial intelligence in the road sector. It gave me an invaluable understanding of the emerging technologies being implemented in the field of civil engineering, nurtured my research and report writing skills, and saw me contribute to the final project report. I also got the chance to work with ROD’s enhancing Motorway Operation Services (eMOS) programme team, with whom I gained exposure to data analytics and the programming language, Python.
The welcoming culture at ROD is what really stood out for me during my time on the student programme. I felt comfortable asking anyone in the office a question, which contributed greatly to my experience. I would highly recommend the placement to any student considering a career in engineering.
Conall Bird
I joined ROD's student placement programme as part of an ME in Civil Engineering with Business I am undertaking at University College Dublin.
Over the course of my six-month placement, I worked within the buildings group, gaining invaluable experience in structural engineering. I had the opportunity to work on a variety of projects involving both steel and concrete design, which allowed me to apply the knowledge I gained during my studies to real-world scenarios.
I was involved at various stages of project development, from the initial tender phase through to detailed design, giving me a well-rounded understanding of the entire engineering process. This exposure helped strengthen my technical skills in structural analysis and design, as well as my ability to work effectively in a team.
Working alongside ROD's experienced engineers was something I really appreciated, as they were always ready and willing to share their expertise with me or offer a few words of guidance. The experience not only enhanced my technical abilities but deepened my understanding of the practical side of structural engineering.
I would highly recommend this placement to any student interested in pursuing a career in structural engineering, as it offers a fantastic opportunity for professional growth.