Mechanical Engineer Internship/Placement

About Glanua

Glanua delivers sustainable, forward-looking engineering services focused on the design, construction, operation, and upkeep of essential water and wastewater infrastructure throughout Ireland and the UK. The company works with municipal and industrial clients, including major water utilities such as Uisce Éireann (formerly Irish Water), Thames Water, Yorkshire Water, and Affinity Water.

The organisation is committed to tackling environmental issues and supporting a low-carbon, sustainable future. It values diverse perspectives and encourages a workplace where teams can think creatively, grow professionally, and contribute to high standards across Safety and Well-being, Innovation, Integrity, Collaboration, Courage, Agility, Accountability, and Diversity and Inclusion.

With more than 600 employees across Ireland and the UK, Glanua is expanding rapidly across multiple disciplines to support ambitious growth plans.

Role Overview

As a Mechanical Engineer Intern, you will join a multidisciplinary engineering team supporting water and wastewater projects from design stage through to completion and client handover. This placement offers direct learning from experienced project teams in a collaborative, single-team environment while helping you strengthen both technical and professional capabilities.

You will be expected to learn actively and contribute within an experienced delivery team. Working under senior guidance, you will assist with daily project tasks, gain exposure to engineering design and site operations, and build an understanding of how projects are priced, planned, and delivered.

Because the work is varied, you will observe and take part in a broad range of mechanical engineering activities, gaining practical insight into the technical and operational side of the industry. The placement is intended to help you return to university with stronger knowledge and experience to support your future career.

High-performing interns may also be considered for the Glanua Graduate Programme after completing their degree, creating a possible route for continued development within the business.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Contribute to project delivery as part of a team and support a collaborative one-team working approach.
• Help promote and uphold health, safety, environmental, and sustainability standards, policies, and procedures on site.
• Assist, under supervision, with sizing and selecting pumps, valves, pipework, and other mechanical systems.
• Support the production of mechanical design drawings, schematics, inspection test records, and equipment layouts for water and wastewater treatment plants.
• Carry out basic engineering calculations such as flow rates, pressure losses, and pump curve checks with help from senior engineers.
• Help prepare technical specifications for mechanical equipment and fittings.
• Assist with diagnosing and resolving mechanical issues on site under supervision.
• Observe and learn from planned preventive maintenance activities for plant equipment.
• Build familiarity with water and wastewater treatment processes, including exposure to modular package treatment plant fabrication.
• Take part in ongoing learning and development, staying informed about new industry standards and technologies through mentoring and guidance.
• Support site teams with health and safety-related tasks, including inductions, statutory inspections, record keeping, and data collection.
• Show motivation to learn, build professional capability, and progress toward future career goals.
• Carry out additional tasks and learning opportunities as needed to support project and team requirements.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• You must currently be enrolled in a Mechanical Engineering degree programme, or a closely related course.
• This placement is only for candidates who will return to college or university after completion.
• A solid academic background and interest in gaining practical, site-based engineering experience are important.
• You should be eager to learn and apply engineering principles in real project settings.
• Strong communication and teamwork abilities are required for a professional working environment.
• Basic proficiency in Microsoft Office tools such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint is expected; experience with AutoCAD or similar software is helpful but not essential.
• You should be prepared to work on site and adapt to a fast-moving project environment.
• A strong commitment to health, safety, environment, and sustainability standards is essential.

Additional Information

This is a structured placement opportunity rather than a graduate-level role. The internship is designed to help build practical capability and support long-term career progression. Successful interns may be considered for future graduate opportunities with Glanua after degree completion.