Graduate & undergraduate programs for engineers
Early career opportunities
Whether you’re looking for your first industry placement, a trade apprenticeship or you’re ready to start your career after university, Leed has a pathway for you.
We offer opportunities to gain practical experience while contributing to projects that make a difference to communities across Australia. From water treatment plants, pipelines and reservoirs to roads, earthworks and structural concrete, you’ll work alongside experienced teams delivering essential civil infrastructure.
Discover your future in civil engineering
Undergraduate program
Our placements are various lengths up to 12 weeks and give engineering students the chance to apply what they’re learning at university in a real project environment.
Working alongside experienced engineers and project teams, you’ll gain exposure to a broad range of civil construction activities while developing practical skills on site.
What we offer
During a Leed placement you’ll gain:
- real project experience on a Leed site to bring your studies to life
- regular one-on-one guidance from an experienced engineer assigned as your mentor
- a practical understanding of how civil construction projects are planned, managed and delivered
- professional skills including communication, time management, stakeholder engagement and teamwork
- industry connections, including potential pathways to a graduate role at Leed.
Who we are looking for
Our successful undergraduates:
- are genuinely curious about how things are built
- want to be on site, not just in a classroom or office
- are open to working across different locations and project types
- take initiative and ask questions
- share Leed’s values
Eligibility requirements
Applicants must:
- have full working rights in Australia for the duration of the placement
- hold a current Australian C Class (or higher) driver’s licence
- be enrolled in a Bachelor’s degree or higher in Civil, Structural or Mechanical Engineering.
How to apply
Applications for the Undergraduate Placement Program open in March of each year and are accepted until mid-year. Prospective applicants are encouraged to submit their applications early, as the screening and interview process may be accelerated to secure top talent.
To apply, students should submit the following to careers@leed.net.au:
- A current resume (maximum 2 pages)
- A cover letter addressing their interest in civil construction and what they hope to gain from the placement
- A current academic transcript
- Details of two referees (academic or professional).
Undergraduate Internship to Graduate pathways
Many of our graduate engineers started as undergraduate placement students. If you impress us during your placement, there’s a potential pathway to a full-time graduate role when you complete your degree.
Paris Rawaqa started out in our undergraduate program and is now one of our Graduates, working on Snowy 2.0. Read about a day in her life on site.
‘My fellow engineers and our construction supervisors are my biggest supporters and mentors. They’re always around to offer help or words of encouragement,’ Leed Graduate Engineer Paris Rawaqa
Apprenticeships and traineeships
Leed also offers apprenticeship and traineeship opportunities across a range of construction-related trades, including carpentry and formwork, civil operations, automotive, mechanical and engineering fabrication.
Apprentices and trainees gain practical, on-the-job experience while completing nationally recognised qualifications through an accredited RTO or TAFE, supported by experienced supervisors and project teams.
Graduate program
Our graduate program is designed to help new engineers to make a seamless transition from university to professional practice. They start as a placement of up to 12 weeks and, after that point, candidates can move onto a full-time graduate engineering role with Leed.
Graduates are exposed to all aspects of project delivery, providing a strong foundation for long-term career development within Leed.
What we offer
As a Graduate Engineer you will:
- work alongside experienced project teams on live infrastructure projects
- have the opportunity to work on a range of projects from pipelines, treatment plants and pump stations, to roads and regulators
- be mentored by an experienced Leed engineer
- have access to formal training, including safety, quality and technical skill development
- continue to build your practical knowledge and professional skills in a real project environment.
Who we are looking for
Applicants for Leed’s Graduate Program should have:
- a genuine interest in hands-on, site-based civil construction work
- flexibility and a willingness to work across different locations, including metropolitan, regional and remote Australia
- a collaborative mindset and the ability to work well with others
- alignment with Leed’s values
Eligibility requirements
Applicants must have:
- Full working rights in Australia (Australian Citizen, Permanent Resident, or Temporary Graduate Visa holders)
- Australian C Class or above Driver’s Licence
- Completed or expected completion in the intake year, a Bachelor’s degree or higher in Civil, Structural or Mechanical Engineering.
How to apply
Applications for Leed open in March and are accepted until mid-year.
To apply, students should submit the following to careers@leed.net.au:
- A current resume (maximum 2 pages)
- A cover letter addressing their interest in civil construction and what they hope to gain from the placement
- A current academic transcript
- Details of two referees (academic or professional)
Graduate career pathways
Many of our project managers began their careers through our graduate program, demonstrating the opportunities available to grow within the business.
A typical career progression sees engineers be promoted through the following roles
Graduate engineer – Site engineer – Project Engineer – Project Manager
Leed Project Manager Callum Cusack started as a graduate engineer and quickly climbed the career ladder. Read his story on the career progression he has been able to achieve through working on regional projects.
‘Leed has given me excellent opportunities, which is a testament to me becoming a project manager in just four years since starting as a graduate. I cannot thank the team enough for supporting my development and exposure to a wide range of projects,’ Leed Project Manager Callum Cusack
Want to know more?
Read more in our Leed Graduate and Undergraduate opportunities brochure
Still have questions? send them to careers@leed.net.au