2027 Summer Internship - Communication Networks - London

About the company

We believe in the power of ingenuity to build a positive human future.

As strategies, technologies, and innovation collide, we create opportunity from complexity.

Our teams of interdisciplinary experts combine innovative thinking and breakthrough technologies to progress further, faster. Our clients adapt and transform, and together we achieve enduring results.

We are over 4,000 strategists, innovators, designers, consultants, digital experts, scientists, engineers, and technologists. And we have deep expertise in consumer and manufacturing, defence and security, energy and utilities, financial services, government and public services, health and life sciences, and transport.

Our teams operate globally from offices across the UK, Ireland, US, Nordics, and Netherlands.

A career at PA is what you make of it – so power your curiosity and prepare to make an impact.

Life At PA encompasses our peoples' experience at PA. It's about how we enrich peoples’ working lives by giving them access to unique people and growth opportunities and purpose led meaningful work.

Our purpose guides how we work with our clients and our teams, and support our communities, to deliver insight and impact, solving the world’s most complex challenges. We're focused on building a workplace that values human difference and diverse mindsets, and a culture of inclusion and equality that unlocks the potential in our people so everyone can be their best self.

Find out more about Life at PA here.

Your tasks

• PA’s ‘Networks Capability’ focuses on all non-consumer aspects of telecoms, blending expertise in technical, commercial and operational aspects. We focus on helping industry and enterprises maximise value from both next generation as well as critical, legacy connectivity.
• If you want a balance of technology, commercial and real-world applications, with an opportunity to work across a broad range of industry sectors, then this could be what you’re looking for. You may be involved in strategy for 5G train control, for blending LEO satellite and mobile for energy black-start scenarios, or managing communications obsolescence in defence.
• You will collaborate with expert consultants, be exposed to the latest advancements within telecoms (5G/6G, satcom, private networks, ML/AI integration), benefit from supportive mentoring, and gain skills through hands-on learning and peer support.

• You will work on real-world communication network technology challenges and solutions. Example projects and activities might include: Creating innovative software for advanced drone detection, Analysing the costs and benefits of communications technologies to support investment and business cases, Developing machine learning algorithms for patent identification, Research emerging communications technologies and assessing their potential applications, Assess options for upgrading critical infrastructure relying on legacy communications technology and Analysis of network performance data, identifying issues and producing recommendations.
• You will work directly with experienced Networks consultants who will work through technical problems with you, helping you structure analysis and develop your consulting skills.
• You will have the opportunity to experience all phases of an assignment, from understanding the problem and designing the approach through to analysing the evidence, developing recommendations and presenting your findings to key stakeholders.

The Offer

• You will work to ensure our clients stay informed about threats and are able to protect their digital assets and business systems.
• Opportunity to work supports the work of the networks team, examples of projects include modelling radio propagation, analysing real data to gain insights or setting up lab test environments to simulate scenarios and gain insightful understanding.
• We work flexibly at PA, but your work base will be our London Victoria office.
• This role will start in June 2027 – for 8 weeks. Exact dates will be confirmed at offer stage.

Requirements

What you can expect Joining us as an intern is the next step in starting your career. Whether you’re coming from a specialist background or from an unrelated subject, we want you to be bold, stay curious and dive into the opportunities we have to offer.

This role is open to undergraduates in their penultimate year of university. If you are currently a final year undergraduate and intend to return to university after the internship to complete an MSc / MEng, you will also be eligible for this position.

• Qualification: Working towards an undergraduate degree in Electronic / Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Mathematics, Economics or another technical or numerate discipline is ideal but we welcome applications from a broad range of degree backgrounds.
• Wider interest in technology: you will be curious about emerging technologies, particularly telecoms and datacomms, and interested to solve complex problems – though we’re not expecting deep expertise, rather the desire to develop and grow.
• Curious and keen to learn: willing to take on unfamiliar problems, ask questions, and develop your understanding of new technologies and industries, supported by our experts.
• Collaborative and relationship-focused: able to work effectively with different people, build strong relationships with clients and colleagues, and support others to succeed.
• Clear and confident communicator: able to communicate complex ideas clearly, both written and verbal.
• Analytical and adaptable: able to structure unfamiliar problems, make sense of incomplete or messy information and develop logical, evidence-based conclusions.
• Modelling experience: experience using tools such as Excel, Python or MATLAB to analyse problems, build models, evaluate options or test hypotheses would be welcome.
• Understanding data: experience sourcing, processing, analysing and/or visualising data would be beneficial.

What we offer

Why consider joining us? During your weeks as an intern at PA, you’ll learn some of what it takes to be a top-notch consultant. You’ll be coached and guided by experts and have opportunities to broaden your experience on a challenging project. Whatever you work on, you’ll be part of the team and free to build your contacts, both here at PA and beyond.

We are dedicated to supporting the physical, emotional, social and financial well-being of our people. Check out some of our extensive benefits:

• Health and lifestyle perks accompanying private healthcare
• 25 days annual leave (plus a bonus half day on Christmas Eve) with the opportunity to buy 5 additional days
• Generous company pension scheme
• Opportunity to get involved with community and charity-based initiatives
• Annual performance-based bonus
• PA share ownership
• Tax efficient benefits (cycle to work, give as you earn)

How to apply

First Stage Assessments

• Application form
• Online Assessments
• Shortlisting and/or Technical Assessments

Final Stage Assessments

• Assessment Centre with Technical Assessments
• Final Stage Interviews

Adjustments or accommodations - Should you need any adjustments or accommodations to the recruitment process, at either application or interview, please contact us on earlycareers@paconsulting.com.

Other

We’re committed to advancing equality. We recruit, retain, reward and develop our people based solely on their abilities and contributions and without reference to their age, background, disability, genetic information, parental or family status, religion or belief, race, ethnicity, nationality, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity (or expression), political belief, veteran status, or any other range of human difference brought about by identity and experience. We welcome applications from underrepresented groups.