We believe in the power of ingenuity to build a positive human future. As strategies, technologies, and innovation collide, we create opportunity from complexity.
Gradcracker Insight – Carla speaks to Emma Henderson, Global Head of Early Careers at PA Consulting
Emma gives an insight into the application process and how to be successful at PA.
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.
PA. Bringing Ingenuity to Life.
Job Description
Why considering joining us?
Joining us as an intern is the next step in starting your career. As you begin your career and turn your technical knowledge into real-world impact, we want you to be bold, stay curious and dive into the opportunities we have to offer.
If you want a balance of technology, commercial and real-world applications, coupled with an opportunity to work across a broad range of industry sectors, then this might be what you have been looking for.
At PA Consulting we have a unique combination of industry expertise and engineering capability. At our dedicated Global Innovation Technology Centre in Cambridge UK, we develop award-winning products and manufacturing processes, helping clients understand and use technology more effectively.
Our electronic engineers have expertise in creating electronic systems and are constantly learning about their craft and broadening their knowledge, working alongside colleagues who all have a passion for using what they know, every day. We work across the development process, from design, simulation and prototyping through, test and transfer to volume manufacture. Our consultants bring experience from across industry and consultancy to ensure the quality and value of our client deliverables.
Essential requirements
This role is open to undergraduates in their penultimate year of university. If you intend to return to university after the internship to complete an MSc, you will also be eligible for this position.
Qualification: Undergraduate degree — studying towards, or completed an accredited degree in Electronic Engineering (or related subject, e.g. Physics, Biomedical Engineering)
Growth-oriented and curious — open to change, driven to succeed, hungry for new challenges, and eager to broaden your understanding of the world.
Collaborative and relationship-focused — thrive in dynamic teams, build strong relationships with clients and peers, and support others to succeed.
Credible and communicative — comfortable in high-performance environments, with excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
Analytical and adaptable — demonstrate strong problem-solving abilities, innovative thinking, and the flexibility to adapt your style and approach. You will apply your engineering experience and knowledge gained through university, work or projects to help develop solutions to real-world problems
Professional and reliable — show strong workplace etiquette by being punctual, dependable, and respectful of business expectations and office conduct.
Technical experience – the following will also be beneficial but not essential:
Electronic circuit design principles.
Digital electronics - DSP, FPGA
Microcontrollers, Microprocessors and embedded hardware design.
Embedded software development in C
Power electronics and switch mode power supply design.
Radio frequency electronics/communication systems
Product design experience desirable
What you can expect
We work with our clients throughout the complete product lifecycle. Some of the projects our recent electronic engineering summer interns have worked in small, multidisciplinary teams to achieve:
Investigating the use of conductive ink stretch sensors to aid rehabilitation, including producing and characterising the material, and designing a PCB for the sensor electronics and microcontroller
Producing an metasurface antenna combining cutting-edge RF research with mechanical structures inspired by origami
Producing and driving liquid capsules in saline solutions with a custom magnetics based control system
Investigating novel antenna technology using plasma and developing lab-scale demonstrators
Utilising Edge AI to develop a compression algorithm for low power audio transmission from remote sensing platforms
Assessment process
First Stage Assessments:
Application form.
Online Assessments.
Technical Assessment.
Final Stage Assessments:
In Person Assessment Centre with Technical Assessments.
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
The Offer
The opportunity to work on meaningful projects with talented people across a wide range of assignments
You will be an important part of developing creative technical solutions for break-out products and manufacturing processes, contributing your expertise in electronic engineering
Variety and breadth. Your role may range from creating a novel wireless connected product, developing a high-performance data processor to designing an innovative medical device. Our clients need us to work at the cutting edge and you will be ready to help
The opportunity to experience all phases of development, from conceptualisation and theoretical design to hands-on building/prototyping and testing in our workshops
You will innovate at the intersection of science, technology and market needs. We pride ourselves on developing innovative solutions to hard problems
Your work base will be our Global Innovation & Technology Centre, Melbourn.
This role will start in June 2027 – for 8 weeks. Exact dates will be confirmed at offer stage.
Salary: £26,230 per annum
A career at PA is what you make of it — so power your curiosity and prepare to make an impact.
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.
We also do not sponsor visas and do not take any candidates on who do not have the right to work in the UK.
We've signed the Gradcracker feedback pledge.
(This means that we will supply feedback if requested after an interview.)
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Job ID Number: JR102989
Can I use AI to apply?
At PA, we use AI tools on a daily basis. However, we value transparency and authenticity above all in our hiring process. We want to get know you, your skills, and experience in our interview process.
As such, we ask that no AI tools (including AI note takers, meeting assistants, and similar tools) are used by candidates during interview sessions. If AI tools are used during an interview, it could influence the outcome of your application.
