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2026 UK Graduate Civil Engineering Career Path: Water Sector
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Engineer a Better Tomorrow – For People, Planet, and Progress
At Mott MacDonald, we’re not just designing infrastructure—we’re shaping the future of water. As a wholly employee-owned company, we have the freedom to focus on what truly matters: delivering social outcomes, empowering our people, and protecting the communities and environments we serve.
As a Graduate Civil Engineer, you’ll join one of our specialist teams—Water Engineering, Dams & Reservoirs, or Rivers & Catchment—each playing a vital role in solving complex challenges and delivering sustainable solutions that improve lives and safeguard the environment.
Water Engineering – Designing Resilient Infrastructure
Join our Water Division, a centre of excellence tackling climate change, ageing infrastructure, and population growth. You’ll contribute to safe, sustainable water systems for generations to come.
What You’ll Do:
- Design pipelines, water and wastewater treatment facilities through feasibility, outline, and detailed stages.
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to deliver integrated, sustainable solutions.
- Support projects from planning and modelling to construction, commissioning, and handover.
- Use digital tools to enhance design quality and efficiency.
- Grow your technical and project management skills through mentoring and training.
Dams & Reservoirs – Protecting Communities and Resources
Be part of a legacy of innovation in dam and reservoir engineering. You’ll help design and assess critical infrastructure that supports water supply, flood protection, and hydropower.
What You’ll Do:
- Develop conceptual, preliminary, and detailed designs for dams, spillways, intakes, and drawdown facilities.
- Undertake hydraulic and structural analyses, contributing to flood studies and emergency planning.
- Attend site inspections and monitoring activities for hands-on experience.
- Prepare drawings, reports, and specifications that shape real-world outcomes.
- Gain exposure to project, commercial, and client management.
Rivers & Catchment – Restoring Nature and Building Resilience
A civil engineer specialising in rivers and catchment management plays a vital role in safeguarding and enhancing natural water systems. In this role, you’ll apply civil and hydraulic engineering skills to solve practical challenges in evolving river environments—such as managing erosion, sediment transport, and fluctuating flow regimes.
What You’ll Do:
- Design for resilience: Develop sustainable solutions to reduce flood risk, improve water quality, and support habitat restoration across catchments.
- Collaborate across disciplines: Work closely with hydrologists, ecologists, and local stakeholders to create integrated strategies that balance infrastructure needs with environmental protection.
- Apply technical insight: Use data analysis, fieldwork, and modelling to support resilient catchment planning that promotes biodiversity, protects communities, and adapts to climate change.
- Grow with purpose: Receive mentoring, structured training, and hands-on experience to build your technical and professional skills.
- Champion integrity and inclusion: Uphold ethical engineering practices and contribute to a culture that values every voice and celebrates diversity.
Why These Roles Matter:
- Empowering Growth: We support your development with structured training, mentoring, and real-world experience.
- Celebrating Achievements: Your contributions are recognised and celebrated—individually and as part of a team.
- Inclusive Culture: We value diversity and foster a workplace where everyone feels seen, heard, and respected.
- Wellbeing First: We prioritise your wellbeing with adaptable working, mental health support, and a caring environment.
- Societal Impact: Your work helps deliver essential services, protect the environment, and build climate resilience.
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Candidate Specification
We are looking for committed and motivated graduates with a genuine passion and a desire to make a difference in the world. If this describes you, apply today to launch your career at Mott MacDonald.
To be eligible for this opportunity, you will have some relevant experience (excluding placements) and have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree (obtained no earlier than 2024) or expected to achieve a degree in civil engineering.
In your application, you should aim to demonstrate your genuine interest in both the opportunity and in joining Mott MacDonald. You can do this by highlighting any relevant experience or interests - such as modules you've studied, previous work experience, or any research you've undertaken about our company, values, and projects.
We personally review every completed application form we receive as this part of our selection process is entirely human led – we do not use AI tools at this stage and kindly expect you not to either. We want you to answer each application question with authenticity so we can get to know the real you. Joining us as a graduate is your opportunity to shape your own story.
We Are Looking For Graduates With The Following Strengths:
- Proactively takes initiative to complete tasks efficiently and independently.
- Communicates effectively and clearly with clients and colleagues.
- Delivers high quality written work with great attention to detail and clarity.
- Demonstrates a structured and analytical approach to problem solving.
As we want the best people for the role, we support adaptable working. Please ask us at interview stage about any adaptability you may need.
Mott MacDonald Ltd. is not able to provide visa sponsorship through the UK Skilled Worker route at this time. This is due to changes made by the UK Government in April 2024.
Our ethos is to develop, train and retain our graduates and therefore we are looking for a long-term relationship with our graduates.
We continue to welcome applications from candidates who are eligible for alternative immigration routes in the UK, that do not require sponsorship as a Skilled Worker now or in future.
About Your Development
A graduate position should be more than just a job. We know this and so do you. That’s why with our graduate roles we aim to give you the experience and technical knowledge you need to progress your career. From the moment you join us, you’ll receive the training you need. You will be assigned a mentor, who will guide you to meet the objectives of your professional training needs. You will join our three-year early careers soft skills development programme – Accelerating your Future, which is designed to give you the skills and tools necessary for a long-lasting successful career here at Mott MacDonald.
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You will have the opportunity to make a difference; learn more about Our Purpose and the difference we can make!
You’re probably wondering what else is on offer. Join us, and you’ll get:
- Biannual salary reviews: we believe that hard work should be rewarded and recognised. Therefore, for the first three years of your career with us, you’ll have biannual salary reviews.
- A competitive salary: in addition to biannual reviews, we will ensure that you’re given a salary that matches the current industry standard.
- Contributory pension up to 7% of your salary: we have the best people on our team, and we like to look out for them. With our support, you’ll have all the advice and options you need to be able to invest in your future.
- An adaptable benefits scheme: our company is made up of a range of different people and we understand that different people want different things. That’s why with our adaptable plan, you’ll have the ability to manage the range of benefits we have on offer, to suit your specific needs.
Our social side
Being part of Mott MacDonald means more than just work; there’s a huge range of fun and exciting things that you can get involved in.
From the moment you join us, you’ll have the opportunity to expand your social and professional network, whether it’s meeting other graduates or joining forces with other members of staff from around the company at our annual sports day. Each of our offices have a sports and social committee which will give you the chance to be part of a variety of sports, social and charity events. We’re committed to promoting a solid culture of social responsibility and encourage our staff to play active roles in the local community.
It's worth noting that sports and social committees tend to vary from office to office, so as well as getting involved in what’s already on offer, don’t be afraid to suggest new events or initiatives that you think could be a great addition. It doesn’t stop there. As well as events, you’ll also have access to discounts on cinema tickets, travel, fashion, utilities and much more as part of our company benefits which you can take advantage of the moment you join.
Equality, diversity and inclusion
We put equality, diversity and inclusion at the heart of our business, seeking to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they have the opportunity to contribute.
Agile working
At Mott MacDonald, we believe it makes business sense for you and your manager to choose how you can work most effectively to meet your client, team and personal commitments. We embrace agility, adaptability and trust.
More about Mott MacDonald
We’re a global engineering, management and development consultancy.
Our purpose is to improve society by considering social outcomes in everything we do, relentlessly focusing on excellence and digital innovation, transforming our clients’ businesses, our communities and employee opportunities.
A fundamental part of this is respecting each person’s differences and striving to meet their needs.
Our values: progress, respect, integrity, drive, excellence.
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