Arup
Graduate - Civil Engineering - Water

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Graduate Civil Engineer - Water
See it differently - Early Careers at Arup
See it differently
You see the world through a unique lens and that’s exactly what we need. We embrace how you see things differently – it’s essential for creating a sustainable future.
Arup is a global consultancy with advisory and technical expertise across more than 150 disciplines. We guide, plan and design the future of the built environment. Globally, each year we recruit hundreds of graduates and students who help us see things differently and solve the most complex challenges facing our clients, climate and communities.
The Opportunity
Our Water and Flood Risk team helps clients plan, design and deliver resilient infrastructure that manages the challenges of flooding, climate change water management, water supply and wastewater treatment. We work on a wide range of projects across the UK, including flood alleviation schemes, river restoration, sustainable drainage, hydraulic modelling, catchment planning and major infrastructure developments. Our team combines engineering, environmental and digital expertise to help clients make informed decisions, delivering solutions that provide benefits for communities, the environment and the economy. We work closely with colleagues across civil engineering, environment, planning and digital teams, giving graduates the opportunity to develop a broad range of technical and professional skills.
- Carry out flood risk, drainage and water engineering assessments, analysis and design, producing technical reports, calculations, drawings and specifications.
- Develop and appraise engineering options, undertake feasibility studies, support the production of business cases, planning applications and sustainable solutions for clients, and carry out detailed engineering design of solutions.
- Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams including civil engineers, landscape architects, environmental specialists, ecologists, geotechnical engineers and geomorphologists.
- Engage with clients, regulators, local authorities and other stakeholders, including attending meetings and site visits, to understand project requirements and constraints.
- Use digital engineering tools and specialist software, including GIS, AutoCAD/Civil 3D, various structural analysis tools, Flood Modeller, TUFLOW, InfoDrainage, InfoWorks, to analyse data, develop models and support engineering design.
https://www.arup.com/markets/water/
https://www.arup.com/projects/brighouse-flood-alleviation-scheme/
Is this role right for you?
For this opportunity, we are seeking the following qualifications, skills and attributes: A bachelor's degree in relevant academic discipline, such as Civil Engineering Environmental Engineering; Maritime Engineering; Structural Engineering.
- Skills in Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; Ability to work with technical and numerical data; Understanding of engineering associated with the water environment; Experience using Microsoft Excel and other Microsoft 365 applications; Ability to communicate technical information clearly through reports, presentations and discussions; Collaborative working and stakeholder engagement skills; Willingness to work towards professional accreditation (ICE and/or CIWEM).
Reasons to use Rodeo
I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?
Honest answer — it depends on where you want to end up. A lot of top grad schemes (Big 4, civil service, banking) don’t need a masters. Let’s look at the ones you’d be competitive for now, and we can decide if a masters actually adds anything.
Also worth knowing: most autumn 2026 applications are open now. Timing matters more than you think.
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
Graduate Consultant — 2026 Scheme
Why you're a good match
StrongYour economics background and your summer at a regional bank line up with what PwC looks for on the consulting scheme. Applications close in four weeks.
See breakdownIt searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Why you're a good match
You’ve got the grades and the economics background, and your bank internship is exactly the experience this scheme looks for. Apply soon — deadlines close within the month.
Experience fit
Your summer at the bank plus your econometrics coursework map directly to the day-one responsibilities on this scheme — client modelling, market briefings, and deal support.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
- Experience of flood risk assessment, drainage design, river engineering, coastal engineering, water supply, water treatment or water resources projects; Familiarity with GIS software (ArcGIS or QGIS); Familiarity with structural analysis software; Experience of hydraulic or flood modelling software (e.g. TUFLOW, Flood Modeller, HEC-RAS, InfoWorks); Experience of AutoCAD and/or Civil 3D; Programming or scripting skills (e.g. Python, VBA or R); Understanding of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS); Awareness of BIM and digital engineering approaches; Work placement, internship or university project experience within the water or environmental sector.
To Be Considered For a Graduate Opportunity, Your Application Must Include a Copy Of Your Academic Transcript And Meet The Following Criteria
- Full working rights in the country of application
- No more than 12 months of full-time experience in a comparable role
- Recently graduated, or on track to graduate, from your most recent degree, related to your role of choice, before employment starts.
Alongside your degree, we look for the following core attributes;
- Changemakers: A passion for sustainable development and creating a better world is key.
- Innovative minds: We’re looking for critical thinkers who embrace new ideas and challenge the status quo.
- Growth seekers: You have a growth mindset, always eager to learn and explore new ways of working.
- Adaptable adventurers: You’re ready to take on any challenge that comes your way.
Please note, in the event of high applicant volume, this role may be closed ahead of the advertised closing date. Early application is recommended.
Eligibility
Please note that we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role. Therefore, you must ensure that you are eligible to work permanently in the UK without our sponsorship.
What we offer you
At Arup, we care about each member’s success, so we can grow together.
Guided by our values, we provide an attractive total reward package that recognises the contribution of each of our members to our shared success. As well as competitive, fair and equitable pay, we offer a career in which all of our members can belong, grow and thrive – through benefits that support health and wellbeing, a wide range of learning opportunities and many possibilities to have an impact through the work they do.
We are owned in trust on behalf of our members, giving us the freedom, with personal responsibility, to set our own direction and choose work that aligns with our purpose and adds to Arup’s legacy. Our members collaborate on ambitious projects to deliver remarkable outcomes for our clients and communities. Profit Share is a key part of our reward, enabling permanent members to share in the results of our collective efforts.


Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
We take an approach to flexible working that supports the diversity and wellbeing of our graduates.
We also provide for our permanent members Private medical insurance, Life assurance, Accident insurance and Income protection cover. In addition, you’ll have access to flexible benefits to help you look after all aspects of your wellbeing and give you the freedom and flexibility to find the best solutions for you, your family, and your individual needs.
Next Steps
We've designed our application process to be straightforward and supportive, giving you the opportunity to showcase your skills and potential. Applications are reviewed as they're received, so we encourage you to apply as early as possible.
The process includes an online application, psychometric testing, application review, case study, interview and offer stage. Our friendly Early Careers team is available throughout the process to answer questions and help you feel confident every step of the way.
Different people, shared values
Arup is an equal opportunity employer that actively promotes and nurtures a diverse and inclusive workforce. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, regardless of age (within legal limits), gender identity or expression, marital status, disability, neurotype or mental health, race or ethnicity, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, and whether you’re pregnant or on family leave. We are an open environment that embraces diverse experiences, perspectives, and ideas - this drives our excellence.
Guided by our values and alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, we create and contribute to equitable spaces and systems, while cultivating a sense of belonging for all. Our internal employee networks support our inclusive culture: from race, ethnicity and cross-cultural working to gender equity and LGBTQ+ and disability inclusion – we aim to create a space for you to express yourself and make a positive difference. Discover more about life at Arup at www.arup.com/careers/your-life-at-arup. We are an open environment that embraces diverse experiences, perspectives, and ideas.
We are committed to making our recruitment process and workplaces accessible to all candidates. Please contact UKEarlyCareersRecruitment@arup.com to let us know if you need any assistance or reasonable adjustments throughout your application or interview process, and/or to perform the essential functions of the role. We will do everything we can to support you.
As a Disability Confident Level 2 Employer in the UK, we will strive for one third of all our interview places to be allocated to candidates who have disclosed they are disability confident and best meet the requirements of the role.
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