United Utilities
Graduate Process Engineer
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About Us
Every day, we deliver one of life's most essential services to millions of people across the North West. From providing safe, high-quality drinking water to protecting the environment and supporting thriving communities, the work we do matters. We're now in the second year of our £16.5 billion investment programme, one of the largest transformation programmes in our history. It's an exciting time to join us as we improve our services, enhance environmental performance, embrace innovation and create a more sustainable future for generations to come.
There's more to us than just great water. We are where purpose flows.
What you can expect being a graduate in Process Engineering team
Through our IChemE Accredited Company Training Scheme (ACTS), you'll gain the skills, experience and support needed to progress towards chartership while playing a vital role in delivering United Utilities £13.5 billion Big North West Upgrade program. From day one, you'll benefit from dedicated line management, mentoring, and professional guidance, while collaborating with teams from across the business. When you complete the scheme, you will automatically progress into a Process Engineer role, allowing you to build on the knowledge and expertise you've developed while helping to create a stronger, greener, and healthier North West.
What you’ll be getting stuck into day to day:
You will undertake a series of 6 to 12 month placements across a variety of teams to understand how the business operates as a whole, whilst building a specialised technical knowledge base. On the United Utilities Graduate Process Engineer scheme, you will:
- Develop your knowledge of water, wastewater, and bioresources treatment processes.
- Work alongside experienced engineers and site operational teams to investigate performance issues, identify optimisation opportunities, and contribute to the delivery of safe, efficient, and sustainable treatment processes.
- Work within multidisciplinary teams to design and deliver capital schemes required to meet new environmental requirements.
- Develop skills to run pilot plants and operational trials, analyse and interpret data to make recommendations on next steps.
- Gain a working knowledge of the water sector regulatory environment.
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At United Utilities, we believe that nothing we do is worth getting hurt for and Health, Safety and Wellbeing is our highest priority. As a Process Engineer you will play a key part in Hazard and Operability Studies (HAZOP) and Process Safety, ensuring that our colleagues go home safe and well.
What you’ll bring to the team:
- A minimum 2:1 MEng in Chemical Engineering from an Engineering Council-accredited university, or a minimum 2:1 MSc/MEng in Water and Wastewater Engineering, supported by a first degree in Engineering or a relevant science discipline.
- Strong communication skills, with the ability to adapt your style to engage effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences.
- A highly collaborative attitude, with the ability to work effectively alongside colleagues, other engineering disciplines, and stakeholders from across the business.
- A full UK driving licence by the time you start with us and a vehicle is required for this role.
Why join United Utilities as a Graduate?
By joining us on our 3-year graduate scheme, you'll not only get first-class training and support, but we'll also provide you with an in-depth understanding of your business area, ultimately giving you the confidence, skills and knowledge required to develop into a chartered engineer whilst contributing to the biggest water infrastructure upgrade in over a century.
What's in it for you?
We know that delivering a great service starts with supporting you, our people. That's why we offer a range of benefits designed to help you thrive both at work and outside of it.
- Starting salary of at least £32,250 + £2,000 welcome bonus
- 26 days annual leave, increasing to 30 days after 4 years + bank holidays
- Enhanced maternity and paternity leave policies
- Up to 14% employer pension contribution
- Access to colleague wellbeing programmes and dedicated mentors who will support you whilst on scheme
- We’ll contribute up to £500 towards driving lessons and tests to help to get you on the road
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Want to learn more about life at United Utilities and explore our full benefits package? Take a look at our Flexa profile here: United Utilities | Verified Employers | Flexa Careers
Our commitment to opportunity for all
We're committed to creating a workplace where you feel you can belong and can succeed. Our colleague networks play an important role in this, these are:
- GeneQ – supporting gender equality, parents and carers
- Multi-Cultural & Faith
- LGBTQ+
- Armed Forces
- Ability – supporting colleagues with disabilities and long-term health conditions
We recommend that you are open and honest with us throughout the process and make us aware of any reasonable adjustments you may require. Rest assured, we don't use AI to screen your application at any stage of the process. A real person will review your application.
To ensure a fair recruitment process, we ask that you apply for only one Graduate role per recruitment year. Take a look at all our opportunities and apply for the one that interests you most.
Key dates to consider
- Applications close on 21st October 2026.
- Once applications have closed, a member of the Early Careers team will review your application to ensure it meets the minimum requirements for your chosen role.
- We anticipate this review process may take up to two weeks following the closing date.
- Please note that you must be available to attend an in-person recruitment assessment centre during the period 17th November – 19th December.
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