United Utilities
Graduate Project Engineer (Preston)
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Salary: at least £32,250 per annum & £2,000 joining bonus
Location: Preston, Lancashire
Hours: 37 hours per week
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 as a graduate in the Project Engineering team:
Join United Utilities’ three-year Graduate Programme in our Project Engineering team and kickstart your career. Our project engineers play a key role in supporting a portfolio of capital projects across our multi-billion-pound investment programme, turning investment plans into safe, efficient and sustainable engineering solutions that improve services for customers and protect the environment.
As a Graduate Project Engineer, you’ll work alongside experienced Project Engineers and wider multidisciplinary teams, gaining hands-on experience across the project lifecycle. You’ll develop practical capability in project engineering, technical coordination, stakeholder engagement and document management, while contributing to delivery against time, cost, carbon, quality and safety requirements.
No two days are the same, with opportunities to learn in both office-based and site environments. You’ll build your understanding of engineering design, water and wastewater treatment and networks, construction documentation and project controls, while being supported to develop professionally through an accredited development route in engineering or project management. The typical graduate scheme entails rotating on various placements, to learn new skills. This may require you to be temporarily based where that specialism exists, so not necessarily always at your base.
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What you’ll be getting stuck into day to day:
- Supporting experienced project engineers to develop and manage engineering inputs throughout the life of a project.
- Helping to coordinate technical information from internal teams, consultants, specialists and contractors.
- Contributing to the preparation of engineering construction documentation, technical reports, specifications and project records.
- Developing your understanding of engineering design, processes and procedures across water and wastewater treatment and networks.
- Supporting opportunities to embed innovation, standardisation and sustainable thinking into project delivery.
- Working safely and collaboratively across office and site environments while building your own professional engineering capability.
What you’ll bring to the team:
- To apply for this role, you will need to have or be on course to achieving a minimum 2:1 accredited undergraduate engineering degree, or an equivalent qualification such as a postgraduate master’s degree in engineering. (MEng/MSc graduates are preferred, however BEng/BSc graduates will be considered)
- Foundational knowledge of engineering design, processes and procedures, with an interest in water and wastewater treatment and networks.
- Clear communication skills and the confidence to work with colleagues, consultants, specialists and contractors.
- Strong teamwork skills, ambition, drive and a willingness to learn in a fast-paced project environment.
- The ability to support the preparation of clear, concise and accurate technical reports and specifications under guidance and review.
- A full UK driving licence, as the role will involve travel between project sites. This must be obtained by May 2027.
- A commitment to your own professional development, including working towards registration on an accredited engineering or project management development scheme.
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 become one of our future operational, technical or people leaders, driving meaningful change.
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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
- Annual pay increase and bonus (subject to performance)
- 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 get you on the road
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.
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.
Additional Information
Our recruitment process requires you to complete:
- An online application form
- Online tests
- An in-person interview and presentation
Please note that you must be available to attend an in-person recruitment stage during the period 17th November – 11th December
Application deadline: 21st October 2026 – please apply early as deadlines are subject to change
Based on current immigration guidelines this role is not eligible for visa sponsorship
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