Join to apply for the 2026 UK Graduate Civil Engineering Career Path: Water Sector role at Mott MacDonald.
We accept one application per candidate. Once submitted, applications cannot be changed or replaced, except when new vacancies are opened in the new year.
To avoid missing out on your preferred role, we recommend applying as early as possible, as positions will close once filled.
Turn your ambition into action – apply now and shape your future with us.
Job Description
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 focus on delivering social outcomes, empowering our people, and protecting the communities and environments we serve.
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 dynamic 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 flexible working, mental health support, and a caring environment.
* Societal Impact: Your work helps deliver essential services, protect the environment, and build climate resilience.
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, you must have less than 12 months’ relevant experience (excluding placements) and hold a bachelor’s degree (obtained no earlier than 2024) or be 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 by highlighting relevant experience or interests—such as modules studied, previous work experience, or research undertaken about our company, values, and projects.
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 strong 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 flexible working. Please ask us at interview stage about any flexibility you may need.
Mott MacDonald Ltd. is not currently offering sponsorship to candidates under the Skilled Worker visa route in the UK. This decision follows changes to the Skilled Worker route by the UK Government in April 2024.
We develop, train and retain our graduates and therefore we are looking for a long‑term relationship. Consequently, we cannot accept applications from candidates who would be working under the Graduate visa route or other time‑limited visas, due to their temporary nature and the requirement for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route in future.
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. From the moment you join us, you’ll receive the training you need. You will be assigned a mentor and join our three‑year early careers soft skills development programme – Accelerating your Future, designed to give you the skills and tools necessary for a long‑lasting successful career here at Mott MacDonald.
You will have the opportunity to make a difference; learn more about Our Purpose and the difference we can make!
Benefits include biannual salary reviews, a competitive salary, contributory pension up to 7% of your salary, and a flexible benefits scheme.
Our social side: you’ll have opportunities for sports, social events, and charitable activities. You also access discounts on cinema tickets, travel, fashion, utilities, and more.
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
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, flexibility and trust.
More About Mott MacDonald
We are a global engineering, management and development consultancy. Our purpose is to improve society by considering social outcomes in everything we do, relentlessly focussing on excellence and digital innovation, transforming our clients’ businesses, our communities and employee opportunities. Our values: progress, respect, integrity, drive, excellence.
Location(s): Cambridge, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Bristol, Brighton, Reading, Aberdeen, Leeds, Cardiff, Newcastle Upon Tyne, London, Inverness, Manchester, Belfast.
Contract Type: Permanent
Work Pattern: Full Time
Market: Water
Discipline: Civil
Job Ref: 11626
Recruiter Contact: earlycareers.recruitment@mottmac.com
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