Job description
Graduate Civil Engineer - Water Structures & Dams
Job Details
- Locations:Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff
- Job Type:Graduates
- Closing Date:11 April 2026
- Ref:6092
Interested In This Role?
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 to help us see things differently and solve the most complex challenges facing our clients, climate and communities.
The Opportunity
The Water Structures and Dams team thrives on a diversity of work, delivering resilient infrastructure within the water sector. From dams, river and coastal flood defences, and sustainable urban environments, to clean water and wastewater treatment, we combine technical expertise and creativity to solve complex challenges and shape a built environment that supports communities and a low‑carbon future.
Our team strives to deliver efficient and sustainable designs that address society's need to respond to the climate emergency. We help our clients to avoid and reduce carbon emissions, manage climate risk, improve natural capital, and enhance the resilience of their infrastructure to improve communities and their environment through efficient, well planned and considerate design.
We play a key role in a variety of new-build and remedial works projects from small schemes with local impact to large-scale, multi-disciplinary international infrastructure projects. You would be involved from the initial concept stage through to detailed design, construction and ongoing asset management for both public and private sector clients.
Energy, collaboration, and effective communication within our team are fundamental to our success. We act as technical specialists working closely with multiple other internal disciplines and external bodies. You will work with a broad range of clients, such as, water companies, local authorities, the Environment Agency, Natural Resources Wales, and contractors.
A passion for problem solving and a practical solution-focused mindset is critical. You will work in a multi-disciplinary environment with opportunities to grow knowledge and experience in a wide range of specialist areas including structural design, geotechnics, hydrology and hydraulics.
When working in Water Structures and Dams, typical day-to-day tasks may include:
- Site visits including dam and water infrastructure asset inspections, structural surveys, condition assessments, and construction site supervision.
- Carrying out assessment, options appraisal, analysis, and design. Preparing sketches, drawings, calculations, specifications, and technical reports.
- Completing structural and hydraulic calculations to develop engineering solutions including using structural analysis software such as GSA/Robot/Adsec/Grasshopper.
- Using specialist modelling and design software such as Rhino/AutoCAD/Civil 3D/Bentley MicroStation.
- Assessing and communicating asset risks from construction and operation through to decommissioning.
- Solving practical buildability problems through liaison with internal teams, contractors and suppliers.
- Collaborating with Arup colleagues in other disciplines such as, landscape architects, civil and geotechnical engineers, flood modellers and more.
- Meeting with clients, contractors, suppliers, national agencies, local authorities, and other stakeholders.
Joining Arup is an excellent opportunity for a Graduate Engineer at the start of their career to gain experience across a diverse range of projects and sectors. Arup will support your professional development, providing the necessary experience and training to deepen your skills and progress with your professional qualifications.
Is this role right for you?
Do you fit the below criteria:
- A degree in Civil Engineering or relevant Engineering degree, expecting a 2:1 or above
- Looking to develop your career in Engineering with a view to obtaining Professional Accreditation
We're looking for:
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 including a desire to explore how digital methods and automation can improve and enhance the work we deliver.
Adaptable adventurers: You're ready to take on any challenge that comes your way.
You should be able to start this opportunity in September 2026.
Advert closing date: 11th April 2026
Please note, in the event of high applicant volume, this role may be closed ahead of the advertised closing date. Early application is recommended.
Location Preferences
While the role you applied for is based in the location specified in the job advert, we may have other opportunities that align with your profile. To help us assess this, please let us know which Arup office locations you would be interested in working in on your application form
Duplicate applications
Please note, candidates are permitted to submit only one application per recruitment cycle. We recommend reviewing all available opportunities and selecting the role and location(s) that best align with your skills and interests before applying.
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
Beyond a great salary and stimulating, technically challenging work, Arup offers a range of additional benefits to its people.
As a membership organisation, everyone shares in our success through a global profit share scheme. Our members also have access to a range of broader wellbeing benefits. You’ll have access to lots of learning and development opportunities. This includes a structured induction and ongoing training through Arup university.
Additionally, you'll have the opportunity to utilise your technical expertise to do meaningful work that strengthens the resilience of communities and places to improve lives through Arup's community engagement programme.
Next steps
Please click on the role that most interests you to find out further information and to apply. We then ask that you complete the application form, attaching any required documents. We will be reviewing applications for this position on a rolling basis. You are therefore strongly encouraged to apply in advance of the application deadline.
Different people, shared values
At Arup, we encourage individuality to thrive by respecting, sharing and connecting our diverse experiences, perspectives and ideas so we can grow together.
At Arup we are an equal opportunity employer, and we accept people for who they are – we encourage applications from people of all backgrounds regardless of age, gender identity and expression, marital status, disability, neurodiversity and mental health, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, and whether you’re pregnant or on family leave. Your difference belongs here. We are an open environment that embraces diverse experiences, perspectives, and ideas – this drives our excellence.
Our internal employee networks support our inclusive culture – from race, ethnicity and cross-cultural working to gender, LGBTQ+ and disability – 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.
At Arup, we are committed to making all stages of our recruitment process accessible to all candidates. Please contact UKEarlyCareersRecruitment@arup.com to let us know if you need any assistance or reasonable adjustments throughout your application and we will do everything we possibly can to support you. As a Disability Confident Level 2 Employer in the UK, we will strive for one third of all our assessment places to be allocated to candidates who have disclosed they are disability confident and best meet the requirements of the role. Please refer to these requirements per each role advertised.
We appreciate that everyone’s circumstances are different and it’s not always easy to commit to standard working hours. Work Unbound is our innovative hybrid approach to working and gives all our members greater flexibility in deciding how and where they work.
