Job description
Graduate Urban Designer
Job Details
- Locations:London
- Job Type:Graduates
- Closing Date:5 June 2026
- Ref:6108
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 Urban Design discipline within Arup's Cities Planning & Design Team shapes sustainable, people-focused environments across scales. Working from strategic vision to detailed design, the team collaborates across disciplines to deliver integrated, place-led solutions. Engaging in projects from regeneration to new settlements worldwide, Urban Designers help create distinctive, resilient and successful urban environments.
The Opportunity
Arup's London Masterplanning and Urban Design Team delivers an integrated approach and sustainable solutions to the design of cities and complex urban environments. We are a collaborative team of urban designers and architects working cross-disciplinarily with landscape architects, economists, planners, transport planners and sustainability experts. We work collaboratively with our clients to shape, justify, consent and deliver transformative projects.
Our Masterplanning and Urban Design Team design cities and places, influencing and shaping the physical, social, and economic infrastructures that underpin sustainable development. We are a diverse and experienced team of eighteen architects, masterplanners and urban designers committed to delivering meaningful places and more sustainable futures.
We are:
Design leaders: we lead masterplans and urban development projects
Integrators: we bring Arup and our partners technical expertise together to create maximum impact
Storytellers: we communicate compelling futures for our clients and communities
Local and global: we work internationally, creating place specific designs rooted in context
Big and small: we design from the scale of streets to neighbourhoods to city regions
We are looking for an Urban Designer to join our growing London team. Successful candidates will contribute to a diverse portfolio of UK and international projects, working alongside our passionate and highly skilled team, as well as the broader expertise of Arup and our partners. Our current work spans a range of scales and sectors, including strategic growth plans, masterplanning around infrastructure investment, and the regeneration of complex urban sites.
Is this role right for you?
You will have:
- An undergraduate degree in Urban Design, Architecture or Urban Planning with an achieved or predicted grade of 2:1 or above
- Excellent drawing and presentation skills, including 3D modelling and outstanding graphics
- A keen interest in large scale urban projects and be able to present your work in this context
- An awareness of the RIBA Work Stages and current UK Planning Policy
- Programming skills to aid our digital transformation initiatives are a plus
Technical Skills:
- Good CAD skills (AutoCAD) including 3D modelling (Rhinoceros)
- Outstanding graphic skills including hand drawings and diagrams, plans and images using in the Adobe Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign)
- Excellent spoken and written English
- Good familiarity with Microsoft Office Suite
- Additional skills in GIS, Grasshopper, Lumion, advanced visualisation or sustainability qualifications are desirable
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.
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: 5th June 2026
Portfolio
In order for your application to be considered for this role, please upload evidence of work, for example your sample portfolio or website link. The document must be in PDF format and no larger than 20MB. Please use image compression and vector drawings where possible to keep the file size down without sacrificing quality. To upload your sample portfolio please add it within the 'supporting documents' section of your application.
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.
Our hybrid work model creates an environment that accommodates different needs and allows members to integrate their work and personal lives alongside the needs of our business, clients and communities.
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.
