Job description
Graduate Water and Environment Engineer
Job Details
- Locations:Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester, Newcastle, Sheffield
- Job Type:Graduates
- Closing Date:15 November 2025
- Ref:5807
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
We are seeking to employ a graduate water and environment engineer or scientist who will work as part of the North (Scotland, Northern Ireland and North East England), and North West and Yorkshire geography. The role is within our Climate and Sustainability Services (CSS) team, and will ideally be based in Newcastle upon Tyne, although Glasgow, Belfast, Leeds, Sheffield or Manchester might also be possible.
Specifically, the candidate will work on a range of projects focusing on the Water Environment in the UK and abroad. This types of work could include natural flood and drought management, river and wetland restoration, blue green corridors in town and cities, urban greening, general river basin process restoration, natural approaches to coastal management and flood risk management more generally.
The candidate will play a role in the analysis of hydrological systems, developing an understanding of risks, problems and opportunities and designing and developing innovative and creative solutions. The role will work as part of multi-disciplinary water and environment project teams including hydrologists, geomorphologists, ecologists, landscape architects, carbon specialists and engineers. The role will present opportunities to work on a broad range of projects in the UK and abroad and contribute to increased resilience of the environment and society.
The role will also present an opportunity to contribute to Environmental Impact Assessments, Flood Risk Assessments and Water Framework Directive Assessments for a range of developments. The role will sometimes require other types of activity to be supported including ecological surveys, river surveys and support for other disciplines generally.
Is this role right for you?
A degree in Engineering, Geography or Environmental Sciences would be expected. Post graduate qualifications (e.g. MSc and/or PhD) would be welcomed but are not crucial.
Technical attributes:
- A passion and enthusiasm for improving the environment and taking action on climate change
- An understanding of river basin hydrology and geomorphology, nature based solutions and flood risk management
- An interest in rivers and ecosystems, and the ecosystem services that rivers basins and their ecosystems provide
- Ability in design and an interest in designing with and for nature. An aspiration to be an architect for water and ecological systems.
- Analytical, data processing and digital skills (including coding desirable)
- Experience and knowledge of Geographical Information Systems
- Experience and/or knowledge of hydraulic modelling and design software packages
- An interest in Research and Innovation
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: 15th November 2025
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.
