Civil Engineer - Water Major Projects

Mott MacDonald; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private medical insurance

Pension scheme 4.5–7%

Life assurance 4× salary

Income protection

Flexible benefits

Annual bonus

Job summary

Mott MacDonald is seeking a Civil Engineer to support major water infrastructure programmes from feasibility through outline design. The role involves front-end engineering, coordination with multidisciplinary teams and input to planning and DCO processes.

You will contribute to technical reports and design outputs while learning from senior engineers. The successful candidate will have a Civil Engineering degree, UK water sector experience, and a proactive approach to delivering cost‑effective,

Qualifications

• Essential: Degree in Civil Engineering or related discipline.
• Essential: Experience in the UK water sector.
• Essential: Civil engineering design and analysis experience.
• Essential: Understanding of water/wastewater standards and specifications.
• Essential: Experience in multidisciplinary teams.
• Essential: Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Essential: Ability to deliver technically sound, cost-effective solutions.
• Essential: Proactive and adaptable approach to learning and project delivery.

Responsibilities

• Support front-end engineering: feasibility, concept and outline design.
• Participate in multidisciplinary teams for coordinated designs.
• Assist in development of consentable schemes; input to planning and DCO processes.
• Prepare and contribute to technical deliverables and reports.
• Undertake design calculations and analyses; support design reviews.
• Liaise with clients, stakeholders and internal teams.
• Collaborate with senior staff and learning from experts.
• Support bids and proposals where required.
• Contribute to innovation, digital tools and best practice.

Skills

Civil engineering degree

UK water sector experience

Civil engineering design/analysis

Water/wastewater standards knowledge

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Strong communication

Deliver technically sound solutions

Chartered development focus

Education

Bachelors in Civil Engineering

Tools

Civils 3D

GIS

Modelling

CDM principles

Job description

Location

Cambridge, Reading, London, Leeds, Sheffield, Belfast, Bristol, UK

Overview

You will support the delivery of major water infrastructure programmes, particularly during the earlier engineering stages of feasibility, concept and outline design, contributing to the development of robust and well‑integrated solutions. You will provide support to projects through planning and consenting processes, in particular the Development Consent Order process for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) in the UK.

Key Responsibilities

• Support delivery of front‑end engineering (feasibility, concept and outline design)
• Participate in multi‑disciplinary teams, contributing to coordinated and integrated designs
• Assist in the development of consentable schemes, including inputs to planning and DCO processes
• Prepare and contribute to technical deliverables, reports and design outputs
• Undertake design calculations and analysis, and support design reviews
• Liaise with clients, stakeholders and internal teams
• Work collaboratively with senior staff and learn from technical leaders and specialists
• Support bids and proposals where required
• Contribute to innovation, digital tools and best practice development
• Follow health, safety, environmental and quality requirements

Candidate Specification

Essential

• Degree in Civil Engineering (or related discipline)
• Experience working within the UK water sector
• Experience in civil engineering design and analysis
• Understanding of water and/or wastewater standards and specifications
• Experience working as part of a multi‑disciplinary team
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to contribute to delivering technically sound and cost‑effective solutions
• Proactive and adaptable approach to learning and project delivery
• Commitment to professional development, ideally working towards chartership

Desirable

• Exposure to front‑end engineering stages (feasibility or concept design)
• Awareness of planning and consenting processes, including NSIPs/DCO
• Experience in pipelines, water/wastewater treatment, reservoirs, flood risk or large‑scale infrastructure projects
• Understanding of CDM principles
• Familiarity with digital engineering tools (e.g. Civils 3D, GIS, modelling)
• Interest in sustainability and low‑carbon design
• Willingness to travel to sites and other offices as required
• Ability to write clearly and succinctly for the purpose of technical reports

Benefits

Financial Wellbeing

• We match employee pension contributions between 4.5% and 7%.
• Life assurance equal up to 4× your basic salary, with an option to increase the level of cover to 6× your salary.
• Income protection scheme providing a financial benefit and return‑to‑work support for long‑term illness or injury.
• Flexible benefits, including increased life assurance cover, critical illness insurance, payroll saving and will writing.
• Annual bonus schemes as part of our independently owned business model.

Employee Ownership

• No external investors; shared success culture.
• Stake and voice in business through bonuses and direct communication with senior leadership.
• Direct pathway towards ownership for senior roles from day one.

Health and Wellbeing

• Private medical insurance for all UK colleagues.
• Health cash plan for everyday health costs and treatments.
• Access to menopause experts via Peppy.
• Comprehensive wellbeing programme for you and your family.
• Option to flex salary into a wide range of health benefits, extendable to family.

Lifestyle

• Minimum 33‑35 days holiday each year (inclusive of public holidays).
• Additional paid leave for Armed Forces Reservists and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers.
• Holiday entitlement increases to a minimum of 35 days after 5 years of service.
• Employee saving schemes and retailer discounts.

Enhanced Family and Carers Leave

• 26 weeks paid maternity and adoption leave; two weeks paid paternity/partner leave.
• Up to 24 weeks paid parental leave for all parents.
• Up to five additional days leave for significant caring responsibilities (two paid).
• Policies and support for military families.

Learning and Development

• Primary annual professional institution subscription.
• Opportunities to enhance both technical and soft skills through mentoring, training and self‑development.

Networks, Communities and Social Outcomes

• Advanced Employee Networks supporting LGBTQ+, gender, race, ethnicity, disability and parent/carer communities.
• Armed Forces Covenant and Gold Award holder recognition.
• Opportunities to contribute to community social outcomes.

Equal Opportunity

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We believe that different perspectives strengthen our teams and improve the solutions we deliver. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and encourage you to apply, even if you do not meet every requirement listed.

UK Immigration

Mott MacDonald Ltd. are not currently offering sponsorship to candidates under the Skilled Worker visa route in the UK. We continue to welcome applications from candidates who are eligible for alternative immigration routes that do not require sponsorship.

Agile Working

We offer a hybrid working policy that embraces well‑being, flexibility and trust, allowing you and your manager to choose how you can work most effectively.

Contract Details

Permanent, Full‑time

Job Reference

15422