Engineering Graduate Management Trainee (site-based)

Wates Smartspace; United Kingdom; Remote; GBP 25,000 - 31,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private medical insurance

Car allowance

Health & wellness programme

26 days holiday + bank holidays

Birthday Day off

Job summary

Wates is offering an Engineering (construction) Trainee opportunity to gain hands-on experience across design, coordination, installation and commissioning of solutions on diverse construction projects.

You will work with engineers, PMs, subcontractors and clients, learning how technical, commercial and operational decisions deliver safe, high-performing buildings.

Qualifications

• By September 2027, you must have obtained a Bachelor's degree with a 2:2 or above.
• For some locations, a full UK driving license and a degree subject relevant to this position are required.

Responsibilities

• Support project teams through all project lifecycle stages (pre-construction, design, procurement, installation, commissioning, aftercare).
• Assist in developing practical, cost-effective and sustainable engineering solutions that meet project requirements.
• Work with technical drawings, specifications and CAD/BIM software.
• Coordinate and manage the design process with consultants and stakeholders.
• Oversee installation of engineering systems to ensure safety and design compliance.
• Understand project budgets, cost management and value optimisation.
• Monitor health, safety, environmental and quality standards.
• Assist testing, commissioning and performance checks to ensure systems meet specs.
• Collaborate with commercial, planning, design and site teams to understanding project delivery.
• Assist with handover of completed projects and demonstrate performance against requirements.
• Gain technical and behavioural knowledge through manuals, workshops, placements and qualifications.

Skills

Collaboration

Curiosity

Ownership

Professionalism

Organisation

Education

Bachelor's degree (2:2 or above)

Tools

CAD

BIM

Job description

About the opportunity:

As aEngineering (construction) Trainee, you will gain hands-on experience supporting the design, coordination, installation and commissioning of engineering solutions across a wide range of construction projects. Working alongside experienced engineers, project managers, subcontractors and clients, you will develop an understanding of how technical, commercial and operational decisions come together to deliver safe, sustainable and high-performing buildings.

Throughout the programme, you will be exposed to the full project lifecycle, from pre-construction and design through to procurement, installation, commissioning and handover. You will play a key role in helping project teams deliver engineering solutions that meet client requirements while balancing quality, cost, sustainability and programme objectives.

This is an excitingopportunity to develop both your technical and commercial knowledge while building a strong foundation for a career in construction engineering.

What you will do:

Over the course of theprogramme, you will:

• Support project teams throughout all stages of the project lifecycle, including pre-construction, design, procurement, installation, commissioning and aftercare.
• Assist in developing practical, cost-effective and sustainable engineering solutions that meet project and client requirements.
• Work with technical drawings, specifications and digital design tools, including computer-aided design (CAD) and building information modelling (BIM) software.
• Support the coordination and management of the design process, working with consultants, designers and project stakeholders.
• Assist in overseeing the installation of engineering systems and construction activities to ensure they are delivered safely and in accordance with design requirements.
• Develop an understanding of project budgets, cost management and value optimisation throughout the delivery process.
• Monitor engineering works to ensure compliance with health, safety, environmental and quality standards.
• Support testing, commissioning and performance checks to ensure systems operate as intended and meet project specifications.
• Collaborate with commercial, planning, design and site teams to understand how projects are managed and successfully delivered.
• Assist with the handover of completed projects, helping to demonstrate that installations meet client expectations and required performance standards.
• Gain the relevant technical and behavioural knowledge for your role, through the completion of a technical manual, behavioural workshops, short-term placements and relevant qualifications.

About you:

To besuccessful, you'll:

• Be passionate about building a career in the built environment.
• Be curious, eager to learn and committed to your personal development.
• Build positive relationships and work collaboratively with others.
• Take ownership of your work and act with integrity and professionalism.
• Approach challenges with a positive, solution-focused mindset.
• Be organised, adaptable and able to prioritise effectively.
• Be committed to delivering high standards and making a positive impact.

What's in it for you?

At Wates, we'recommitted to helping you build a successful career in construction. Alongside hands-on experience in your chosen career pathway, graduates who do not hold a degree in a construction-related subject will be enrolled onto a relevant Level 4 apprenticeship, providing additional learning and development to help accelerate your career in the built environment.

You'll also benefitfrom mentoring, structured training, behavioural workshops and support from experienced professionals throughout your programme. We encourage and support our trainees to continue their professional development through industry-recognised qualifications and, where applicable, work towards chartership.

In addition, we offer:

• Competitive salary
• Private medical insurance
• Car allowance
• Health & wellness programme
• 26 days holiday + bank holidays
• Birthday Day off

EntryRequirements

To beeligible for this programme, you must:

• By September 2027, you must have obtained a bachelor's degree with a predicted or achieved classification of 2:2 or above.
• For some locations, a full UK driving license and a degree subject relevant to this position are required. Please refer to the location requirements below for further details.

Locations

• London
  • Subject degree is required
  • Full UK driving licence is not required

• Yorkshire (Leeds / Keighley/Wakefield) and Sunderland
  • Subject degree is not required.
  • Full UK driving licenserequired

Please note that the location listed in this advert reflects your initial placement and may change throughout the programme depending on project and business requirements.

Important: Travel Requirements

As a project-based business, our teams work across a variety of locations. Depending on the role, you may be required to work from different project sites within the region or nationally throughout the programme.

Please carefully consider this requirement before applying, as travel and mobility are essential parts of the role. Successful candidates must be willing to travel in line with project and business need.

Applications close on 10th November 2026.

About Wates

Established in 1897, we are one of the UK's leading family-owned development, building and property maintenance companies. With 6,000 employees and now in our fourth generation of family ownership, we're committed to the long-term sustainability of the built environment and to making our industry more inclusiveand representative of the communities we work in.

With multiple businesses working across the built environment, we can offer a wide range of career opportunities.

As part of our trainee programme, you'll join a network of around 200 peers, learning and working together as you build connections and develop your career at Wates.

Our commitments

Wates is proud to be an employer where everyone can thrive, and we welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds.

If you require reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, we will be happy to support you. To discuss your requirements, please contact us at [e-mail].

Please note that some roles may require additional pre-employment checks due to the nature of the work.