Graduate Civil Engineer - Water Structures & Dams

Arup; Cardiff; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Arup is a global engineering and advisory firm seeking graduates for the Water Structures and Dams team. The role covers dam and water infrastructure projects from concept to asset management, with emphasis on sustainable, low‑carbon design.

You will work across disciplines, using tools like AutoCAD, Civil 3D and Rhino, while developing toward professional accreditation within a supportive early‑career program. Applicants must have UK working rights.

Qualifications

• Bachelor degree in Civil or Environmental Engineering (or equivalent).
• Willingness to develop toward Professional Accreditation.
• Full UK work rights (no sponsorship).

Responsibilities

• Support concept through to detailed design for water structures and dams.
• Prepare sketches, calculations, specifications and technical reports.
• Collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams and clients to deliver resilient infrastructure.

Skills

Problem solving

Teamwork

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil/Environmental Engineering

Tools

GSA

Robot

Adsec

Grasshopper

Rhino

AutoCAD

Civil 3D

Bentley MicroStation

Job description

Graduate Civil Engineer – Water Structures & Dams

See it differently - Early Careers at Arup

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 and students who 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.

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, and using specialist modelling and design software, to develop engineering solutions including GSA/Robot/Adsec/Grasshopper/Rhino/AutoCAD/Civil 3D/Bentley MicroStation.
• 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.

https://www.arup.com/markets/water/water-resources-and-supply/dams-and-reservoirs/

Is this role right for you?

For This Opportunity, We Are Looking For

• A Minimum Bachelors degree (or equivalent) in Civil Engineering or Environmental Engineering; Ground / Geotechnical Engineering or Structural Engineering.
• Someone looking to develop their career in Engineering with a view to obtaining Professional Accreditation.

To Be Considered For a Graduate Opportunity, Your Application Must Include a Copy Of Your Academic Transcript And Meet The Following Criteria

• Full working rights in the country of application
• No more than 12 months of full-time experience in a comparable role
• Recently graduated, or on track to graduate, from your most recent degree, related to your role of choice, before employment starts.

Alongside your degree, we look for the following core attributes;

• 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.

Please note, in the event of high applicant volume, this role may be closed ahead of the advertised closing date. Early application is recommended.

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

At Arup, we care about each member’s success, so we can grow together.

Guided by our values, we provide an attractive total reward package that recognises the contribution of each of our members to our shared success. As well as competitive, fair and equitable pay, we offer a career in which all of our members can belong, grow and thrive – through benefits that support health and wellbeing, a wide range of learning opportunities and many possibilities to have an impact through the work they do.

We are owned in trust on behalf of our members, giving us the freedom, with personal responsibility, to set our own direction and choose work that aligns with our purpose and adds to Arup’s legacy. Our members collaborate on ambitious projects to deliver remarkable outcomes for our clients and communities. Profit Share is a key part of our reward, enabling permanent members to share in the results of our collective efforts.

We take an approach to flexible working that supports the diversity and wellbeing of our graduates.

We also provide for our permanent members Private medical insurance, Life assurance, Accidentinsuranceand Income protection cover. In addition, you’llhave access to flexible benefitsto help you look after all aspects of your wellbeing and give you the freedom and flexibility to find the best solutions for you, your family, and your individual needs.

Next Steps

We've designed our application process to be straightforward and supportive, giving you the opportunity to showcase your skills and potential. Applications are reviewed as they're received, so we encourage you to apply as early as possible.

The process includes an online application, psychometric testing, application review, case study, interview and offer stage. Our friendly Early Careers team is available throughout the process to answer questions and help you feel confident every step of the way.

Different people, shared values

Arup is an equal opportunity employer that actively promotes and nurtures a diverse and inclusive workforce. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, regardless of age (within legal limits), gender identity or expression, marital status, disability, neurotype or mental health, race or ethnicity, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, and whether you’re pregnant or on family leave. We are an open environment that embraces diverse experiences, perspectives, and ideas - this drives our excellence.

Guided by our values and alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, we create and contribute to equitable spaces and systems, while cultivating a sense of belonging for all. Our internal employee networks support our inclusive culture: from race, ethnicity and cross-cultural working to gender equity and LGBTQ+ and disability inclusion – 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. We are an open environment that embraces diverse experiences, perspectives, and ideas.

We are committed to making our recruitment process and workplaces accessible to all candidates. Please contact [e-mail] to let us know if you need anyassistanceor reasonable adjustments throughout your application or interview process, and/or to perform the essential functions of the role. We will do everything we can to support you.

As a Disability Confident Level 2 Employer in the UK, we will strive for one third of all ourinterviewplaces to beallocatedto candidates who havedisclosedthey are disability confident and best meet the requirements of the role.

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