Graduate Civil Engineer (Water Structures & Dams) 2027

Bright Network; Cardiff; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

Arup is a global consultancy offering a graduate opportunity in Water Structures and Dams. You will contribute from concept through to detailed design, construction and ongoing asset management for public and private sector clients in a multidisciplinary environment.

You will perform site visits, assessments and design calculations using advanced modelling tools and collaborate with civil, geotechnical, and flood modellers.

Qualifications

• A minimum Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering or Environmental Engineering; Ground/Geotechnical or Structural Engineering is acceptable.
• Someone looking to develop their career in Engineering with a view to Professional Accreditation.
• To be considered for a graduate opportunity, you must have full working rights in the UK and meet criteria on experience and graduation timing.
• The program seeks changemakers with passion for sustainable development, innovative minds and a growth mindset.

Responsibilities

• Site visits including dam and water infrastructure asset inspections and structural surveys.
• Carrying out assessment, options appraisal, analysis and design using sector software.
• Preparing sketches, drawings, calculations, specifications and technical reports.
• Collaborating with multidisciplinary teams and engaging with clients and stakeholders.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering or Environmental Engineering

Tools

GSA

Robot

Adsec

Grasshopper

Rhino

AutoCAD

Civil 3D

Bentley MicroStation

Job description

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.

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.

You should be able to start this opportunity on 1 September 2027. Advert Closing Date: 12 November 2026.

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, Accident insurance and Income protection cover. In addition, you’ll have access to flexible benefits to 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.