Graduate Civil Engineers

The Scottish Government; Glasgow; Hybrid; GBP 26,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

The Scottish Government's Transport Scotland Graduate Scheme offers a path to Chartered status for Civil Engineering graduates through ICE or CIHT accreditation. It provides internal rotations, external secondments, and tailored development from day one, preparing graduates for senior roles within Transport Scotland and the wider Scottish Government.

Successful candidates start around September 2027 and follow a structured Training Agreement with opportunities to work across directorates, with

Qualifications

• Candidates must hold either an MEng in Civil Engineering or a BEng/BSc in Civil Engineering with a related MSc, accredited by the EngC, to follow the standard route to CEng.
• Training is designed to develop graduates from day one and progress toward Chartered status.

Responsibilities

• Project management across directorates during rotations.
• Stakeholder management with ministers and external bodies where applicable.
• Meet technical challenges and provide sound engineering judgments.
• Procurement of services and contract support where needed.
• Support for Government Ministers in a learning capacity.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder management

Technical oversight

Communication

Education

MEng in Civil Engineering

BEng/BSc in Civil Engineering + MSc in related subject

Job description

Are you looking to progress in your career to become Chartered professionals in an exciting and supportive environment?

Join our dynamic Civil Engineering teams and work on high-profile, nationally recognised projects through the Transport Scotland Graduate Scheme. Accredited by the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) and Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation (CIHT), this program offers an exceptional opportunity for graduates to develop their skills and achieve Chartered status while also preparing them for working as a senior professional within the industry.

Since 2006, our Graduate Training Scheme has successfully guided graduates to achieve Chartered status through ICE or CIHT. Our bespoke training scheme is unique in that it is designed to provide a targeted and focused development of Civil Engineering Graduates from the moment they join the scheme.

Successful candidates will be expected to start approximately September 2027.

We want to develop 'in-house' talent that can, in time, successfully apply for promotion to our Senior Civil Engineer roles within Transport Scotland.

Our system of internal rotations across Directorates, along with external secondments to Design Consultancies and construction sites, allows Graduates to gain broad experience and develop skills that might otherwise be difficult to attain in a four to five year period. This provides Graduates with an overall broader experience in terms of both the practical aspects of planning and engineering, along with the skills to project manage the engineering process and make sound engineering judgements. Graduates will also be supported to develop their skills as Civil Servants, provide support to Ministers, and serve the people of Scotland.

Graduates enter a Training Agreement with Transport Scotland, outlining responsibilities and aligning with the Professional Body’s Training Scheme. Progress is tracked through the ICE’s Professional Development Online system, ensuring graduates are on track to meet ICE Member attributes and achieve professional qualification.

Responsibilities

• Project management.
• Stakeholder management.
• Technical challenge.
• Procurement of services.
• Support for Government Ministers.
• Specific tasks/duties will change depending on which Directorate the graduate is working in at the time. Graduates will have input into their scheduled placements to help tailor their experiences to their individual preferences, whilst ensuring that business priorities are being met.

Qualifications

Candidates must demonstrate that they hold either a MEng in Civil Engineering or a BEng/BSc in Civil Engineering with a further MSc in a related subject, both of which must be accredited by the Engineering Council (EngC) to follow the standard route to the CEng qualification. You can verify your degree here.

Success profile

Success profiles are specific to each job, and they include the mix of experience, skills and behaviours candidates will be assessed on.

Technical / Professional Skills

• Developing Science & Engineering Capability: You can display professionalism and use best practice in performing and reporting work.
• Technical Oversight & Management: You can plan and manage technical elements of a project, identifying the techniques and resources required for efficient and effective delivery.

Behaviours

• Making Effective Decisions - Level 3
• Communicating and Influencing - Level 3
• Developing Self and Others - Level 3
• Working Together - Level 3

Requirements

Please note, for this vacancy we will be carrying out an initial sift based on the following qualification requirements which have also been identified above:

"Candidates must demonstrate that they hold either a MEng in Civil Engineering or a BEng/BSc in Civil Engineering with a further MSc in a related subject, both of which must be accredited by the Engineering Council (EngC) to follow the standard route to the CEng qualification. You can verify your degree here."

Candidates who do not state the above will be sifted out at the initial sift. Only candidates who provide this information will be taken through to the full sift.

Candidates who pass the initial Qualification sift will then be sifted on the remaining criteria. If invited for further assessment, this will consist of an interview and presentation where all criteria in the Success Profile above will be tested.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can be used to support your application, but all statements and examples provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, and presented as your own) applications will be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.

Please see our candidate guidance for more information on acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI in recruitment.

If invited for further assessment, this will consist of an interview and presentation.

Assessments are scheduled for w/c 2 February 2026, however this may be subject to change.

Recruitment Principles

As a government organisation, we adhere to the Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principles and we investigate any complaints received in relation to recruitment cases.

About Us

Transport Scotland is the national transport agency, seeking to deliver a safe, efficient, cost-effective and sustainable transport system for the benefit of the people of Scotland. Transport Scotland is accountable to Parliament and the public through Scottish Ministers, with a budget of around £4 billion per year. Transport is a vital feature of the Scottish Government's focus on increasing sustainable economic growth, and transport investments and policies have major impacts on the economy, people, and the environment.

The Scottish Government is the devolved government for Scotland. We have responsibility for a wide range of key policy areas including: education, health, the economy, justice, housing and transport. We offer rewarding careers and employ people across Scotland in a wide range of professions and roles.

Our staff are part of the UK Civil Service, working for Ministers and senior stakeholders to deliver vital public services which improve the lives of the people of Scotland.

We offer a supportive and inclusive working environment along with a wide range of employee benefits. Find out more about what we offer.

As part of the UK Civil Service, we uphold the Civil Service Nationality Rules.

Working pattern

Our standard hours are 35 hours per week and we offer a range of flexible working options depending on the needs of the role.

Transport Scotland staff in hybrid-compatible roles should aim to work in-person 40% of the time, either in an office or other agreed work location.

Security checks

Successful candidates must complete the Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) before they can be appointed. BPSS is comprised of four main pre-employment checks – Identity, right to work, Employment History and a Criminal Record check (unspent convictions).

You can find out more about BPSS on the UK Government website, or read about the different levels of security checks in our Candidate Guide.

Following appointment further security checks may be required depending on the nature of work undertaken.

Equality Statement

We are committed to equality and inclusion and we aim to recruit a diverse workforce that reflects the population of our nation.

Find out more about our commitment to diversity and how we offer and support recruitment adjustments for anyone who needs them.

Sponsorship

Skilled Worker sponsorship is not available for this role. As a result, we are unable to appoint candidates who require Skilled Worker sponsorship now or in the future. Applicants must have an existing and ongoing right to work in the UK.

Further information

Find out more about our organisation, what we offer staff members and how to apply on our Careers Website.

Read our Candidate Guide for further information on our recruitment and application processes.

For more information on this role, please contact Julie Wallace by email at [e-mail]

Apply by: 25th November 2026 (23:59)