Graduate Civil/Structural/Geotechnical Design Engineer - 2027

Kier Group; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 31,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

The Kier Group invites graduates to join our Graduate Development Programme across Civil, Structural and Geotechnical design. Based in one of our offices (including Birmingham), you’ll rotate through design teams, gain broad experience on Kier projects, and be supported by mentors to achieve professional qualifications.

Starting in September 2027, the two-year permanent, full-time programme offers hands-on design and site exposure, with a clear path to an assistant level role and salary

Qualifications

• Engineering degree required, accredited by Engineering Council.
• Demonstrated motivation to pursue civil/structural/geotechnical engineering and professional development.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking with attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to design and checking of permanent and/or temporary design solutions.
• Assist with tendering, outline design schemes, feasibility studies and concept evaluation.
• Support development of alternative solutions and value engineering.
• Contribute to technical assessment and review of third party designs.
• Conduct site visits, surveys and inspections; attend meetings with clients, contractors and stakeholders.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Attention to detail

Motivation to learn

Education

Engineering Council accredited degree (civil/structural/geotechnical)

Job description

Location

Based in one of our offices - Liverpool, Leeds, Penrith, Salford, Norwich, Ipswich, Birmingham, London, Basingstoke, Rushden, Bristol, Exeter.

Hours

40 hours per week

Starting Salary

£31,000 per annum

Pathway

Permanent, Full-time 2-year programme, leading to assistant level role upon completion with salary potential of CIRCA £38k

Starting date

September 2027

Certificates of sponsorship

We are unable to offer certificates of sponsorship to any candidates in this role.

Assessment centre dates according to your local region

• London - 30th November/1st December 2026
• Salford - 8th and 9th December 2026
• Birmingham - 13th and 14th January 2027

This is a fantastic opportunity for a recent graduate to gain the broadest range of experience within a top-25 consultant and with access to Kier's £11bn+ pipeline of construction and infrastructure projects. You'll enrol on Kier's Graduate Development Programme and be supported through our graduate pathway, which includes industry-leading technical training, rotations in different areas of the design business, a site secondment to a Kier project, and a mentor who will support you to achieve professional qualification. We operate a merit-based approach to promotion, putting you in charge of the pace of your development and progression.

What will you be responsible for?

As a Graduate Civil / Structural / Geotechnical Design Engineer, you'll be working within the Kier Design team, supporting them in delivering a range of designs and consultancy services for Kier projects and external clients across all sectors of the built environment. Your day to day will include:

• Contributing to the design and checking of permanent and/or temporary design solutions
• Assisting with tender and bid-winning support, including outline design schemes, feasibility studies, and evaluation of concepts
• Supporting the development of alternative solutions and value engineering
• Contributing to the technical assessment and review of third party designs
• Conducting site visits, surveys and inspections; attending meetings with clients, contractors and stakeholders

What are the benefits for you?

• Practical experience: gain valuable hands-on experience in your field.
• Skill improvement: develop technical and professional skills.
• Networking:build professional relationships and expand your network.
• Career insight: gain insights into your chosen industry and potential career paths.

Rewards and benefits

We're proud to be able to offer our brilliant people a wide variety of benefits that you can tailor to your needs. You can see more information of benefits here.

What are we looking for?

We're looking for people due to graduate in 2027, or have recently graduated within the past three years, with a degree in Civil, Structural or Geotechnical Engineering. This role of Graduate Civil / Structural / Geotechnical Design Engineer is great for you if you:

• Have completed (by time of employment) an Engineering Council accredited degree in civil, structural or geotechnical engineering, or a closely-related discipline
• Demonstrate a genuine interest in pursuing a career in civil, structural and/or geotechnical engineering and the construction industry, with clear motivation to learn and develop professionally
• You have strong analytical and critical thinking skills to assess situations and problem solve with excellent attention to detail
• You show enthusiasm for learning new skills and knowledge, and the ability to adapt in response to feedback
• You hold a Full driving licence, or are available to travel as required

Diversity and inclusion

Making Kier a diverse and inclusive place to work is a huge priority for us. We're proud of the steps we've taken so far, but we know we must always do more. Our employees are key in shaping Kier's diversity and inclusion initiatives and our people have made a huge impact on how we work, by using their experiences to shape our policies. You can see our D&I action plan here. As a Disability Confident employer, we will ensure that a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants that meet the minimum criteria for this role will be offered an interview.

It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations we reserve the right to close adverts early

We’re all about finding potential here at Kier, and transferrable skills are always welcome! So, even if you don't tick every box, please apply and we can have a chat.