Graduate Engineer - Rail Track - Birmingham

Arup; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

Arup is seeking a Graduate Engineer for the Birmingham Rail Track team. You will get structured training, work on real projects across UK/international rails, and learn to develop track systems with senior mentors.

You'll gain exposure to feasibility, detailed design, and project delivery while visiting sites and expanding your professional network. We require a relevant degree and a proactive, curious mindset; visa eligibility is UK-specific and relocation may be necessary.

Qualifications

• Full working rights in the country of application.
• Recently graduated or on track to graduate before employment starts.
• Degree related to the role of choice.

Responsibilities

• Support the design and development of railway track systems.
• Collaborate across multidisciplinary teams.
• Support project delivery and technical assurance.
• Apply safety and engineering best practice.

Skills

Spatial Problem Solving

Microsoft Office

Windows OS

Clear Route 2

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil/Mechanical/PM or related

Tools

CAD (Autodesk & Bentley)

Job description

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

As a Graduate Engineer, you'll work alongside skilled professionals within the Track team in our Birmingham Rail team. You will receive structured training in our systems and design software and will be working on real-life, meaningful projects that add value to clients while exploring challenges with curiosity and creativity. You'll learn from others, continue developing your professional network, and build the skills and experience needed to support your professional development and future chartership aspirations. There are regular learning sessions, opportunities for site visits to local projects, and various social events and CPD (Continuing Professional Development) activities that will support your learning and development. We are committed to helping you develop your technical, project management and professional skills, providing the support and opportunities needed to build a successful career within Arup. While you will have responsibility from day one, we'll give you the chance to take on more as you progress and broaden your skills. We ask that you are flexible on location as you may at times be required to work from other locations across the UK, depending on the needs of our clients and business.

Within the Track team, you will be involved in projects covering all stages of design, from early feasibility and alignment development through to detailed design, approval for construction, and ongoing advice for managing existing assets. Working on a variety of UK and international projects for a diverse range of clients, you will gain broad experience across multiple schemes and disciplines, with opportunities to undertake site visits where project requirements allow. As a graduate, you will contribute to the development of track systems as a key aspect of your role, supporting clients in selecting appropriate track systems and products for both ballasted and slab track solutions, while collaborating closely with suppliers and other designers to integrate these into project designs. You will work alongside a wide range of teams and disciplines, developing the skills needed to resolve complex multidisciplinary interfaces and deliver coordinated engineering solutions. Your work may include alignment design, track feasibility studies, detailed track and S&C design, gauge clearance analysis, alignment cost estimating and quantities, component specification, and trackform design. In addition, you will support the planning and delivery of your work, including requirements management, assurance activities, and the application of safety principles throughout the project lifecycle.

We look forward to receiving your application and hopefully welcoming you to our team and supporting your journey towards a successful career in the railway industry.

You would:

• Support the design and development of railway track systems
• Collaborate across multidisciplinary teams
• Support project delivery and technical assurance
• Apply safety and engineering best practice

Is this role right for you?

For this opportunity, we are seeking the following qualifications, skills and attributes:

• A bachelor's degree in relevant academic discipline, such as Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or Project & Programme Management.
• Spatial Problem Solving
• Microsoft Office
• Windows OS
• CAD (Autodesk & Bentley)
• Clear Route 2

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: 18th December 2026

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 [e-mail] to let us know if you need any assistance or 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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Birmingham, West Midlands, United Kingdom