Graduate Mechanical Engineer

MWH Treatment; City of Westminster; Hybrid; GBP 26,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

25 days holiday + bank holidays

Private medical insurance

Gym memberships

Pension scheme

Cycle to work

Employee assistance scheme

Job summary

MWH Treatment is seeking graduates for the 2027 intake into a structured GDP in Mechanical Engineering. You will join an established team and work on live water and wastewater projects, gaining hands-on design, build, and commissioning exposure.

The three-year programme includes technical training, mentoring, and professional registration support with IMechE, with site placements and a hybrid working pattern designed to develop engineering judgement.

Qualifications

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering (2:2 or above)
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Demonstrates a willingness to learn and develop
• Ability to work collaboratively within diverse teams

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with Process, Civil, EICA, Design, Delivery and other disciplines to develop safe, practical and cost-effective engineering solutions.
• Produce and contribute to mechanical design layouts, specifications, datasheets, equipment and pipeline schedules, calculations, reports and technical documentation.
• Support the development and review of 3D models and engineering visualisations, considering construction, operation, access and maintenance requirements.
• Develop mechanical solutions in accordance with project specifications, client asset standards, WIMES, relevant engineering standards and HSE guidance.
• Develop practical engineering knowledge of pumps, hydraulics, pipework, valves, materials, mechanical equipment, filtration, disinfection and water and wastewater treatment processes.
• Attend water and wastewater treatment sites to undertake surveys, condition assessments and design verification, developing an understanding of operational assets and site constraints.
• Prepare and contribute to design risk assessments, multidisciplinary design reviews, HAZOP studies and Operability & Maintenance (OpMan) reviews.
• Develop commercial awareness by understanding project deliverables, design allowances, programme, design costs and the impact of engineering decisions on project affordability.
• Engage with equipment manufacturers and suppliers through technical meetings, factory visits, Lunch & Learns and industry events.
• Develop deeper knowledge in selected mechanical or treatment areas, with opportunities to become a technical champion as your experience develops.
• Contribute to continuous improvement and knowledge sharing, including lessons learned, technical presentations, engineering guidance and standard templates.
• Develop awareness of the responsible use of AI and digital tools to support engineering activities, while maintaining engineering judgement and appropriate verification.

Skills

Strong communication

Teamwork

Willingness to learn

Collaborative

Education

Mechanical Engineering degree (2:2 or above)

Job description

We're looking for graduates for the 2027 intake, who are curious, collaborative and keen to build a career in Mechanical Engineering and who enjoy working with people, solving problems and learning new things! You will join an established Mechanical Engineering team of 10+ engineers, ranging from Graduate and Mechanical Engineers through to Senior and Principal Mechanical Engineers, giving you access to a broad range of experience, technical knowledge and day-to-day support. Working within an integrated Design & Build environment, you will contribute to live water and wastewater projects and gain practical experience of how mechanical engineering develops from initial concept and design through to safe, operable and maintainable assets. Alongside project experience, you will follow a structured technical and professional development programme designed to progressively build your knowledge, practical experience and engineering judgement. It's your career, let's shape it together! The graduate programme is tailored to your needs with a flexible and varied learning environment, you'll feel empowered to make decisions and harness your knowledge and practical skills. The sky's the limit!

Purpose of Role

To develop the technical knowledge, practical experience and engineering judgement required to become a capable and increasingly independent Mechanical Engineer, while contributing to the successful delivery of water and wastewater projects. As your capability develops, you will progress from supported engineering activities towards ownership of defined mechanical design packages, supported by experienced engineers and a structured Graduate Development Programme (GDP).

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with Process, Civil, EICA, Design, Delivery and other disciplines to develop safe, practical and cost-effective engineering solutions.
• Produce and contribute to mechanical design layouts, specifications, datasheets, equipment and pipeline schedules, calculations, reports and technical documentation.
• Support the development and review of 3D models and engineering visualisations, considering construction, operation, access and maintenance requirements.
• Develop mechanical solutions in accordance with project specifications, client asset standards, WIMES, relevant engineering standards and HSE guidance.
• Develop practical engineering knowledge of pumps, hydraulics, pipework, valves, materials, mechanical equipment, filtration, disinfection and water and wastewater treatment processes.
• Attend water and wastewater treatment sites to undertake surveys, condition assessments and design verification, developing an understanding of operational assets and site constraints.
• Prepare and contribute to design risk assessments, multidisciplinary design reviews, HAZOP studies and Operability & Maintenance (OpMan) reviews.
• Develop commercial awareness by understanding project deliverables, design allowances, programme, design costs and the impact of engineering decisions on project affordability.
• Engage with equipment manufacturers and suppliers through technical meetings, factory visits, Lunch & Learns and industry events.
• Develop deeper knowledge in selected mechanical or treatment areas, with opportunities to become a technical champion as your experience develops.
• Contribute to continuous improvement and knowledge sharing, including lessons learned, technical presentations, engineering guidance and standard templates.
• Develop awareness of the responsible use of AI and digital tools to support engineering activities, while maintaining engineering judgement and appropriate verification.

Graduate Programme

Our structured three-year GDP is designed to develop you into a rounded Mechanical Engineer with strong technical foundations and practical Design & Build experience. You will benefit from:

• A structured development pathway that progressively builds technical knowledge, practical experience, responsibility and engineering judgement.
• Support from an established Mechanical Engineering team, together with a Mechanical Engineering buddy and professional-development mentor.
• Support towards professional registration with the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) through the Monitored Professional Development Scheme (MPDS) and Graduate Development Log (GDL).
• Structured technical learning, including online training in hydraulics, pumping systems, pump selection and sizing, pump efficiency and variable-speed pumping, alongside water and wastewater treatment, engineering standards, CDM2015 and design safety.
• Opportunities to engage with the wider water industry, equipment manufacturers and suppliers, including opportunities to attend the Water Equipment Show (WES) and other technical events.
• A minimum six-month site placement during the GDP, providing practical exposure to procurement, supplier and contractor interaction, installation, construction, testing, commissioning and handover.

Qualifications

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering (2:2 or above, or expected to achieve).
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrates a willingness to learn and develop.
• Ability to work collaboratively within diverse teams.
• Please note that due to Home Office rules and requirements, we are unable to provide visa sponsorship at any stage during this three-year programme.

Desirable

• Placement, internship or relevant industry experience.
• Interest in working towards professional registration with a relevant engineering institution.

We welcome applications from candidates outside the region who are willing and able to relocate or travel to the Thames Water & Northumbrian Water Region.

As a graduate, you will typically work in person up to four days per week, primarily in the office and at project sites where required.

MWH Treatment is an integrated design and build provider working in the water sector. With over 1400 staff working across eight regional centres, supporting six long-term water sector frameworks and two recently won frameworks, operating both as a sole contractor but also in joint ventures and alliances. At MWH Treatment we believe that people matter. We know to build successful, creative teams we need a diverse workforce that can deliver innovative ways of thinking. We provide an environment where you will have the freedom to develop and grow to your full potential, creating opportunity by inviting, embracing, and celebrating difference, our goal as an employer is to motivate, and develop our employees. By fostering a diverse range of talents and perspectives we ensure we have the breadth of viewpoints, experiences, and skills needed to succeed. Embracing diversity of all kinds enables us to provide a work environment and culture that plays a key role in attracting and retaining the right people with the right skills. As signatories to the Armed Forces Corporate Covenant, we have made a promise to support our forces, working with the CTP to help ex veterans find work in the civilian world. We also support Mates in Mind, a charitable programme to improve and promote positive mental health in the workplace. We don't just tick boxes; we live these values every day.

What MWH offer

• A Competitive Starting Salary
• 6 Monthly Salary Increases, Rewarding Your Commitment To Your Development And Training
• 25 Days Holiday + Bank Holidays (With An Additional 5 Days Available To Buy)
• Some Flexibility With Hybrid Working
• Competitive And Flexible Contribution Pension Scheme
• Private Medical Insurance
• Gym Memberships
• Technology Salary Sacrifice Scheme
• Cycle To Work Scheme
• Employee Assistance Scheme - Free Mental Health Support, Financial Advice
• And Many More Benefits Including Sports And Social Club Membership, A competitive salary
• Hybrid Working (Jobs needs dependent) Car/car allowance (Jobs needs dependent) 25 days holiday + Bank Holidays (with an additional 5 days available to buy) Contribution Pension scheme Life Assurance Health Insurance Private Medical Insurance And many more benefits including - cycle to work scheme, discounts and savings Hub, Kids Pass etc