Graduate Mechanical Engineer

Kier Group; Thame; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading infrastructure firm is seeking a Graduate Mechanical Engineer to join its team and support various projects. This role includes a 2-year graduate programme with hands-on experience, leading to a potential assistant level role. Responsibilities include designing mechanical systems, conducting site visits, and preparing documentation. We are looking for candidates graduating in 2025 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. The starting salary is £30,000, with additional benefits.

Benefits

26 days annual leave

24/7 Wellbeing Support Programme

Potential car allowance

Qualifications

• Graduate in 2025 or recently graduated within the past three years.
• Strong interest in engineering and project management.
• Ability to engage in detailed planning and problem resolution.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the design, development, and implementation of mechanical systems.
• Support preparation of detailed drawings and specifications.
• Conduct site visits to ensure compliance with design specifications.
• Collaborate with engineers and contractors for effective communication.
• Assist in documentation and project updates.

Skills

Strong interest in mechanical engineering

Excellent organizational and time management skills

Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities

Effective communication and interpersonal skills

Full UK driving licence

Education

Degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field

Job description

Overview

Graduate Mechanical Engineer

We're looking for a Graduate Mechanical Engineer to join our Natural Resources, Nuclear and Network team and help support our water team on a project in Oxfordshire, part of our Thames Water portfolio. Within this role you can enjoy 26 days annual leave, 24/7 Wellbeing Support Programme, and more. Our Natural Resources, Nuclear and Networks division delivers essential infrastructure projects that power the UK's future. Working across the water, nuclear and other decarbonised energy, environmental and waterways sectors, we provide sustainable and safe solutions for our clients and customers whilst protecting and restoring natural habitats.

Location: Oxfordshire

Starting Salary: £30,000 per annum with possible car allowance of £4,750 depending on eligibility

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

Starting date: September 2026

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

Responsibilities

• As a Graduate Mechanical Engineer, assist in the design, development, and implementation of mechanical systems for various projects.
• Support the preparation of detailed drawings, specifications, and reports.
• Conduct site visits to monitor progress and ensure compliance with design specifications, safety standards, and quality requirements.
• Collaborate with project managers, architects, engineers, and contractors to facilitate effective communication and problem-solving.
• Assist in the preparation of technical reports, documentation, and project updates.

How the graduate scheme works

When you join, you will be enrolled onto our graduate scheme. The programme will take 2 years to complete and has been designed to equip you with the skills you need to excel in your chosen profession and help you achieve professional membership or chartership.

You can find more details about our schemes here.

Benefits

• 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.

What we are looking for

We’re looking for people due to graduate in 2025, or have recently graduated within the past three years, with a degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field.

The role of Graduate Mechanical Engineer is great for you if:

• Strong interest in mechanical engineering and project management.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills.
• Hold a full UK driving licence.

Diversity and inclusion

Making Kier a diverse and inclusive place to work is a high 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.

Application and timeline

We look forward to seeing your application to #joinkier

Recruitment timeline:

• October 2025: Initial applications
• November 2025: Application reviews
• January 2026 onwards: Virtual and in-person assessment centres