Graduate Mechanical Engineer

Poutrix; York and North Yorkshire; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

Arcadis invites graduates to join the two-year GROW programme, gaining hands-on experience across engineering disciplines while developing professional skills. You'll contribute to mechanical design, work with client engagements, and progress toward professional accreditation in a supportive, global environment.

The programme blends project work with cohort training, with opportunities to work on local and international assignments and some site visits to develop practical expertise.

Qualifications

• You will graduate in 2027 or have graduated in 2025 or 2026 with at least a 2:2 in a relevant degree.
• Demonstrate Arcadian skills: resilience, creativity, analytical thinking and team orientation.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to influence and consult stakeholders.
• Willing to travel and stay away when required; virtual working is embraced where possible.

Responsibilities

• Support design and delivery across mechanical engineering areas (rail, energy networks & renewables, water).
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and clients on engineering projects.
• Learn and contribute to professional qualification pathways through the two-year GROW programme.

Skills

Resilience

Creativity

Analytical Thinking

Team Player

Education

BEng / MEng / MSc in Mechanical Engineering (Mechanical content)

MEng or MSc Mechanical Engineering, Building Services Engineering (Mechanical pathway) for Rail

Job description

Arcadis is the world's leading company delivering sustainable design, engineering, and consultancy solutions for natural and built assets.

We are more than 34,000 people, in over 30 countries, dedicated to improving quality of life. Everyone has an important role to play. With the power of many curious minds, together we can solve the world’s most complex challenges and deliver more impact together.

Role description

Our two-year Graduate GROW Programme supports your transition from student to professional, sitting along client work and real projects from day one. Each graduate’s journey is unique, shaped by their chosen specialism and the variety of projects they contribute to. You will build your technical expertise by contributing to meaningful client engagements and project work, whilst business acumen and professional skills will be developed through centrally delivered graduate cohort training. Although there are no formal rotations, graduates are encouraged and supported by their managers to proactively seek opportunities, to broaden their experience and support their development.

As an engineer joining GROW, you will be given the opportunity to specialise within your chosen discipline of engineering and we ensure you obtain the appropriate experiences that you need to become a technical expert. Being an Engineer at Arcadis is about applying a human filter to all your technical expertise and training, and making an impact through innovation and creativity. During this two-year programme you will develop core engineering and consulting techniques that can be applied while working with our clients in the UK and potentially even some of our international clients around the globe.

Role accountabilities

Our mechanical engineer teams work across highways, rail, energy, and water, delivering safe, high-quality, and sustainable design solutions for clients and communities. As a graduate, you will be supported and mentored while contributing to projects ranging from local schemes to major international developments. You will work with diverse, multidisciplinary teams and follow a structured path towards professional qualification.

Our work varies and covers projects of all scales across the different sectors;

• As a Mechanical Engineer in our Rail team, you will help create safe, sustainable and efficient environments through the design of heating, cooling, ventilation, water, drainage and specialist mechanical systems. You will apply engineering fundamentals to real-world challenges involving energy efficiency, carbon reduction, occupant comfort, maintainability and operational performance.
• As a Mechanical Engineer in our Energy Networks & Renewables team, you will support the design, assessment and delivery of overhead line infrastructure that helps power a resilient, reliable and lower‑carbon energy system. Working alongside multidisciplinary teams, you will contribute to projects including new connections, network reinforcement and the refurbishment of existing assets. You will gain experience in the structural and mechanical elements of overhead line systems and transmission towers, helping to deliver safe, efficient and sustainable solutions that support the UK's transition to Net Zero.
• As a Mechanical Engineer in our Water team, you will play a vital role in designing and improving the infrastructure that delivers clean water to homes, protects the environment and supports communities across the UK. Working on critical water and wastewater infrastructure projects, you will help develop innovative and sustainable solutions for future generations.

You will work alongside multidisciplinary teams on a range of projects, including water treatment facilities, wastewater treatment plants, pumping stations, advanced process technologies, low‑carbon solutions and digital engineering initiatives. You will contribute to the design and delivery of mechanical systems that improve water quality, increase resilience, and enhance operational performance. Working with experienced engineers and technical specialists, you will develop your technical and professional skills while contributing to projects that make a tangible difference to society and the environment.

No matter the sector, our programme is an opportunity for you to grow your skills and ability in the delivery of sustainable solutions. The work will involve some site work visits and inspections.

Accepted degrees:

• Roles within Energy and Renewables & Water are open to candidates with either a BEng, MEng or MSc in Mechanical Engineering or with similar degree with mechanical content
• Roles within Rail you must hold a MEng or MSc Mechanical Engineering, Building Services Engineering (Mechanical pathway). We are unable to progress candidates with BEng only.

Qualifications & Experience

• You will be graduating in 2027 or have recently graduated in 2025 or 2026, with at least a 2:2 in a relevant master's or bachelor's degree
• You will demonstrate typical Arcadian skills including Resilience, Creativity, Analytical Thinking and being a Team Player
• You will have excellent communication skills and the ability to use your technical knowledge to influence and consult stakeholders.
• Willing to travel and stay away from home when required (where possible we embrace virtual working)

Why Arcadis?

We can only achieve our goals when everyone is empowered to be their best. We believe everyone's contribution matters. It’s why we are pioneering a skills-based approach, where you can harness your unique experience and expertise to carve your career path and maximize the impact we can make together.

You’ll do meaningful work, and no matter what role, you’ll be helping to deliver sustainable solutions for a more prosperous planet. Make your mark, on your career, your colleagues, your clients, your life and the world around you.

Together, we can create a lasting legacy.

Join Arcadis. Create a Legacy.

Our Commitment to Equality, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging

We want you to be able to bring your best self to work every day which is why we take equality and inclusion seriously and hold ourselves to account for our actions. Our ambition is to be an employer of choice and provide a great place to work for all our people. We believe that by working together diverse people with different experiences develop the most innovative ideas. Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the heart of how we improve quality of life and we work closely with our people across six ED&I Workstreams: Age, Disability, Faith, Gender, LGBT+ and Race. A diverse and skilled workforce is essential to our success.