Research Engineer/Scientist

Thames Water Utilities Limited; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading water utility provider is seeking a Research Engineer/Scientist to lead innovative projects in wastewater treatment. This role offers a competitive salary between £40,000 to £47,000 per annum, with opportunities for career development and flexible working arrangements. Key responsibilities include analyzing data, producing technical reports, and promoting RD&I initiatives. Join us to make a significant impact in the water sector.

Benefits

26 days holiday, increasing to 30

Contributory pension scheme

Personal Medical Assessments

Benefits hub with offers

Support for chartered status

Qualifications

• Significant industry experience in a related discipline.
• Practical skills for operation and maintenance of pilot plants.

Responsibilities

• Lead Research, Development, and Innovation initiatives.
• Design, plan, and monitor RD&I activities.
• Analyze data and produce reports.
• Develop relationships with clients and research organizations.

Skills

Innovative outlook

Natural curiosity for wastewater treatment

Excellent communication skills

Technical reporting skills

Education

Graduate in science, engineering or equivalent

Tools

Python

MATLAB

Job description

Job title Research Engineer/Scientist Ref 42912 Division Asset Operations & Capital Delivery Location Hybrid - Reading (STW) - RG2 0RP Contract type Permanent Full/Part-time Full-time Salary Competitive salary between £40,000 to £47,000 per annum. Closing date 13/11/2025

There has never been a better time to make a splash in wastewater innovation! Are you a research engineer or scientist eager to cut your teeth on nationally relevant projects which will meet the future challenges of the water industry? Are you also curious about contributing to Ofwat Innovation Fund Projects focusing on wastewaters or nationally recognised research projects? Then, read on. This is an exciting opportunity for a creative and innovative engineer or scientist to push the boundaries of Research, Development, and Innovation (RD&I) at Thames Water.

What you will be doing as a Research Engineer/Scientist

• First and foremost, Research, Development and Innovation!
• Providing an innovative outlook and a natural curiosity for wastewater treatment technologies and solutions.
• Scanning the horizon for new technologies or strategies for solving some of the most significant challenges in the water sector.
• Getting Research, Development, and Innovation projects off the ground while making significant technical contributions to others.
• Designing, planning, implementing, and monitoring activities to ensure smooth operation and high-quality outputs.
• Analysing data (preferably using Python, MATLAB or similar) and logging information to produce robust results, conclusions, and recommendations for business strategy and beyond.
• Writing, structuring and reviewing high-quality technical reports for communication with internal and external stakeholders.
• Participating in and presenting project outputs at internal and external meetings.
• Developing excellent working relationships with internal clients, external contractors/suppliers, and research organisations.
• Promoting Research, Development and Innovation to customers and stakeholders to make our projects visible.

This is a Hybrid role based at Reading Sewage Treatment Works. However, depending on project requirements, the successful candidate should attend the office and other Thames Water sites.

• 36 hours a week, Monday to Friday.
• Must have a valid UK driving licence.

What you should bring to the role

The essential criteria to help you succeed in this role are:

• Graduate in science, engineering or equivalent in a relevant discipline.
• Significant industry experience in a related discipline.
• Have relevant technical knowledge of the industry, such as utilities.
• Good practical skills relevant to the operation and maintenance of pilot plants.
• Excellent communication and technical reporting skills.

What’s in it for you?

• Competitive salary between £40,000 to £47,000 per annum.
• 26 days holiday per year, increasing to 30 with the length of service. (Plus bank holidays).
• Contributory pension – Defined Contribution - Maximum of 12% -2x employee contribution.
• Personal Medical Assessments – Open to all once a year.
• A wider benefits scheme, including our benefits hub, is packed with offers and information to save you money and support your well-being.
• Contribution to becoming chartered as an engineer or scientist through your chosen institution.

We’re the UK’s largest water and wastewater company, with more than 16 million customers relying on us every day to supply water for their taps and toilets. We want to build a better future for all, helping our customers, communities, people, and the planet to thrive. It’s a big job and we’ve got a long way to go, so we need help from passionate and skilled people, committed to making a difference and getting us to where we want to be in the years and decades to come.

Thames Water is a unique, rewarding, and diverse place to work, where every day you can make a difference, yet no day is the same. As part of our family, you’ll enjoy meaningful career opportunities, flexible working arrangements and excellent benefits.

If you’re looking for a sustainable and successful career where you can make a daily difference to millions of people’s lives while helping to protect the world of water for future generations, we’ll be here to support you every step of the way. Together, we can build a better future for our customers, our region, and our planet.

Real purpose, real support, real opportunities. Come and join the Thames Water family. Why choose us? Learn more.

We’re committed to being a great, diverse, and inclusive place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and want to ensure you feel supported throughout the recruitment process . If you need any adjustments, whether that’s extra time, accessible formats, or anything else just let us know, we’re here to help and support .

When a crisis happens, we all rally around to support our customers. As part of Team Thames, you’ll have the opportunity to sign up to support our customers on the frontline as an ambassador. Full training will be given for what is undoubtedly an incredibly rewarding experience. It’s also a great opportunity to learn more about our business and meet colleagues.

Disclaimer: Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we may close the advert earlier than the advertised date, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.