Graduate Project Engineer

As a Graduate Project Engineer, you will be responsible for a key element of work on a project, taking a significant role in technical delivery as well as managing aspects of time, cost, and quality. You will acquire technical, leadership, and project management skills and experience.

Working alongside experienced engineers, project managers, and technical specialists, you will gain exposure to the full project lifecycle from feasibility and optioneering through design, assurance, and construction support. You will develop the commercial, technical, and leadership skills required to progress into a Project Engineering Manager role by delivering best value outcomes to our clients.

The roles will be based at either our Manchester or London office. Please specify your preferred location on your job application.

Costain Graduate Development Programme

This 2-year programme offers technical development and opportunities to grow personal confidence and leadership skills. You will work alongside your team to deliver projects across the infrastructure sector.

The Graduate Development Programme (GDP) also provides a chance to network with other graduates. Throughout the 2 years, you will connect both in person and virtually for engaging modules and activities such as “Growing your Career,” “Costain In Action,” and “Group Coaching.”

Your line manager will support your learning, and you’ll have opportunities to discuss how to apply your learning in your everyday work.

We also recommend getting involved with our Graduate and Apprentice network (GRaAPs) to meet other Early Careers members and explore areas of interest.

As a graduate, you’ll have the chance to help influence and shape future recruitment programmes and early careers opportunities.

Responsibilities

• Support the planning and delivery of best value engineering design projects from feasibility through to detailed design and construction.
• Collaborate in establishing project scopes, programmes, budgets, deliverables, and resource requirements.
• Manage change control, cost management, and project deliverables.
• Develop a sound understanding of engineering design principles and compliance within the regulated water sector.
• Develop an understanding of constructability, operability, maintainability, and whole-life cost considerations.
• Build effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders while clearly managing expectations.
• Develop an understanding of project budgets, resource requirements, forecasting, and typical commercial performance metrics.
• Promote a positive health, safety, and environmental culture across project activities using relevant engineering standards and specifications, with a focus on sustainability, the environment, and whole-life value of engineering decisions.

Knowledge, Skills, and Experience

Essential

• A strong interest in the UK water and infrastructure sectors.
• Passion for Costain’s Net Zero targets.
• Competence with Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• An interest in project management and developing commercial awareness.
• A willingness to learn with appropriate instruction.
• The ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines.
• The ability to empathise and communicate with all people, regardless of their background or circumstances.
• Excellent organisation, communication, and time management skills.
• Mobility to work on various projects over the 2-year programme throughout the UK.

Desirable

• Relevant university projects, placements, internships, or experience within engineering, infrastructure, or construction environments will be considered positively.
• A Master’s Degree in an engineering discipline such as Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Environmental, Chemical, or Process Engineering.

Professional Development

We are committed to developing the next generation of engineering and project management professionals. The successful candidate will receive structured development and mentoring through Costain’s Graduate Development Programme, with opportunities to work towards relevant professional qualifications and certifications, such as:

• Engineering Council professional registration towards IEng or CEng, in association with a relevant professional institution.
• APM Project Fundamentals Qualification (PFQ) or equivalent project management training.
• Development in project controls, risk management, and commercial management.
• Water-industry technical and regulatory training.
• Internal technical and project management training.