UK Graduate Hydraulic Engineer Career Path

Start your career with a global, employee-owned consultancy where your work can make a real difference. At Mott MacDonald, you'll work alongside experts, contribute to meaningful projects, and have the support, learning opportunities, and experience needed to grow your career from day one.

Job Description

This role will present you with a fantastic opportunity to develop your technical and project management skills through your project work, with great prospects for career progression as the business continues to grow.

Working on a number of water frameworks across the UK and internationally, you’ll work alongside our senior and principal modellers as part of our UK-wide modelling team. Your network modelling work will include model build (1D and 2D models), model calibration, verification, foul water flooding assessment or clean water network resilience planning, and mitigation solution optioneering. Your daily work will involve working with industry standard hydraulic modelling software as well as GIS and coding. You will also be responsible for producing reports and presenting to clients.

Graduate Hydraulic Engineer

Design Networks. Manage Water. Deliver Solutions.

Plays a key role in helping to shape the future of water and wastewater infrastructure. Working on projects across the UK and internationally, you will contribute to the planning, design and improvement of water supply, wastewater and drainage networks that support communities and protect the environment. You will collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to develop innovative and sustainable solutions that address challenges such as climate change, population growth, flooding and ageing infrastructure.

What you'll be doing:

• Supporting the development and delivery of water, wastewater and drainage projects that improve network performance and resilience.
• Analysing data and technical information to identify challenges, evaluate solutions and inform decision-making.
• Collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to help design and improve water supply, wastewater and drainage infrastructure.
• Contributing to projects that address flooding, environmental protection, river and coastal water quality, and sustainable water management.
• Developing technical knowledge and gaining experience with industry-leading tools, digital technologies and engineering approaches used across the water sector.
• Producing technical reports, presenting findings and supporting engagement with clients and project stakeholders.

Candidate Specification

We are looking for curious, motivated graduates who want to make a real difference. Join our purpose-driven teams where your ideas matter, your growth is supported, and your work enhances the world we live in.

To be eligible for this opportunity, you will have less than 12 months’ relevant experience (excluding placements) and have a masters degree (obtained no earlier than 2025) or expected to achieve one of the following degree disciplines: Geography, Hydrology and Water Management, Water and Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science, Civil Engineering, Mathematics.

In your application, you should aim to demonstrate your genuine interest in both the opportunity and in joining Mott MacDonald. You can do this by highlighting any relevant experience or interests - such as modules you've studied, previous work experience, or any research you've undertaken about our company, values, and projects.

We are looking for graduates with the following strengths:

• Methodical approach to problem solving.
• Ability to use your initiative to undertake tasks efficiently and independently.
• Excellent verbal communication skills, which allow you to confidently liaise with clients and team members.
• Excellent written communication and attention to detail.

UK Immigration

Mott MacDonald Ltd. are not currently offering sponsorship to candidates under the Skilled Worker visa route in the UK. This decision is as a consequence of the changes made to the Skilled Worker route by the UK Government in April 2024. We cannot accept applications from candidates who would be working under the Graduate visa route or other time-limited visas, due to their temporary nature and the requirement for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route in future. We continue to welcome applications from candidates who are eligible for alternative immigration routes in the UK, that do not require sponsorship as a Skilled Worker now or in future.

About your development

From the moment you join us, you’ll receive the training you need. You will be assigned a mentor, who will guide you to meet the objectives of your professional training needs. You will join our three-year early careers soft skills development programme – Accelerating your Future, which is designed to give you the skills and tools necessary for a long-lasting successful career here at Mott MacDonald.

Benefits

Financial wellbeing

• Biannual salary reviews: You'll be eligible for salary reviews twice a year during your first three years with us, subject to successfully completing your probation period.
• Pension contributions matched between 4.5% and 7%.
• Life assurance equal up to 4 x your basic salary, with an option to increase to 6 x.
• Income protection scheme.
• Flexible benefits, including increased life assurance cover, critical illness insurance, payroll saving and will writing.
• Annual bonus schemes.

Employee Ownership

• Our employee ownership model means no external investors, just us, creating a culture of shared success.
• Employees have a stake and a voice in our business, giving them a direct connection to our success through personal and group performance bonuses.
• As your career grows, so does your stake, recognising your long-term impact and contribution.

Health and wellbeing

• Private medical insurance for all UK colleagues.
• Health cash plan.
• Access to Peppy, providing free support from menopause experts for all UK colleagues.
• Comprehensive wellbeing program, including access for you and your family.

Lifestyle

• 33 days holiday each year, inclusive of public holidays and dependent on level, with the ability to buy or sell leave.
• 10 days additional paid leave for Armed Forces Reservists and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers.
• Holiday entitlement increased to a minimum of 35 days after 5 years’ service.
• Variety of employee saving schemes and discounts from high-street retailers.

Enhanced family and carers leave

• Enhanced family leave policies, including 26 weeks paid maternity and adoption leave, and two weeks paid paternity/partner leave.
• Shared parental leave matches maternity leave, paying up to 24 weeks at full pay.
• Up to five additional days leave for those with significant caring responsibilities, two of which are paid.

Learning and development

• Primary annual professional institution subscription.
• A broad range of opportunities to enhance both technical and soft skills through mentoring, formal training, and self-development options.

Networks, communities, and social outcomes

• Join a wide range of groups including our Advanced Employee Networks which support our LGBTQ+, gender, race and ethnicity, disability, and parents/carers communities.
• Signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and Gold Award holders in the MOD Employer Recognition Scheme, supported by our dedicated internal Armed Forces Network.
• Make a difference within our communities through our social outcomes.