WSP Bridge Engineers utilise a combination of field experience and state-of-the-practice computer models to understand structural behaviour and develop robust designs. Our team has experience using design standards and codes such as the Eurocode, AASHTO, AREMA and national/local client requirements.
Degree backgrounds considered: -
- MEng Civil Engineering / Civil & Structural
The Bridges teams undertake Design (design of new bridges), Assessments (checking the current capacity of existing bridges), Inspections (checking bridges for damage and/or structural deterioration), Maintenance (designing repairs and strengthening of existing bridges), Asset Management (planning and programming bridge maintenance, to maximise efficiency), Supervision (managing and overseeing works of Contractors) and design of Civil Engineering structures such as walls, culverts, tunnels etc.
CBE – Aviation Design
Degree backgrounds considered: -
- MEng Civil Engineering
- Other related degrees considered (i.e Aviation, Aerospace etc.)
The Airfield Engineering team provides expertise across the many diverse aspects of the airside and landside environment found at airports in the UK and the rest of the world. The team works for a variety of clients including Investors and commercial airports, government bodies, regulators, airlines, and military clients. Our multi-discipline capability enables us to provide a full range of advisory, design, project management and environmental consultancy services at every stage of an aviation project – from strategic planning and analysis, through planning, engineering and construction, to maintenance and operations.
Degree backgrounds considered: -
The Asset Management team assists clients with the management of their physical infrastructure assets including roads, railways, bridges, geotechnical elements, and signage. Our team advise on policy in relation to good asset management practice, creating strategies for optimising the costs and performance of their assets, revising processes for greater efficiency, developing digital tools for managing assets and support with planning minor or major spending programmes.
Degree backgrounds considered: -
Our Maritime Engineering team provides expertise across the many diverse aspects of Ports and Marine Engineering throughout the UK and overseas. The team works with a range of clients to develop ports through the planning, design, construction and operation of facilities and existing assets.
CBE - Pavement Engineering
Degree backgrounds considered: -
The Pavement Engineering team designs new and repairs or strengthening to pavements predominately on roads but also airports. Pavements consist of layers of bound (usually cement or asphalt bound) and unbound materials above natural soil sub-grade, whose primary function is to distribute the applied vehicle loads to the sub-grade. The aim is to ensure that the wheel loads transmitted are sufficiently reduced, so that they will not exceed bearing capacity of the subgrade. Our team develop appropriate and cost-effective pavement solutions, carrying out estimates of traffic loading, evaluation of pavement foundations and design of pavement structures, using standard and analytical design methods and taking account of available pavement construction materials.
WSP UK Highways service all regions of the UK and Republic of Ireland. Our Highways teams operate from some 25 offices throughout England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland. Plenty of locations for you to choose to start your WSP career. Our work covers a range of activities at all stages of infrastructure delivery, for a wide range of public and private clients. Our delivery includes National and Regional Infrastructure Frameworks to major projects and local improvements including a wide variety of active travel walking and cycling schemes. If your passion is to deliver:
- sustainable highways design solutions, models, and drawings from feasibility to detailed design.
- project management of major multi-disciplinary projects including construction supervision, or.
- specialist digital services, then we will have a role for you.
We have a strong pipeline of rewarding work providing great opportunities for your professional development, including projects of national strategic importance.
Highways Infrastructure Design
As a Graduate Engineer in our Highways design team, you can expect to develop your design skills on national major projects such as HS2, Smart Motorways, Sizewell C, as well as Local Authority major schemes, minor improvement works and active travel projects. We have a number of design and build contracts with construction contractors and provide technical support to other parts of the WSP business. You will play a key role in the development and delivery of sustainable design solutions supporting our ‘Future Ready’ initiative and Net Zero objectives and providing community benefits.
- BEng & MEng Civil Engineering
As a Graduate Engineer with WSP your academic background is the foundation of your professional development with bodies such as the Institution of Civil Engineers, Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation, and Association for Project Management. However just as important, is your enthusiasm, passion for engineering and drive to make a difference within the communities in which we live. Many of our graduates have a civil engineering (MEng or BEng) degree but not exclusively.
- BSc & MSc Project Management
- BSc or MSc Construction or Supervision and Management
- BEng or MEng Civil Engineering
If your key interest is for project management our WSP Highways team are often the key providers for the Project Management of our multi-disciplinary infrastructure delivery. We have an exciting portfolio of projects where aspiring Project Managers can support the management of our delivery. You will develop a range of management skills including contract and commercial support, stakeholder management & public consultation, project & contract administration support. At an appropriate time in your development opportunities may also arise to gain construction supervision experience. Such opportunities support your development and understanding of design and construction methods.
We have a challenging and exciting range of project types which will enable our PM focused graduates into a range of experiences including contract and commercial support, stakeholder management & public consultations, project & contract administration support – maintaining.
Digital Specialists
- Data Science
- Digital
- Computer Science
If your background and enthusiasm is in the digital space our projects require increasing digital support. Construction is transforming. Improving safety, diversity, sustainability, and productivity are the challenges we face. We are continually improving our delivery with new methods of digital working and construction. If you can combine Civil Engineering with your digital curiosity and ability, then our Digital Team could be for you?
Intelligent transport systems (ITS)
Project Management
Degree backgrounds considered: -
- BSc or MSc Business Management and/ or Finance
- BSc or MSc Project Management
Working as a Graduate Project Manager will mean you will primarily be focused around delivering the core function of providing the finance administration for projects, including but not limited to project set up, in-month updates, month end reporting, and invoicing. The finance system implemented by WSP on projects is Agresso. The functions of this role are intended to be broad to provide the opportunity for Graduates to experience a wide range of activities under various skilled professionals to encourage the knowledge development and career progression. WSP have aligned their project management career path against the Association of Project Management (APM) competency framework and therefore, although not essential, it would be beneficial for future candidates to be able to demonstrate knowledge of this framework.
ITS Engineering
Degree backgrounds considered: -
- BEng or MEng Mechanical & Electrical Engineering
- BEng or MEng Systems Engineering
- BEng or MEng Civil Engineering
We work with our clients to help them deliver the technology and infrastructure they want and need to manage their road network, from National Highways to County Councils, you’ll gain experience in everything from the roadside to the control centre. Whether that’s helping to deliver the future strategy for technology used to control traffic. As well as witnessing the testing of new versions of technology, to crunching data to improve the services our clients provide. Your days at WSP Intelligent Transport Services will never be dull.
We offer roles that match your experiences across all our capabilities from Digital Infrastructure, Cyber Security, Systems Engineering, Data Architecture to Connectivity.
Data Science & Data Consultant
Degree backgrounds considered: -
- BSc or MSc Data Science
- BSc or MSc Digital related
- BSc or MSc Computer Science
The ITS technology landscape is evolving, and data is at the heart of changes such as connected and autonomous vehicles and digital delivery. We now have projects and opportunities covering a wide range of work involving the different stages of data life cycle.
As part of these projects, we provide consultancy support and assist our clients in making strategic data-related decisions around governance, management, analytics and engineering. We also work closely with clients to understand what they want to achieve and provide technical assurance to support the design and implementation of the solution.
To speed up work around the cutting-edge technologies like Data Science and Machine learning, our 'Future Tech cell' initiative (Innovation Hub) carries out research, PoC demonstrations to solve our clients’ problems using new technology. This helps us promote our work internally and externally and enable us to be ‘Future Ready’.
Cyber Security
Degree backgrounds considered: -
In Cyber Security Threat and Risk assessments you could be involved in secure design and architecture analysis, developing security requirements for our clients, supporting the senior consultants in strategic advisory activities, like cyber security maturity roadmaps for our clients, new technology analysis or compliance planning. Your day could also involve visiting site and liaising with the client, discussing cyber security countermeasures and controls with colleagues, responding to client requests for information or meetings with the team about the scope and progress of projects.
Our very young cyber security capability has been created to achieve a strategic goal, to be able to deliver appropriate advice to our clients with increased connectivity and digitalisation and make our core business future ready. We are developing a highly specialised team in the OT, IT, IoT and IIoT space and mainly support clients responsible for Critical National Infrastructure. The vast field of cyber security requires a team of good generalists and many specialists in the different cyber security disciplines, made of all different seniorities, ages and diverse backgrounds, as promoted by the UK’s Cyber Security Council.
Operations & Safety
Degree backgrounds considered: -
- BEng or MEng Electrical or Mechanical Engineering
- BSc or MSc Geography
- BSc or MSc Physics
- Other degree backgrounds maybe considered
Consider the road network in the UK and further afield and then think about the ways in which road users, road workers, road operators and maintenance staff use that network. There are signs, signals, systems and many other types of equipment both physical and virtual that play a huge part in how successfully and how freely that road network moves. In Operations and Safety, we look at the processes and approaches for making that road network safer, applying the Safe System Approach to bring about better working practice, better road design and also consider how the road is operated in both normal and exceptional situations. This includes bringing in efficiencies using better control room systems and also looking to the future of transport and ‘in car’ technology communication.
We work in collaboration with many clients on both a local and national level with a significant proportion of our work being for National Highways on their Smart Motorway schemes where we are involved in the full lifecycle. We are looking for project managers and consultants – who enjoy problem solving, analysing information and report writing, to make recommendations to our clients. We do not have any expectations in terms of degree topics so if the above is of interest and you don’t have the degree specified, please get in touch: [email protected].
Telecoms
Degree backgrounds considered: -
- BSc or MSc Telecommunications
- BSc or MSc Wireless
- BEng or MEng Computer Engineering
At WSP we’re passionate about the big questions – and the big answers, naturally! For us that’s all about reaching beyond the expected to do work that’ll make a profound impact that’s felt long into the future.
We are experiencing huge demand for our Intelligent Transport Systems technical consultancy services and our Systems and Infrastructure group is growing rapidly. The technology landscape is evolving, and connectivity is at the heart of changes from connected and autonomous vehicles, smart ports and smart healthcare to digital innovation in freights and logistics.
Local Government
Bridge Engineering
Degree backgrounds considered: -
- BEng or MEng Civil Engineering
Our Local Government Bridge Graduates work on a wide variety of interesting structures projects, from significant major bridge schemes through to a diverse range of bridge refurbishment and maintenance improvements, as well as bridge safety inspections, structural assessments, and retaining structures. The bridges we have the opportunity to work on vary from simple concrete culverts, through masonry arches, steel, and concrete multi-span structures of all sizes, located in a variety of settings from rural, urban and city centre. A typical working day could include site supervision, report writing modelling or design calculations in 3D software packages.
Graduates working in this discipline will benefit significantly in their learning and development through often being involved from the very outset of a project, and at all stages through design to construction, working closely with colleagues, contractors and clients to ensure successful outcomes. They will have the opportunity to develop relationships with other WSP Disciplines, as many projects are multi-disciplinary.
Construction Management
Degree backgrounds considered: -
- BEng or MEng Civil Engineering
- BSc or MSc Construction Management
Our Local Government Construction Graduates will have the opportunity to work on a wide variety of interesting and complex highways projects. These projects can vary from significant major project schemes such as new bypasses and new large infrastructure, through to varying other projects such as Public realm improvement and Active Travel projects. These Projects will be delivered across a large portfolio of Local Government Clients across the UK. A typical working day could include site management and inspection, Client representative support on site and input into contractual, commercial and programme support within the wider project.
Traffic Engineering
Degree backgrounds considered: -
- BSc Transport Planning or Traffic Engineering related
Our teams work on a range of projects from minor improvements through to major improvements designed to encourage modal shift. Projects include minor junction improvements where we improve efficiency often in a very constrained environment and active travel projects where new walking and cycling facilities are designed and constructed including pedestrian crossing facilities, pedestrianised zones and dedicated off road cycling facilities.
Graduates will get the opportunities to gain experience in the whole lifecycle of projects from initial conception, through feasibility and stakeholder engagement, design and ultimately construction.
Highways
Degree backgrounds considered: -
- BEng or MEng Civil Engineering
Our Local Government Highways Graduates work on a wide variety of interesting highways projects, from significant major highways schemes - including bypasses and new roads - through to a diverse range of highways interventions, including junction improvements, safety inspections, and resurfacing schemes. Projects are located in a variety of settings from rural, urban and city centre, and include minor country roads through to motorways. A typical working day could include site supervision, report writing modelling or design calculations in 3D software packages.
Graduates will benefit significantly in their learning and development through often being involved from the very outset of a project, and at all stages through design to construction, working closely with colleagues, contractors and clients to ensure successful outcomes. They will have the opportunity to develop relationships with other WSP Disciplines, as many projects are multi-disciplinary.
Project Management
Degree backgrounds considered: -
- BSc or MSc Project Management
- BEng or MEng Civil Engineering
Our Local Government Project Management Graduates work on a wide variety of interesting infrastructure projects, including Highways related: from significant multi-disciplinary major highways schemes - including bypasses and new roads - through to a diverse range of highways interventions, including junction improvements, safety inspections, and resurfacing schemes; to Structures related: from significant major bridge schemes through to a diverse range of bridge refurbishment and maintenance improvements, as well as bridge safety inspections, structural assessment, and retaining structures.
Projects are located in a variety of settings from rural, urban and city centre. A typical working day could include developing and maintaining project plans, managing change, value engineering, financial management, stakeholder engagement, Safety Health and Wellbeing, and client liaison, and general contract administration.
Sustainability
Degree backgrounds considered: -
We’re keen to get new thinking on board with our work around decarbonisation and building resilience within the local government discipline at WSP. It’s part-process and part-behaviour as it requires taking a long hard look at how we reduce carbon emissions and embed a culture that places ‘net zero’ mindsets first, in everything we do is essential in tackling climate change. Graduates will gain experience in delivering within the Local Government Discipline plan to half the carbon footprint of our designs and advice by 2030, as part of our pathways to Net Zero.
Our ambition is to drive initiatives across our organisation, with our clients and our respective business partners, scaling up the decarbonisation efforts and growth around our client services. You will be working on delivering specific elements of a Decarbonisation Program Plan. Examples include: Skills & training development specific to Local Government; Delivering comms and engagement plans; support client action plans relating to climate change and sustainability as well as gather case study examples of tangible best practice.
Rail
Within Rail, we are split across a number of groups including Rail Engineering Services, Stations, Systems Engineering Integration & Assurance, and Rail Advisory. All of these groups work closely together to provide a complete service to our clients. Graduate positions are available across all of these groups, with opportunities to rotate within and across groups.
The following outlines graduate position available across each of these groups.
Rail Engineering Services
Lineside Infrastructure
Degree backgrounds considered: -
- MEng Civil Engineering or Mechanical / Electrical Engineering
The railway is a hugely complex machine that relies on a large number of key skills and different disciplines, and the lineside infrastructure team brings all the disciplines together. We provide the foundations, general arrangement and multidiscipline skills that ensure the proposed system is buildable. The lineside team focuses on the core methods of allowing the technology to be installed and ensures that members of the public, maintainers and operators can use the infrastructure effectively and safely. Within the Lineside Infrastructure team, there are always different challenges that will require both engineering judgement and design experience to provide the safest solution over the whole life of the asset.
Our international team focuses on the design and construction of station platforms, level crossings, lineside assets, foundations, cable routing and everything in between. You will be working on high-profile and smaller projects across all design stages from conceptual design to as-built surveys. As you progress within the lineside Infrastructure team you will take ownership of your designs and liaise with all the key stakeholders, and in turn, you will become a key player for your project. Due to the variety of the schemes and interdisciplinary integration that the lineside team works with, you will experience a breadth of railway knowledge and skills that you would never come across anywhere else within the Rail industry.
Signalling
Degree backgrounds considered: -
- MSc / MEng Electrical Engineering
Signalling underpins how trains are controlled on the rail network and are a key and complex part of the rail system. Furthermore with the future planned digitalisation of the British rail network, there are extensive opportunities to learn about and be part of this growing market trend. We are expanding both as a team and organisation with many exciting opportunities to work on projects including the deployment of ETCS (European Train Control Systems) into the UK Mainline railways.
Our team of signalling engineers work on complex projects across the United Kingdom. We predominately work on early project development including the definition of signalling schemes and its requirements, designing signalling layouts with associated signalling principles and the integration of signalling designs into the wider multi-disciplinary project design environment.
As a Graduate Engineer within the Signalling team you will be a key part of the delivery process tasked with working on a number of our rail projects in support of and under the guidance of our senior team members. Your work will initially focus on developing your underlying signalling principles knowledge in order to support signalling plan development.
Track
Degree backgrounds considered: -
- MEng Civil Engineering or Mechanical Engineering
- MEng Civil Engineering (Track)
- MEng Rail Engineering degree
Our track experts pride themselves in their understanding of the fundamental principles that apply to all types of railways, from high-speed rail to street-running tramways. Equally, we appreciate the nuances between the many varied systems and our extensive experience equips us with the ability to create the viable and sustainable railways necessary to support the world’s global economy and community for decades to come.
We have many exciting opportunities in railway track design and consultancy, working with local and overseas teams on domestic and international projects, both large and small, across a wide variety of environments and cultures. Our design work covers all stages of a project, from conception to construction support, across all aspects of the track, including alignment, trackform and components. Ensuring integration of the whole railway system, the track is foremost, providing a lead in engineering interfaces and design coordination while supporting the vital operations of the whole railway.
As a Graduate you will get involved in all areas of the above ranging from the production of track designs, engagement with clients and other disciplines, as well as site work.
Telecoms Engineering
Degree backgrounds considered: -
- MSc / MEng in Telecoms or Electrical Engineering
Telecoms is a unique discipline within the Rail industry. We interact with all other disciplines and have to be aware of their impact on the telecommunication infrastructure. With the future digitalisation of the British rail network, Telecoms is going to become more important than ever.
At WSP, our team of rail telecoms engineers work on complex projects covering the entirety of the United Kingdom. We work in both Lineside and Station environments utilizing telephony, Information Displays, CCTV cameras amongst other solutions. We are growing as both a team and organisation with many exciting opportunities to work within Rail as well as clients in other industries including Highways.
As a Graduate Engineer within the telecoms team you will be a key part of the delivery process tasked to work on one of our many rail projects. You could be asked to attend a site survey, assist with the production of a multidisciplinary design or aid the production of a bid for future works. Every day is an opportunity to develop your skills and knowledge.
Electrification & Power
Degree backgrounds considered: -
- MSc / MEng in Mechanical or Electrical or Engineering
At WSP our Rail Electrification and Plant (E&P) Discipline covers a broad and extensive portfolio, including Overhead Line Equipment (OLE), High Voltage Traction Power Supply Systems, Conductor Rail Systems and LV and Signalling Power Supply Systems for all types of railways, from high-speed rail to street-running tramways.
We have many exciting opportunities in Rail E&P design and consultancy, working with local and overseas teams on domestic and international projects, both large and small, across a wide variety of environments and cultures. Our design work covers all stages of a project, from conception to construction support, across all aspects of Electrification and Plant.
As a Graduate you will be given the opportunity to work on a range of the above disciplines enhancing your knowledge and experience of Electrical and / or Mechanical principles with varied work including design, modelling, and engagement with clients / other rail disciplines.
Building Information Modelling (BIM)
Degree backgrounds considered: -
- MEng / MSc in Computing (Visual Computing & Robotics)
- MEng Mechanical or Civil Engineering
We are a multi-skilled BIM team with wide ranging expertise and knowledge, and such work on and support a vast variety of Rail Projects. BIM is central to WSP Rail’s delivery approach with numerous tools used to support co-ordination between multiple disciplines to maximise quality and efficiency of outputs to our clients.
Within the Information Management Team, you will be tasked with solution-based delivery which includes working through / overcoming software challenges presented to us by the Client. As part of our team, you will explore BIM Software Solutions, and the efficiencies gained from its use, and implement into wider project delivery. You will also, from a BIM modelling perspective, be involved in helping produce engineering design models and drawings in support of our Rail Engineering Teams. In the role you may also act in the capacity of BIM Coordinator, lead in the identification and resolution of design co-ordination and collaboration issues, as well as support in managing Health & Safety Design Hazards.
There are many exciting opportunities within the Information Management Team, where you will work with UK and International teams across a wide variety of environments and cultures. Our design work spans across all stages of project lifecycles from optioneering to construction. WSP are leading the way in BIM and Digital Delivery.
Systems Engineering, Integration and Assurance
Systems
Degree backgrounds considered: -
- MEng Systems Engineering
- MEng Mechanical or MEng Electrical Engineering
Are you always thinking about the bigger picture? Do you find yourself asking what the wider impacts will be? You should consider Systems Engineering! Systems Engineering is a methodical, top-down approach to the design, management, and integration of multiple disciplines throughout the life-cycle of a system (a system can be defined as a combination of interacting elements to achieve stakeholders' system-level results).
As a System Engineering graduate within the Rail department, you will be working as a consultant in and amongst our Clients’ organisations and get first-hand experience on some of the biggest and most complex rail projects in the UK. You will most likely be a part of a multi-disciplinary team in which you will gain experience of both system engineering and project/programme management disciplines. You will gain an understanding of the whole railway industry; develop a broad expertise in the functionality of all railway systems, such as rolling stock, track, electrification, and signalling. You will understand how these systems interface and interact with each other; plan how a railway project or programme will migrate from todays’ service to its future capability; Define and manage the project or programmes requirements and ensuring that the emerging design meets the Clients specification, and work at a high level in the project or programme team, as well as being involved in setting its strategy and how it is governed.
Stations
MEP
Degree backgrounds considered: -
- MEng Mechanical Engineering
- MEng Building Services Engineering
We provide mechanical, electrical, and public health building services engineering services (MEP) for all types of building in and around the rail environment according to our clients’ specific requirements. Our expertise covers every aspect of MEP engineering. We work in close collaboration with the entire project team, ensuring optimal integration of all systems. We are specialists in the design of MEP services in the rail environment and work closely with all project stakeholders to produce MEP design solutions that are safe, healthy, and comfortable for users, environmentally responsible, easy to maintain, and minimise operating cost. We ensure that we meet today’s requirements while having the flexibility to adapt to future needs.
We provide MEP services across the entire project life cycle, from technical advice, analysis, surveys and system design to commissioning, construction supervision and whole-life cost analysis. We have significant experience in the delivery of fully detailed and coordinated design drawings cut from collaboratively developed 3D models, and we have fully embraced the UK Government’s Construction Strategy of reducing capital cost and the carbon burden from the construction and operation of the built environment.
We incorporate into our designs the most resource-efficient technologies to minimize energy and water consumption and integrate off-site fabrication into all we do. Our clients value our imaginative thinking, excellent service, innovation, and resourceful application of sophisticated design technology including the latest software and analytical tools.
Rail Planning & Operations
At WSP we put operational needs at the heart of any railway change programme, using systemic thinking and a strategic approach to ensure all changes benefit the eventual operation in the most effective way.
Working collaboratively, we optimise operations to improve capacity and customer satisfaction while reducing carbon emissions and cost.
Degree backgrounds considered: -
- BSc or MSc Transport Planning
- BSc or MSc Maths
- BSc or MSc Computer Sciences
- BSc or MSc Human Factors
- BSc or MSc Ergonomics
Rail clients call on our planning expertise to help reduce costs and improve efficiency, while continuing to optimise performance and accommodate growing demand for both passengers and freight. Our innovative thinking and expert modelling skills ensure that we find strategies to help solve these problems.
Rail planning and operations are critical to the successful delivery of train services and infrastructure. They contribute to the strategy and the service development of railway business operation, including the design of new, and the enhancement of existing, railway operations. We provide capabilities covering all areas of railway operations and maintenance. With these capabilities we develop high speed, mainline, urban, metro, light rail and freight operations.
Rail clients call on our planning expertise to help reduce costs and improve efficiency, while continuing to optimise performance and accommodate growing demand for both passengers and freight. Our innovative thinking and expert modelling skills ensure that we find strategies to help solve these problems. Our outputs include operations and maintenance concepts, feasibility studies and timetabling/ simulation using a range of software and bespoke reports.
Our work gives us the opportunity to influence the railway industry, it's strategy, and the early development of infrastructure schemes across a diverse range of project; UK and International.
