Degree backgrounds considered:

• Chemical, Environmental or Process Engineering MEng

Working as a Graduate in Process Engineering in Water will provide you with the opportunity to contribute to the planning, design, and optimisation of water and wastewater treatment assets that safeguard public health and the environment. The role provides the opportunity to apply engineering principles to real-world challenges such as improving water quality, enhancing treatment efficiency, and supporting the transition to more sustainable and resilient infrastructure.

What you could be involved in day to day

• Supporting the design and modelling of water and wastewater treatment processes within asset design projects.
• Undertaking data analysis and preparing technical reports to support decision-making and client deliverables.
• Engaging with clients, regulators, and stakeholders to ensure designs meet technical, environmental, and compliance requirements.
• Supporting site visits, surveys, and commissioning activities to link design work with operational performance.

You may enjoy this team if you are curious about how engineering can be used to solve real-world environmental challenges and improve the way water and wastewater services are delivered. If you enjoy problem-solving, analysing complex processes, and finding innovative ways to make systems more efficient and sustainable, this team could be a great fit. 

Help deliver projects that matter

Graduates in our Water Process Engineering team support a wide range of projects across the UK, working with major water companies including Thames Water, Northumbrian Water, Severn Trent and South West Water. You could contribute to projects such as nutrient removal schemes, clean water improvements and programmes that enhance water resilience and sustainability. From supporting process design and feasibility studies to evaluating innovative treatment technologies, you will collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams to develop solutions that help deliver cleaner, more sustainable water services.

Degree backgrounds considered:

• Electrical, Electrical & Instrumentation or Mechanical Engineering MEng

Working as a Graduate in MEICA (Mechanical & Electrical) in the Water team will provide you with the opportunity to gain experience design engineering skills in mechanical engineering or electrical and instrumentation, control, and automation within the growing water industry. Graduates will work in multi-disciplinary design teams which will allow them to gain an appreciation of other design disciplines such as civil and chemical engineering.

What you could be involved in day to day

• Producing single line diagrams, load schedules, I/O schedules, Instrument schedules, and MCC data sheets (Electrical).
• Producing pump calculations and pump selection, isometric drawings, mechanical GA's equipment sizing and selection (mechanical). 
• Learning cable sizing and discrimination software tools (Electrical).
• Learning hydraulic calculation and the use of software tools (mechanical).

You may enjoy this team if you are interested in how mechanical and electrical systems bring vital water and wastewater infrastructure to life. If you enjoy combining technical problem-solving with practical engineering, and want to see how equipment, power systems, automation, and control technologies work together to deliver essential services, this team could be a great fit.

Help deliver projects that matter

As a graduate in this team, you may have the opportunity to work on a diverse range of water, wastewater, pumping station, and industrial projects for major clients including Thames Water, Northumbrian Water, Severn Trent, South West Water, Yorkshire Water and Irish Water. You will support the design and delivery of innovative mechanical and electrical solutions that help improve the performance, reliability, and sustainability of critical infrastructure. From treatment works upgrades and pumping station improvements to industrial facilities, you will gain exposure to projects at various stages of the lifecycle while collaborating with multi-disciplinary teams to deliver essential services for communities across the UK and Ireland.

Degree backgrounds considered:

• Civil, Environmental, Structural Engineering or a combination of

The water industry is entering an exciting period of change, with significant investment in ageing infrastructure, pollution prevention, and more sustainable solutions. As a Graduate Civil Engineer, you will help tackle some of the industry’s biggest challenges by collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to develop practical, innovative designs for water and wastewater treatment works, networks and wider infrastructure. Whether through traditional engineering, nature-based solutions, or a combination of both, you will contribute to projects that will make a lasting difference to communities and the environment over the next 5 to 10 years.

What you could be involved in day to day

• Working as part of a multi-disciplinary design team to problem solve and find solutions to water and wastewater project challenges.
• Use of digital software to support in problem solving and reporting findings.
• Production of 3D models of solutions working alongside BIM modellers.
• Attendance at Client and internal meetings and workshops to find the right solutions to problems.

You may enjoy working in this team if you are interested in designing and delivering the infrastructure that enables clean water and wastewater services to reach millions of people every day. If you enjoy solving practical engineering challenges, working on large-scale infrastructure projects, and seeing how your designs can have a lasting impact on communities and the environment, this team could be a great fit. 

Help deliver projects that matter

As a Graduate in our Water Civils team, you will have the opportunity to contribute to a wide range of water and wastewater infrastructure projects for major clients including Thames Water, Northumbrian Water, Severn Trent Water, Yorkshire Water, South West Water, Irish Water and Southern Water. You could support the design of treatment works, pipelines, pumping stations and other critical assets, helping to deliver solutions that improve water quality, increase network resilience, and protect the environment.

Degree backgrounds considered:

• Civil, Environmental, Water & Wastewater Engineering
• Computer or Data Science
• Geography, Graphical Information Systems, Environmental Science(s) 

What you could be involved in day to day

• Building and updating hydraulic models to support the assessment and improvement of water and wastewater networks. 
• Supporting growth modelling and future development assessments to understand how planned development could affect network performance. 
• Take part in client-facing meetings and presentations, helping to share findings and support project discussions. 
• Contribute to overflow spill reduction studies, identifying opportunities to improve performance and reduce environmental impact.

You may enjoy this team if you are interested in using data, engineering and strategic thinking to help water companies make smarter decisions about their assets. You will support solutions that improve resilience, maximise long-term value and deliver sustainable, efficient services for communities and the environment.

Help deliver projects that matter

You will play a part in helping water companies manage the assets and networks people depend on every day. You could support major UK water-sector clients by using data, engineering insight, and strategic thinking to assess asset condition, improve network performance, reduce environmental impact and support more resilient, sustainable services for communities.

Whether contributing to hydraulic modelling, growth assessments, overflow spill reduction studies or long-term asset planning, your work will help clients make smarter decisions, maximise asset value and deliver practical improvements that make a lasting difference.

Degree backgrounds considered:

• Civil Engineering and General Engineering
• All STEM degrees considered

What you could be involved in day to day

• Working on a diverse range of projects helping clients tackle some of the biggest challenges facing the water sector and the environment.
• Collecting, analysing, and interpreting data to support strategic decision-making, business cases, and investment planning.
• Collaborating with experts across engineering, environmental and advisory disciplines to develop innovative solutions.
• Engaging with clients and stakeholders, developing technical, analytical and communication skills while contributing to real-world outcomes.

You may enjoy this team if you are interested in helping clients manage water more efficiently, sustainably, and responsibly. You will use planning, advisory and risk insight to support smarter decisions around water use, reuse, extraction, and discharge, while addressing financial, commercial, and environmental challenges.

Help deliver projects that matter

You will help clients make informed decisions about how water is planned, managed, and protected for the future. As part of our Strategic Advisory team, you could support business cases, investment planning, data analysis, and option appraisal, helping water companies and wider clients respond to financial, commercial, and environmental challenges while improving efficiency, resilience, and long-term sustainability.

Degree backgrounds considered:

• Earth Sciences, Flood Management, Geography, Hydrogeology 
• Hydro morphology/River Management/River Environments MSc
• Water & Environmental Management, Water Management

The WSP Catchment Science team helps clients understand, manage and improve water resources and the water environment through groundwater modelling, hydrogeology, hydrology, water quality & catchment management, hydro ecology, hydro morphology, water resources planning and river restoration projects, particularly for the UK water-sector, environmental regulators and large-scale infrastructure projects.

What you could be involved in day to day

• Water Resources planning, including low flow hydrology assessments.
• Catchment Management & Water quality assessments and modelling of both diffuse and point source pollution.
• Assessing the links between consented activities (e.g. abstractions and discharges) and the hydro ecology of rivers and wetlands.
• Designing and implementing river restoration schemes alongside hydro morphology and BNG assessments.

You may enjoy working in this team if you are curious about how rivers, groundwater, landscapes, and ecosystems interact and want to play a role in protecting and improving the natural environment. If you enjoy using science, fieldwork, and data to understand complex environmental challenges, this team could be a great fit. 

Help deliver projects that matter

As a graduate in our Catchment Science team, you will work on a diverse range of projects that help protect and improve water environments at a catchment scale. You could contribute to studies that assess water quality, investigate the impacts of land use on rivers and groundwater, support sustainable water resource management, and develop solutions to environmental challenges facing water companies and regulators. 

Degree backgrounds considered:

• Civil Engineering, Flood Management and Geography
• Water & Environmental Management, River Environments or Water Management

Effective stormwater and flood risk management helps reduce the impacts of urban growth, runoff, pollution, and pressure on local ecosystems. Graduates will support clients in understanding flood and stormwater risks, improving water quality and developing sustainable solutions that protect surface water resources for the long term.

What you could be involved in day to day

• Flood risk assessment and development planning services.  
• Appraisal and development of FCERM scheme business cases.  
• 1D and 2D hydraulic modelling for fluvial, pluvial, sewerage and coastal sources.
  
• Geomorphological analysis, river engineering design and scour assessment.

You may enjoy working in this team if you are interested in understanding how water interacts with the environment and want to help shape sustainable, resilient developments. If you enjoy analysing data, solving complex problems, and considering the wider environmental impact of projects, this team could be a great fit. You will collaborate with specialists in flood risk, hydrology, environmental assessment, and water management, using modelling and technical analysis to help clients make informed decisions. 

Help deliver projects that matter

You will contribute to a wide range of projects that help clients understand and manage flood risk while protecting and enhancing the water environment. You could support flood risk assessments for major infrastructure and development projects, contribute to Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), and help develop sustainable drainage and water management solutions.

Degree backgrounds considered:

• Civil & Environmental Engineering
• Flood Management or Hydro morphology/River Management/River Environments MSc

Graduates in the Rivers and Coast team will be working in a supportive and innovative team, delivering engineering solutions to rivers and flood challenges around the UK. You will work on projects that help protect communities, infrastructure and the natural environment, contributing to solutions that improve flood resilience and enhance river and coastal systems. 

What you could be involved in day to day

• Delivery of a wide variety of civil engineering river and flood related schemes.
• Preparing and supporting business cases for works to protect from flooding.
• Developing outline and detailed designs for engineering flood projects, including hydraulic systems, flood defences, drainage, and ancillary structures.
• Conducting asset inspection works of above and below ground structures.

You may enjoy this team if you are enthusiastic about protecting communities from flooding, improving the natural environment, and tackling the impacts of climate change. If you enjoy problem-solving, working outdoors as well as in the office, and combining engineering with environmental thinking, this team could be a great fit. 

Help deliver projects that matter

In this team you will work on projects that help communities adapt to flooding, protect the natural environment and improve the resilience of our watercourses. Previous graduates have contributed to major schemes such as the Kendal Flood Alleviation Scheme and East West Rail watercourse management. Other projects you might get involved with include the Rotherham Flood Alleviation Scheme and South Wales flood protection projects. You will have the opportunity to support flood risk assessments, river restoration, and watercourse design, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to develop sustainable solutions that balance environmental, engineering and community needs.