2026 UK Graduate Civil and Structural Engineering Career Path: Transport
Before making an application, please browse all graduate opportunities available as we will only accept one application per candidate. Once you have made an application you will not be able to make changes to your selection or make a new application. The exception is if we open new vacancies in the new year.
To avoid missing out on your preferred opportunity, we also recommend that you apply as soon as possible as we will close when the position has been filled.
Turn your ambition into action—apply now and shape your future with us.
Job Description
Are you ready to launch your engineering career in a place where your ideas matter, your growth is championed, and your work truly makes a difference? Join our collaborative team as a Graduate Civil Engineer and help us design and deliver projects that improve lives, strengthen communities, and create a more sustainable world.
What We Value:
Diversity & Inclusion: We believe diverse perspectives drive better solutions. We welcome and celebrate people from all backgrounds, cultures, and experiences.
Integrity & Trust: We act with honesty, transparency, and respect - always doing what’s right for our people, our clients, and society.
Wellbeing & Support: Your wellbeing matters. We foster a caring environment with flexible working, mental health support, and a culture of kindness.
Teamwork & Achievement: We succeed together. Your contributions will be recognised, and your successes celebrated as part of our shared journey.
As part of your application, we will ask you to select your preferred opportunity based on the sector and location. Some of our opportunities will require you to be eligible to achieve security clearance, this is shown in the selection choices. Security clearance is dictated by the types of projects we work on and normally requires you to be a UK British national or have lived in the UK for five years or more.
Below you’ll find more information on what work you could do within each area.
Ports and Maritime - Croydon, Glasgow, Liverpool, Newcastle
Join our Ports and Maritime team and help deliver the infrastructure that underpins global trade and the transition to cleaner energy. As a graduate engineer, you’ll apply your strong structural and analytical skills to the design and planning of major port and marine projects, tackling complex technical challenges and developing solutions that will shape the sector for decades to come. You’ll work alongside industry leaders on some of the UK’s and world’s largest ports, from container terminals to offshore renewables ports and fuel terminals, where hard work and determination are essential.
We’re looking for graduates who are genuinely passionate about heavy infrastructure, thrive on technical problem-solving, and are committed to building a career in ports and maritime, not those seeking a generic engineering role.
Bridges and Civil Structures - Altrincham, Birmingham, Croydon, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester, Sheffield, Southampton
Join our Bridges and Civil Structures teams and be part of a dynamic environment where innovation meets impact. As a graduate engineer, you’ll contribute to projects spanning the full spectrum of bridge engineering—from the sustainable design of new structures to the application of emerging technologies and advanced structural analysis. Our work ranges from unique, small-scale commissions to some of the largest and most complex infrastructure projects in the UK and around the world. If you're ready to apply your skills, learn from industry leaders, and help shape the future of infrastructure, we want to hear from you.
Special Services - Birmingham, Croydon, Sheffield
The Special Services Team at Mott MacDonald are a specialised team which works cross-sector, on a wide range of projects covering design, forensic analysis, first-principles problem-solving and asset life extension. We are at the forefront of developing advanced structural analysis and dynamics solutions, addressing materials technology requirements, advancing asset life management for a wide range of civil infrastructure, undertaking specialist studies for a diverse range of clients.
Tunnels - Birmingham, Croydon, Reading
As a graduate joining the tunnels account, you can expect to be part of a friendly and supportive department that values your development and growth. You'll gain exposure to a wide variety of tunnelling projects across sectors such as transport, energy, and water, while also having opportunities to contribute to non-tunnelling projects across the wider company. While you’ll gain strong technical experience as part of your core role, you will also have the opportunity to broaden your skill set through involvement in project and design management, giving you exposure to the wider lifecycle of high-profile infrastructure projects. You'll be supported on your journey towards chartership, with training actively encouraged and access to CPD activities and industry conferences. Notably, you'll have the opportunity to attend the prestigious week-long Tunnelling Course at the University of Warwick and the two-day Health and Safety course, both hosted by the British Tunnelling Society. Throughout your time, you'll be working alongside a highly knowledgeable and experienced team, gaining invaluable insight and mentorship as you build your career.
Rail Civil Structures - Belfast, Manchester, Sheffield, York
The Railway Stations and Civil Engineering team leads multidisciplinary railway enhancement and renewals projects. You’ll gain design experience with geotechnical, geometrical, and structural design, and work closely with experts in highways, drainage, geotechnics, and other disciplines. You'll support project and design management, help co-ordinate the design process, and produce technical drawings and 3D models. You’ll engage with contractors and team members across the UK. This holistic experience will help you quickly develop core technical, commercial, and collaborative skills essential for civil engineering in the rail sector and support your Initial Professional Development on the Institution of Civil Engineers’ accredited training scheme.
Highways - Edinburgh, Glasgow, London, Norwich
Our Highways team excels in delivering comprehensive services throughout the entire project life cycle. From the initial planning and design of new roads to the implementation and maintenance of highway networks, our focus is on innovation, cost certainty, and added value. We achieve this through collaborative efforts with our clients and a strong commitment to continuous improvement.
Graduates who join our division will participate in the Division’s Early Careers Professionals Rotation Programme. This program provides hands-on experience across various disciplines within highway design. They will contribute to major highway projects for our key clients, engaging in the production of 3D modelling, design calculations, and specifications. Additionally, they will support project delivery by assisting senior engineers and project managers with documentation, deliverables tracking, and stakeholder coordination.
Asset Management - Birmingham, Bristol, Croydon, Glasgow, London, Southampton (Need to be eligible for Security Clearance)
The Asset Management, Maintenance and Advisory Portfolio provide a range of design and advisory services to clients across the transport sector. Our team includes specialists in drainage and flood risk, pavement engineering, street lighting, road safety and road signage and markings. We provide design inputs into a variety of highway and airfield projects as well as providing advice on how clients maintain and manage their transport assets. You will also have opportunities to contribute to the continued digitalisation of our sector and our sustainability advisory services, through activities like developing and implementing machine learning tools and providing carbon reduction advice on projects.
As a Graduate Civil Engineer specialising in drainage, you will familiarise yourself with relevant national and client standards, garner an understanding of the principles of drainage design, such as: defining catchment areas, assessing pipe capacity and analysing hydraulic model results; as well as producing deliverables such as: 3D models, drawings, schedules and specifications. You will coordinate your designs across multidisciplinary teams and collaborate with clients and stakeholders.
Local Streets - Birmingham, Cambridge, Croydon, Edinburgh, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Norwich, Southampton (Need to be eligible for Security Clearance)
In the local streets and infrastructure portfolio you will have the opportunity to contribute to a wide range of impactful projects that directly benefit the local and national community. These projects range from local junction improvements to facilitate access to solar farms to large scale infrastructure projects such as East West Rail, Heathrow Expansion and HS2. We focus on projects that enhance safety, accessibility, sustainability, and efficiency in urban and rural environments. We are also passionate about incorporating nature based solutions into our designs to help mitigate the flood risk and protect local ecosystems. The design of Active travel infrastructure, such as cycle lanes, footpaths, and pedestrian zones, promoting healthier and greener transport options is also a key focus area.
You will be involved in the full life cycle from feasibility through to construction and operation using the latest digital skills to deliver sustainable, innovative, safe and cost-effective solutions for our clients. The projects that you will work on will not only develop your technical and project management skills but will also offer you the chance to make a tangible difference in local communities.
Urban Transit (Masters essential) - Altrincham, Birmingham, Croydon
Urban Transit and Mobility connect people and places with mass rapid transit solutions. Our work covers transport systems that predominately operate in public spaces, from rail based modes like light rail, tram-train, and tramways, to rubber tyred solutions, like Bus and Personal Rapid Transit, as well as well as Active Travel interfaces. Within Urban Transit and Mobility you’ll gain a wide variety of Civil Engineering experience in all stages of the project lifecycle from business case and feasibility studies, looking at high level route alignments, through to detailed design, as well as Design and Build with contractors, construction phase support, network operations and maintenance, and finally renewal work for existing schemes. Many projects are complex multidisciplinary engineering challenges involving work with many other teams such as bridges, structures, traction power, geotech, operations and the environment. Key skills developed would be alignment (segregated and in highway corridors), swept path, stop design, track design, depot design and tram signalling. There are unique opportunities to develop true multi-disciplinary engineering skills, for those able to meet the demands of complex challenges. We provide a mix of office work and site opportunities although the majority is typically office based. We actively support and encourage your development and expect our graduates to proceed to chartership with the ICE. We work on projects all over the world with links to colleagues in many other countries.
Why Join Us?
Purpose-Driven Work: Every project you work on will help shape a better, more resilient world.
Continuous Growth: From day one, you’ll be supported to reach your full potential—professionally and personally.
Inclusive Culture: Be yourself and thrive in a workplace where everyone belongs.
Societal Impact: Your work will leave a legacy—improving lives, protecting the planet, and inspiring future generations.
Candidate Specification
At Mott MacDonald, we’re 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 minimum of a bachelor’s degree (obtained no earlier than 2024) or be expected to achieve one, in one of the following degree disciplines:
- Civil engineering
Structural engineering
Coastal engineering
Engineering science with a specialisation in civil
Façade engineering
Bridge engineering
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 personally review every completed application we receive as our selection process is entirely human led – we do not use AI tools and kindly expect you not to either. We want you to answer each application question with authenticity so we can get to know the real you. Joining us as a graduate is your opportunity to shape your own story.
We are looking for graduates with the following strengths:
Proactively takes initiative to complete tasks efficiently and independently.
Communicates effectively and clearly with clients and colleagues.
Delivers high quality written work with strong attention to detail and clarity.
Demonstrates a structured and analytical approach to problem solving.
As we want the best people for the role, we support flexible working. Please ask us at interview stage about any flexibility you may need.
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.
Our ethos is to develop, train and retain our graduates and therefore we are looking for a long-term relationship with our graduates. For this reason, we cannot accept applications from candidates who would be working under the Graduate visa route or other time-limited visas, (irrespective of visa duration), 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 the future.
About your development
A graduate position should be more than just a job. We know this and so do you. That’s why, with our graduate roles, we aim to give you the experience and technical knowledge you need to progress your career.
From the moment you join us, you’ll receive the training you need. You will be assigned a chartered mentor, who will guide you to meet the objectives of your professional training agreement. We’ll support you on your journey to gaining chartered status with your chosen institution.
Accelerating your Future – our early careers development programme
Mott Macdonald will support the development of technical and practical skills like presentation and report writing skills, and data analysis, alongside your personal development.
Additionally, 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.
Equality, diversity and inclusion
We put equality, diversity and inclusion at the heart of our business, seeking to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they have the opportunity to contribute.
Agile working
At Mott MacDonald, we believe it makes business sense for you and your manager to choose how you can work most effectively to meet your client, team and personal commitments. We embrace agility, flexibility and trust.
More about Mott MacDonald
We’re a global engineering, management and development consultancy. Our purpose is to improve society by considering social outcomes in everything we do, relentlessly focusing on excellence and digital innovation, transforming our clients’ businesses, our communities and employee opportunities.A fundamental part of this is respecting each person’s differences and striving to meet their needs.
Our values: progress, respect, integrity, drive, excellence