Graduate Civil Engineer

About the role

As a Graduate Civil 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.

About the project

Due to continued growth in our Water sector, we are recruiting for Graduate Civil Engineers to join our Northumbrian Water Framework. Costain has won extensive work across the water sector to support the AMP 8 investment cycle. We have been appointed by Northumbrian Water to the Living Water Enterprise to help shape and deliver its strategic infrastructure upgrade programme with contracts valued up to approximately £670m to Costain over 15 years.

Graduate Development Programme

By joining our 2-year Graduate programme, you’ll get the best of both worlds—great technical development and exciting opportunities to grow your personal confidence and leadership skills. You’ll be working alongside your team to deliver standout, best-in-class projects across the infrastructure sector, all while learning and building your career step by step.

The Graduate Development Programme (GDP) is also a fantastic chance to meet and network with other graduates joining us at the same time. You’ll connect with people across different projects and disciplines throughout the UK, creating a supportive community from day one. Throughout the 2 years, you’ll come together both in person and virtually to take part in engaging modules and activities such as “Growing your Career,” “Costain In Action,” and “Group Coaching.” These sessions are designed to inspire you, challenge you in the best way, and help you get the most out of your programme.

Your line manager will be fully on hand to support your learning, and you’ll have plenty of opportunities to talk through how you can put what you’re learning into your everyday work.

We also strongly recommend getting involved with our Graduate and Apprentice network (GRaAPs). It’s a brilliant way to meet other Early Careers members, discover what’s happening across different teams and projects, and explore areas of the business that genuinely interest you—helping you shape your future learning and direction.

And as a graduate, you’ll have the chance to help influence and shape future recruitment programmes and early careers opportunities—making a real difference to what comes next for future intakes.

Responsibilities

• Management of site operations, to ensure safety, quality, cost-effectiveness, timely production, and customer satisfaction
• Planning and sequencing of operations, including writing method statements and risk assessments, and procuring subcontractor, labour, plant, and material resources
• Briefing teams
• Implementing operational quality control including setting out and QA processes
• Commercial management
• Design and design management
• Work winning
• Full engagement with the Costain professional development scheme, to become qualified in 3 – 4 year period

Qualifications

• You will have or are expected to achieve a good result in a Civil Engineering Degree or equivalent
• Have passion for Costain's Carbon Net Zero targets
• IT proficient (Experience with Microsoft Office Suite, AutoCAD, and other software)
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities with effective communication.
• Attention to detail and a focus on delivering high-quality results
• A good working knowledge of construction methods, materials, and regulations.
• Able to work accurately and appreciate its importance to the team
• A willingness to learn with appropriate instruction
• Excel at building and maintaining positive relationships
• The ability to thrive in pressured situations
• The ability to empathise and communicate with all people, regardless of their background or circumstances
• Full UK Driving License