Graduate Mechanical Engineer

To proceed with your application, you should first generate an intent code by visiting our external partner Connectr. You will be given the opportunity to learn more about Costain, the roles and programmes available. From here, you will be directed to a few quick questions designed to help you determine if the role and the company is right for you. Please ensure that you complete this step to obtain the code required for your application form as applications without a code will not be processed.

About the role

As a Graduate 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

Costain is collaborating with Thames Water on various water and wastewater projects and has fantastic opportunities for individuals to join our growing AMP8 delivery team, working mainly across the Thames Valley and Thames South regions. There is a mix of projects ranging from smaller capital maintenance to large civil new build schemes.

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 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. 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 sub-contractor, 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 a 3–4 year period

Qualifications

You will have or are expected to achieve a good result in a Mechanical Engineering Degree or equivalent.

About you

• Have a 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

Please note that if you are invited to interview, we will require you to produce your passport and/or right to work documentation. If we receive a high volume of applications, we may close the vacancy earlier than the stated deadline - we strongly encourage you to apply as soon as possible. After we've reviewed applications, the vacancy may be re-opened so please keep an eye out for any updates!

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About us

Costain helps to improve people’s lives with integrated, leading-edge, smart infrastructure solutions across the UK’s energy, water, transportation, and defence markets. We help our clients improve their business performance by increasing capacity, improving customer service, safeguarding security, enhancing resilience, decarbonising, and delivering increased efficiency. Our vision is to be the UK’s leading smart infrastructure solutions company. We will achieve this by focusing on blue-chip clients whose major spending plans are underpinned by strategic national needs, regulatory commitments, legislation, or essential performance requirements.

We offer our clients leading-edge solutions that are digitally optimised through the following five services which cover the whole lifecycle of their assets: future-shaping strategic consultancy; consultancy and advisory; digital technology solutions; asset optimisation and complex programme delivery. Our culture and values underpin everything we do.

A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that discloses they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal, and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled and non-disabled people.