Drainage Engineer Graduate

We're looking for Graduate Drainage Engineers to join our Transportation team based in Exeter and Salford. You will be working in the Kier Design area of Transportation, supporting on the Drainage part of the projects.

Within this role you can enjoy 26 days annual leave, 24/7 Wellbeing Support Programme, and even more https://jobs.kier.co.uk/benefits/  

Transportation - Build and maintain infrastructure for the highways, rail, aviation and ports sectors, with a common goal of connecting people.  We provide transport solutions that are sustainable, long-lasting and that promote various methods of transport  https://www.kier.co.uk/who-we-are/our-business-divisions/   

This is a fantastic opportunity to join a leading construction and infrastructure services company on our structured graduate development programme. These programmes have been designed to provide you with the experiences and tools needed for progression within your chosen career.  

Locations: Based at offices in either Exeter or Salford.

Starting Salary: £30,000 per annum 

Pathway: Permanent, Full-time 2-year programme, leading to assistant level role upon completion with salary potential of CIRCA £38k  

Starting date: September 2026  

We are unable to offer certificates of sponsorship to any candidates in this role.  

 What you will be responsible for?  

As a Graduate Drainage Engineer, you'll be an essential part of our Design team, helping to shape the future of construction across the UK. 

What will your day-to-day duties include?

• Supporting the design and development of drainage and flood mitigation solutions for clients such as National Highways, Environment Agency, Transport for London, Local Authorities, and Water Companies.
• Assisting in the preparation of design calculations, hydraulic models, and technical reports.
• Engaging with clients and stakeholders to understand project needs and deliver on project goals.
• Collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure designs meet cost, quality, and programme targets.

  What are the benefits for you?  

• Practical experience: gain valuable hands-on experience in your field.  

• Skill improvement: develop technical and professional skills.  

• Networking: build professional relationships and expand your network.  

• Career insight: gain insights into your chosen industry and potential career paths.  

What are we looking for?  

We're looking for people due to graduate in 2026, or have recently graduated within the past three years, with a degree in Civil Engineering or a related field.

The role of Graduate Drainage Engineer is great for you if: 

• A related Degree in Civil Engineering
• You're excited about starting a career in design engineering
• You're organized, with great time management skills
• You enjoy solving problems and have strong analytical abilities. 
• Ideally hold a full UK drivers' licence.

 Diversity and inclusion  

Making Kier a diverse and inclusive place to work is a high priority for us. We're proud of the steps we've taken so far, but we know we must always do more. Our employees are key in shaping Kier's diversity and inclusion initiatives, and our people have made a huge impact on how we work, by using their experiences to shape our policies. You can see our D&I action plan here.   

It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations we reserve the right to close adverts early.  

Recruitment timeline  

October 2025: Initial applications  

November 2025: Application reviews  

January 2026 onwards: In-person assessment centres