At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovative water infrastructure projects and manage multi-disciplinary teams.
- Company: Join AECOM, a global leader in infrastructure consulting.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, career development, and personalised benefits.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace with opportunities for growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on sustainable water solutions for communities.
- Qualifications: Degree in engineering and experience in water treatment design required.
The predicted salary is between 51750 - 63250 £ per year.
Company Description
Work with Us. Change the World. At AECOM, we're delivering a better world. Whether improving your commute, keeping the lights on, providing access to clean water, or transforming skylines, our work helps people and communities thrive. We are the world's trusted infrastructure consulting firm, partnering with clients to solve the world’s most complex challenges and build legacies for future generations.
There has never been a better time to be at AECOM. With accelerating infrastructure investment worldwide, our services are in great demand. We invite you to bring your bold ideas and big dreams and become part of a global team of over 50,000 planners, designers, engineers, scientists, digital innovators, program and construction managers and other professionals delivering projects that create a positive and tangible impact around the world.
We're one global team driven by our common purpose to deliver a better world. Join us.
Job Description
Ready to shape the future of water infrastructure? Join our growing Water Team as an Associate Water Design Lead! At AECOM, we’re at the forefront of delivering exceptional water programmes and projects through long-term partnerships with leading clients, including Wessex Water, Thames Water, Welsh Water, Southern Water, Severn Trent Water, South West Water, and international contractors.
In this role, you’ll work on high-impact projects ranging from potable water and sewage networks to treatment works of all scales, covering all stages of design and delivery, from feasibility to construction, operation, maintenance, and asset management.
Examples of our major ongoing projects include working with our partners to deliver design elements of Alderney and Knapp Mill water treatment plants for South West Water, Avonmouth water recycling centre for Wessex Water, the Wanlip sewage treatment plant for Severn Trent Water, and a large programme of AMP8 treatment works upgrades for Southern Water, and other water companies.
This is a fantastic opportunity to take the next step in your career in technical project leadership, helping to deliver creative, sustainable solutions that address today’s challenges and anticipate tomorrow’s needs.
Here’s what you’ll do:
- Lead: Drive technical delivery of water and wastewater infrastructure / treatment projects, managing multi-disciplinary technical teams to deliver value added solutions to client challenges throughout the design lifecycle.
- Manage: Oversee key packages of work from conception to handover, interfacing with AECOM teams, clients and suppliers to create a seamless technical solution.
- Collaborate: Work closely with clients and AECOM partners to ensure stakeholder buy-in to solutions, also contributing to AECOM’s wider technical capability and innovative approach.
- Develop: Perform line manager duties and support the development of junior team members, managing their input to projects and mentoring them.
Join our team. Become part of our dynamic Water business, which boasts around 700 experts across the UK & Ireland. Collaborate with top-tier civil, mechanical, electrical and process engineers to deliver a variety of captivating projects, from small initiatives to large-scale ventures, all the way from concept to completion.
Let's not forget the perks! You'll enjoy a range of core and personalised benefits designed to support your future and well-being, customised to fit your lifestyle. Take advantage of career development opportunities, technical practice networks, AECOM University, volunteering days and our flexible hybrid working model to ensure a work-life balance that suits your lifestyle.
Qualifications
Ready to push the limits of what’s possible? Here’s what we’re looking for:
- A degree or equivalent in a related engineering subject (e.g. civil, electrical, mechanical) and/or equivalent experience.
- Chartered or Incorporated with a relevant institution e.g. ICE, CIWEM or working towards it.
- Hands-on experience, designing complex wastewater treatment solutions.
- Experience in managing the technical delivery of water and wastewater engineering projects with multi-disciplinary knowledge, ideally including treatment schemes and/or pipeline design. You will also have experience leading multi-disciplinary design teams.
- Relevant experience in a similar role for a water company, consultancy or contractor.
- Experience of undertaking feasibility studies, options appraisal and concept design, and/or outline and detailed design for water company clients and design and build contractors.
We celebrate diversity, including neurodiversity, and believe it enriches our team. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and abilities. If you are an applicant with a disability that requires reasonable accommodation to complete the application process, please contact us at ReasonableAccomodations@aecom.com. At AECOM, we value everyone's unique contributions and perspectives.
At AECOM, we are committed to maintaining a secure and trustworthy recruitment process and take any fraudulent hiring activity seriously. To support this commitment, all newly hired employees are required to attend an in-person Day 1 onboarding at an AECOM office location as a condition of employment.
About AECOM
AECOM is the world’s trusted infrastructure consulting firm, delivering professional services throughout the project lifecycle – from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. On projects spanning transportation, buildings, water, new energy and the environment, our public- and private-sector clients trust us to solve their most complex challenges. Our teams are driven by a common purpose to deliver a better world through our unrivalled technical and digital expertise, a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion, and a commitment to environmental, social and governance priorities.
AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm and its Professional Services business had revenue of $16.1 billion in fiscal year 2025. See how we are delivering sustainable legacies for generations to come at aecom.com and @AECOM.
Freedom to Grow in a World of Opportunity
You will have the flexibility you need to do your best work with hybrid work options. Whether you’re working from an AECOM office, remote location or at a client site, you will be working in a dynamic environment where your integrity, entrepreneurial spirit and pioneering mindset are championed.
You will help us foster a safe and respectful workplace, where we invite everyone to bring their whole selves to work using their unique talents, backgrounds and expertise to create transformational outcomes for our clients.
AECOM provides a wide array of compensation, benefits and well-being programs to meet the diverse needs of our employees and their families. We’re the world’s trusted global infrastructure firm, and we’re in this together – your growth and success are ours too.
Join us, and you’ll get all the benefits of being a part of a global, publicly traded firm – access to industry-leading technology and thinking and transformational work with big impact and work flexibility.
As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in each person’s potential, and we’ll help you reach yours. We are a Disability Confident Employer and will offer an interview to applicants who have a disability or long-term condition, who meet the minimum/essential criteria for the role. Please let us know using this email address ReasonableAccommodationsUKI@aecom.com if you would like to apply through the Disability Confident Interview Scheme. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.
Associate Water Design Lead employer: AECOM
At AECOM, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment that fosters innovation and collaboration. Our commitment to employee growth is evident through our extensive career development opportunities, flexible hybrid working model, and a culture that values diversity and inclusion. Join us in the South East, where you can make a meaningful impact on transport planning while enjoying a range of personalised benefits tailored to support your well-being and professional aspirations.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Associate Water Design Lead
✨Join Engineering Meetups!
Get yourself along to local engineering meetups or tech conferences. These are great places to connect with like-minded folks and industry leaders who might just have a lead on that full-time Associate Water Design Lead role you’re after at AECOM.
✨Show Off Your Projects!
Don’t be shy about showcasing your engineering projects. Whether it’s a funky app, a mechanical design, or a complex algorithm, having a solid portfolio on platforms like GitHub can really make you stand out. Plus, it gives potential employers at AECOM a taste of what you can bring to the table!
✨Engage with Online Communities
Dive into engineering forums and online communities, like Reddit or specific engineering Discord channels. Sharing your insights, asking questions, and being active can help you build connections that might lead to job opportunities at AECOM.
✨Apply Through Company Websites
When you spot a role like Associate Water Design Lead at AECOM, apply directly through their website. Often, this can show your genuine interest in the company and you might just get noticed quicker than via typical job boards.
We think you need these skills to ace Associate Water Design Lead
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Technical Expertise:When applying for an engineering role like Associate Water Design Lead, it’s essential to highlight your technical skills. Include any relevant software or tools you're proficient in on your CV—think CAD software, simulation tools, or programming languages. Don't skimp on any engineering projects you've worked on that demonstrate your ability to solve complex problems.
Focus on Results and Impact:In the engineering world, we love numbers and real-world impact. Quantify your achievements wherever possible—like reducing costs by a certain percentage, improving efficiency, or successfully completing a project ahead of schedule. This gives your future employers at AECOM a clear picture of the value you can bring.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to express your passion for engineering and explain why you’re drawn to AECOM specifically. Share what aspects of their work excite you and how your values align with theirs. This is your chance to show a bit of personality while keeping it professional!
Include Relevant Certifications:If you have any engineering certifications, especially ones that are recognised in your field, make sure to feature them prominently on your CV. They demonstrate not just your knowledge, but also your commitment to professional development, which is something we at StudySmarter value highly.
How to prepare for a job interview at AECOM
✨Brush Up on Core Engineering Principles
Before heading into the interview with AECOM, make sure you're solid on the fundamental engineering principles relevant to the role. Be ready to discuss concepts such as thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, or structural analysis, depending on the specifics mentioned in the job description. Don’t skip any hands-on projects or coursework; these can be excellent talking points!
✨Show Off Your Problem-Solving Skills
Expect technical questions or case studies during your interview—after all, engineering is all about solving problems! Prepare a few examples of how you've tackled engineering challenges in the past, whether at university or in any practical experience. Practising with mock technical interviews can really help you articulate your thought process and solutions.
✨Relate Your Experience to the Role
In a full-time role, employers like AECOM want to see that you can adapt and grow within their team. Be ready to discuss how your previous internships, projects, or studies relate directly to the work you'll be doing. Highlight specific experiences that showcase your collaborative skills and how you've successfully worked within a team environment.
✨Know Your Tools and Software
Most engineering roles require familiarity with specific tools and software. Prepare to talk about your proficiency with programmes like AutoCAD, MATLAB, or SolidWorks if they’re relevant to the role. Even better, have examples of projects where you’ve used these tools, as it'll demonstrate your hands-on experience and readiness for the job.
