At a Glance
- Tasks: Join us as a Graduate Mechanical Engineer and tackle exciting global energy projects.
- Company: Mott MacDonald, a global engineering consultancy with a focus on sustainability.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, flexible working, and extensive professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team that values inclusion and personal growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the energy transition while growing your career with expert mentorship.
- Qualifications: Recent Mechanical Engineering graduates with less than 12 months' experience are encouraged to apply.
The predicted salary is between 54000 - 66000 £ per year.
This is an opportunity for candidates who have already graduated to join us in 2026. Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management, and development consultancy with over 20,000 employees across more than 50 countries and 140+ offices. We work across incredible global industries, delivering exciting work that is defining our future and making an important societal impact in the communities we serve. Our people power our performance – we succeed when they do. With countless opportunities to collaborate, learn, and grow, the possibilities for excellence are as varied as every individual.
Join us as a Graduate Mechanical Engineer and become part of a team that’s driving innovation, sustainability, and safety in our Energy Transition team. We believe in empowering early careers talent to grow, thrive, and make a real difference. You’ll be supported by experienced mentors, surrounded by diverse teams, and encouraged to bring your whole self to work.
About Us: Our Energy Transition business combines deep process engineering expertise with innovative solutions to support the global energy transition. We work with national and international energy companies, governments, and project developers to design and deliver sustainable, efficient systems for the future of energy.
As a Graduate Mechanical Engineer, you will get involved with the following:
- Optioneering and cost benefit analysis to support our clients to determine the optimum way to approach their challenges.
- Front-End-Engineering-Design (FEED) to progress a concept design to a maturity that can be procured, including cost estimation.
- Interface with various global stakeholders ranging from utilities, EPC Contractors, OEMs, Investors, Developers, and Government and Regulatory bodies in a fast-paced environment and take part in high-profile projects with dynamic challenges.
What You’ll Gain:
- Growth & Development: Structured training, professional development, and support to achieve chartership.
- Mentorship & Community: Be part of a collaborative network that celebrates achievements and promotes wellbeing.
- Impact & Purpose: Work on projects that contribute to energy transition, sustainability, and global progress.
- Diversity & Inclusion: Thrive in an environment that values every voice and fosters belonging.
- Integrity & Trust: Join a team that upholds the highest standards of ethics and responsibility.
Candidate Specification: At Mott MacDonald, we’re looking for curious, motivated graduates who want to make a real difference. To be eligible for this opportunity, you will have less than 12 months’ relevant experience (excluding placements) and have a Mechanical Engineering degree (obtained no earlier than 2024). In your cover letter, you should aim to demonstrate your genuine interest in both the opportunity and in joining Mott MacDonald.
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.
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, due to their temporary nature and the requirement for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route in future.
About Your Development: A graduate position should be more than just a job. 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.
What else is involved? You’ll be enrolled onto Accelerate Your Future, a structured three-year soft-skills development programme which develops the strengths that we know graduates need to be successful at Mott MacDonald. It also gives you the opportunity to network and meet other graduates in your cohort.
The programme is a mix of residential events, classroom-based learning, virtual webinars, and sustainability and social impact challenges. In addition to developing your soft skills, we recognise that each person’s career goals vary, so when rolling off the programme we provide you with the tools and support to develop your ongoing career the way you wish to.
Our social side: Being part of Mott MacDonald means more than just work, there’s a huge range of fun and exciting things that you can get involved in. From the moment you join us, you’ll have the opportunity to expand your social and professional network, whether it’s meeting other graduates or joining forces with other members of staff from around the company at our annual sports day.
Each of our offices have a sports and social committee which will give you the chance to be part of a variety of sports, social and charity events. We’re committed to promoting a strong culture of social responsibility and encourage our staff to play active roles in the local community.
UK Immigration: Mott MacDonald Ltd. are not currently offering sponsorship to candidates under the Skilled Worker visa route in the UK. 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 future.
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 offer a hybrid working policy that embraces your well-being, flexibility, and trust.
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.
AI Usage: At Mott MacDonald, we see the value AI can bring, but we take a people-first approach to hiring. Every application and hiring decision is reviewed by our recruitment and hiring teams.
Accessibility: We want you to perform your best at every stage in the recruitment process. If you are disabled or need any support to enable you to apply or attend an interview, please contact us at reasonable.adjustments@mottmac.com and we will talk to you about how we can support you.
We offer some fantastic benefits including:
- Financial wellbeing: We match employee pension contributions between 4.5% and 7%. Life assurance equal up to 4 x your basic salary, with an option to increase the level of cover to 6 x your salary.
- Employee Ownership: Our employee ownership model means no external investors, just us, creating a culture of shared success.
- Health and wellbeing: Private medical insurance for all UK colleagues. Health cash plan to support you with everyday health costs and treatments.
- Lifestyle: A minimum of 33-35 days holiday each year, inclusive of public holidays and dependent on level, with the ability to buy or sell leave through our flexible benefits programme.
- Enhanced family and carers leave: Enhanced family leave policies, including 26 weeks paid maternity and adoption leave, and two weeks paid paternity/partner leave.
- Learning and development: Primary annual professional institution subscription. A broad range of opportunities to enhance both technical and soft skills through mentoring, formal training, and self-development options.
Location(s): Brighton, GB; Altrincham, GB; Croydon, GB; Manchester, GB
Contract Type: Permanent
Work Pattern: Full Time
Market: Energy
Discipline: Energy
Job Ref: 15957
Graduate Mechanical Engineer - 2026 start date in Altrincham employer: Mott MacDonald
At Mott MacDonald, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a collaborative and inclusive work culture that empowers our employees to thrive. With a strong focus on professional development, we provide ample opportunities for growth within the energy sector, particularly in high-voltage transmission systems. Our UK-wide presence allows for diverse project experiences, making it an exciting place to contribute to the global energy transition while working alongside industry experts.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Graduate Mechanical Engineer - 2026 start date in Altrincham
✨Get Your Hands Dirty at Engineering Events
Join local engineering meetups or industry conferences related to mechanical engineering. Whether it's a workshop or a career fair, these events are goldmines for networking and getting a foot in the door. Plus, you can showcase your passion and enthusiasm directly to potential employers like Mott MacDonald.
✨Connect with Professors & Peers
Tap into your university’s resources—professors often have connections in the industry. Don’t be shy to ask about potential openings or recommendations. Your classmates might also know of companies hiring. Often, it’s who you know that gets you in front of the right people!
✨Highlight Your Projects and Practical Experience
When you land those interviews, make sure to talk about your hands-on projects or internships. Whether it's a design project or hands-on experience with CAD software, specific examples will make you stand out. Companies like Mott MacDonald love to hear about practical applications of your skills.
✨Apply Directly on Company Websites
Check out the careers page of Mott MacDonald and apply directly through there. It shows initiative and interest in their specific values. Plus, you'll often find openings that aren't advertised on job boards, giving you a better chance to land that full-time gig!
We think you need these skills to ace Graduate Mechanical Engineer - 2026 start date in Altrincham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Technical Expertise:In mechanical engineering, it’s vital to highlight your technical skills and projects. Make sure to include relevant software proficiency (like CAD tools) in your CV. If you've worked on specific engineering projects, detail your key contributions — we want to see how you’ve applied your skills in a practical setting!
Focus on Problem-Solving Examples:Employers in mechanical engineering love to see how you handle challenges. Use your cover letter to share specific instances where you’ve solved a complex problem or improved a design. This will show us you're not just knowledgeable but also capable of applying that knowledge effectively.
Highlight Relevant Certifications:Include any relevant certifications or training that can set you apart from the competition. Whether it's coursework from your degree, a recognised certification, or extra training in new technologies, we love to see candidates who continuously improve their skill set. This tells us you're serious about your career in engineering!
Tailor Your CV for the Role:Don’t forget to customise your CV for Mott MacDonald and the Graduate Mechanical Engineer - 2026 start date role specifically. Pull examples from your experience that align with the job description — it shows us you've done your research and are genuinely interested in becoming part of the team. We recommend applying through our website to ensure your application gets to the right people!
How to prepare for a job interview at Mott MacDonald
✨Brush Up on Your CAD Skills
Since mechanical engineering often involves design processes, be ready to showcase your proficiency in CAD software like SolidWorks or AutoCAD. Bring along a digital portfolio or even some sketches that demonstrate your design capabilities — it’s a great way to show what you can bring to the table at Mott MacDonald.
✨Prepare for Technical Questions
Expect technical questions that test your understanding of engineering principles and problem-solving skills. You might get hypothetical scenarios where you need to design a component or troubleshoot a mechanical system. Practising these types of questions will give you the confidence to tackle whatever comes your way!
✨Show Your Team Spirit
As a full-time mechanical engineer, collaboration is key! Be ready to share examples of past team projects or any experiences where you contributed to solving a complex problem with others. Demonstrating your ability to work in a team will resonate well with the interviewers at Mott MacDonald.
✨Discuss Your Future Goals
Since this is a full-time position, your long-term vision is important. Be open about your career aspirations, whether it’s mastering a specific tool or leading projects. This shows that you're committed not just to learning but also to growing with Mott MacDonald, making you a more appealing candidate.
