Graduate Process Engineer in Manchester

Graduate Process Engineer in Manchester

Manchester Trainee 36000 - 60000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
T

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Join our team to optimise wastewater treatment processes and support innovative engineering projects.
  • Company: Costain, a leader in smart infrastructure solutions across the UK.
  • Benefits: Flexible working, mentoring, and a structured development programme for career growth.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact on environmental sustainability while developing your engineering skills.
  • Qualifications: Degree in process engineering or related field; passion for wastewater treatment is a plus.
  • Other info: Exciting opportunities across various sectors and locations in the UK.

The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.

This role is for a Graduate Process Engineer to join the Asset Optimisation Team, which is a growing technical team of process engineers working with municipal wastewater treatment clients across the UK.

Our team delivers optimisation studies at feasibility, concept, optioneering and preliminary design stages to mitigate risk, return sites to compliance, or enable low or no build solutions to be provided for new permit drivers. The team then provides technical and engineering support to our site teams, clients, and other stakeholders through the construction and commissioning of projects ensuring successful scheme delivery and operation.

The successful candidate will join the Graduate Development Program, which is accredited by the Institute of Chemical Engineers and is designed to equip graduates with the skills and experience required to take them forward in their career with the company. As a Graduate Process Engineer, you will be assigned a mentor to provide support in your professional development and to guide you towards chartership. The training program provides "On the Job" technical development with graduates working on real work assignments under supervision and rapidly taking on responsibility for design work across the full project lifecycle within multi-disciplinary project teams.

Costain offers a range of exciting development opportunities to accelerate your career and enable you to achieve your potential both during and after the Graduate Development Scheme.

About The Project: Costain is a leading provider of consultancy, engineering, project delivery, and asset support services. Population growth, regulatory changes, energy costs, and climate change are having a dramatic impact on water usage. The national approach to managing water supply is changing to meet these challenges. The Government and industry regulator are tasked with cutting wastage and preserving an increasingly valuable resource, while protecting consumers from higher water bills.

This requires a new operating approach, with an emphasis on whole life costing, 'no build' solutions and optimising field force and maintenance activities; a greater focus on energy efficiency, resilience issues around climate change and regulation, regulation change, and increased competition driven by OFWAT and DEFRA driven by rising demands around customer satisfaction. Since privatisation, investment in water has been in ageing assets; going forward, the water industry will be about combining infrastructure investments with maintenance, repair, and operations.

The role offers flexible and dynamic working between home and office and will require regular travel to wastewater treatment sites. While the majority of current work is in South East England, we undertake work for clients across the whole of England with current active work in the Midlands, Yorkshire, and Lancashire.

Costain's Graduate Development Programme will focus on helping you to grow your personal and leadership skills, alongside business and technical skills you will learn day-to-day on the job. The programme is delivered in a variety of formats throughout the 2 years and will allow you to establish a network of contacts that will help and support you through your first 2 years and beyond. We expect some of our graduates to rotate after a period of 8-12 months, to another project/sector of the business to fully understand the depth and breadth of the services offered by the company.

Responsibilities:

  • Process engineering including process modelling, mass balance, data analysis, and design calculations
  • Site commissioning support across capital construction planning and delivery
  • Developing detailed solutions for asset improvement and/or operational improvements on individual sites on a cost-effective (potentially cost-saving) basis
  • Applying systems thinking – understanding how the whole system integrates, not just the process elements
  • Site visits for data acquisition, on-site reviews and meeting site operators
  • Contribution to technical review including presenting your own work for review
  • Developing material for stakeholder workshops to develop solutions and designs
  • Technical liaison with the supply chain
  • Production of presentations, briefing notes, and control philosophies
  • Participating in regular team meetings and reviews and helping develop our capability
  • Presentation of findings to internal and external stakeholders
  • Developing site-specific process compliance plans to ensure quality is met during upgrades to processes
  • Root cause failure analysis, FMECA, other risk analysis, and mitigation proposals
  • Supporting principal or senior process engineers in undertaking outline or detailed process engineering design, calculations, and proposals
  • Attend and contribute to team meetings and wider initiatives
  • Short business rotations into other business functions may form part of the graduates development plan which can include: Business Development; Marketing, Project Engineering and Proposals.

Qualifications:

  • A degree or equivalent qualification in a process engineering related discipline is essential - successful candidates who will possess an IChemE accredited degree will be registered on the IChemE accredited scheme
  • Strong wastewater specialism within their degree and/or relevant wastewater treatment work experience
  • While the role will be predominantly home based, it will require regular travel to wastewater treatment sites and mobility to work on secondment to any of our offices or project sites - a full UK driving licence is essential
  • Must be delivery driven with a mindset to work to targets and meet team objectives
  • Have passion for Costain's Carbon Net Zero targets
  • IT proficient
  • Able to work accurately and appreciate its importance to the team
  • An ability to communicate technical concepts clearly and concisely
  • 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
  • Excellent organisation, communication, and time management skills
  • Mobility to work on various projects over the 2-year programme throughout the UK

Please note that if you are invited to interview, we will require you to produce your passport and/or right to work documentation.

Working At Costain: 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.

Costain appreciate the time and effort taken when applying for one of our positions but, due to the high volume of responses, we are unable to provide individual feedback on candidates at the application phase. We do share individual feedback following an interview.

A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that disclose 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 people and non-disabled people.

Graduate Process Engineer in Manchester employer: TargetJobs UK

Costain is an exceptional employer for aspiring engineers, offering a robust Graduate Development Programme that is accredited by the Institute of Chemical Engineers. With a strong focus on personal and professional growth, employees benefit from mentorship, hands-on experience in diverse projects across the UK, and a supportive work culture that values innovation and collaboration. The flexible working arrangements and commitment to sustainability further enhance the appeal of joining our dynamic team dedicated to improving infrastructure and environmental outcomes.
T

Contact Detail:

TargetJobs UK Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Graduate Process Engineer in Manchester

✨Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to professionals in the wastewater treatment field on LinkedIn or at industry events. Building connections can lead to insider info about job openings and even referrals.

✨Tip Number 2

Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its projects. Understand their approach to asset optimisation and be ready to discuss how your skills align with their goals. Show them you’re genuinely interested!

✨Tip Number 3

Practice your technical skills and be ready to demonstrate them. Whether it’s process modelling or data analysis, being able to showcase your abilities can set you apart from other candidates.

✨Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take that extra step to engage with us directly.

We think you need these skills to ace Graduate Process Engineer in Manchester

Process Engineering
Process Modelling
Mass Balance
Data Analysis
Design Calculations
Site Commissioning Support
Systems Thinking
Technical Review
Stakeholder Engagement
Root Cause Failure Analysis
FMECA
Risk Analysis
Communication Skills
Time Management
Organisational Skills

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Graduate Process Engineer role. Highlight relevant coursework, projects, and any experience related to wastewater treatment. We want to see how your background aligns with what we do!

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about process engineering and how you can contribute to our Asset Optimisation Team. Keep it concise but impactful – we love a good story!

Showcase Your Skills: Don’t forget to highlight your technical skills, especially in process modelling and data analysis. Mention any software or tools you’re proficient in that are relevant to the role. We’re looking for candidates who can hit the ground running!

Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, you’ll find all the info you need about the role and our company there!

How to prepare for a job interview at TargetJobs UK

✨Know Your Stuff

Make sure you brush up on your process engineering knowledge, especially around wastewater treatment. Familiarise yourself with key concepts like process modelling and mass balance, as well as any recent developments in the industry. This will help you answer technical questions confidently.

✨Show Your Passion

Demonstrate your enthusiasm for the role and the company’s mission, particularly their focus on Carbon Net Zero targets. Share any relevant projects or experiences that highlight your commitment to sustainability and innovation in engineering.

✨Prepare Questions

Have a list of thoughtful questions ready to ask your interviewers. This could include inquiries about the Graduate Development Programme, opportunities for mentorship, or how the team approaches problem-solving in projects. It shows you're engaged and genuinely interested in the role.

✨Practice Communication

Since clear communication is key, practice explaining complex technical concepts in simple terms. You might be asked to present your ideas or findings, so being able to articulate your thoughts clearly will set you apart from other candidates.

Graduate Process Engineer in Manchester
TargetJobs UK
Location: Manchester

Land your dream job quicker with Premium

You’re marked as a top applicant with our partner companies
Individual CV and cover letter feedback including tailoring to specific job roles
Be among the first applications for new jobs with our AI application
1:1 support and career advice from our career coaches
Go Premium

Money-back if you don't land a job in 6-months

T
Similar positions in other companies
UK’s top job board for Gen Z
discover-jobs-cta
Discover now
>