2026 Graduate Programme - Transport & Infrastructure - Civil

Job Description

What if you could do the kind of work the world needs? At WSP, you can access our global scale, contribute to landmark projects and connect with the brightest minds in your field to do the best work of your life. You can embrace your curiosity in a culture that celebrates new ideas and diverse perspectives. You can experience a world of opportunity and the chance to shape a career as unique as you.

Recruiting for Graduates in the following services and locations:

• Bridge Engineering: Cardiff, Exeter, Truro, Carlisle, Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds
• Aviation – Airport Planning & Advisory: London
• Pavement Engineering: Derby, Reading or London

About your role and the team

Working as a Graduate in the Civil team will mean working on exciting and innovative projects across our specialist services. You can apply to work in one of our engineering teams which include bridges, airport planning and advisory, airfield engineering, maritime engineering, asset management and pavements. Each team offers hands‑on experience, early responsibility, and cross‑disciplinary collaboration on both small and large‑scale projects, supporting professional growth.

Graduates will benefit from a robust pipeline of work and strong mentorship from experienced engineers. This comprehensive and varied experience builds a solid foundation for a successful engineering career within a global industry.

Projects

Our teams work on notable projects in the UK, and you will be helping deliver projects such as:

• A9 Dualling Specimen Design
• A83 Rest and Be Thankful
• M8 Woodside Viaducts
• A5 Western Transport Corridor
• Southern Link Road (CSLR)
• Tyne Bridge refurbishment
• Thelwall Viaduct
• HS2 Old Oak Common and Euston Stations
• Old Street Underground Station redevelopment
• Network Rail Civil Assessment Framework
• Brent Cross TfL Structures Project
• Bristol Port
• National Highways
• DIO MOD HS2 Old Oak Common Lane
• aircraft arrestor system in Iceland
• airfield in Guinea
• offshore wind assembly port for 2500T cranes
• National Highways SDF projects
• local authority projects
• Leeds Bradford Airport Strategic Study
• Copenhagen Airport Master Plan
• Almaty Airport Technical Advisory
• Dubai World Central Airport Phase II
• Airport Master Plans and Competitions in Saudi Arabia

Our Civil Teams

Bridge Engineering

Working as a Graduate in this team, you will be supporting experienced colleagues with a range of civil engineering works such as structural inspection, assessment, design, strengthening, repair, asset management and project management, gaining exposure to major works.

The diverse workload provides a variation of work allowing graduates to manage smaller projects early on, while gaining exposure to large, complex works, aiding their rapid development as Engineers.

Day‑to‑day activities

• Bridge inspections using specialist access provision such as pontoons, under bridge inspection gantries, mobile elevated working platforms and confined space entry techniques.
• Organisation of site visits and Structural design and assessment.
• Asset management ‑ Design of structural repairs.
• Structural bridge assessment calculations.
• Supervision of contractors and Project management.
• Business development and tendering.

Aviation – Airport Planning & Advisory

Being a Graduate in this team will involve delivering high‑quality airport planning and advisory services in the UK and internationally, including master planning, demand forecasting, capacity analysis, airside and terminal modelling and sustainability advice. Activities include technical delivery of planning tasks, capacity analysis, bid preparation, and research on emerging markets such as sustainable aviation fuels and AAM/eVTOLs.

Day‑to‑day activities

• Contributing to the technical delivery of airport planning and advisory tasks on a variety of UK and international aviation projects.
• Delivering airport planning & capacity solutions as part of airport master plans and development projects, covering airfield, apron, terminal, landside, ancillary facilities etc. and providing robust analysis and advice for technical advisory projects.
• Being responsible for the successful completion and delivery of airport planning related tasks.
• Contributing to the preparation of bids and proposals for potential new projects.
• Contributing to the team’s technical understanding of new emerging markets relating to sustainable aviation, carbon reduction, sustainable aviation fuels, AAM/eVTOLs.

Pavement Engineering

Working within our Pavement Engineering team you will deliver a range of civil engineering works with an emphasis in pavement engineering. Our team have exposure of working in many regions across the world and have experience with regional standards and materials. They deliver works in pavement assessment, design and asset management for aviation, maritime, streetscapes and highways, focusing on cost efficiency and reducing embodied carbon.

Day‑to‑day activities

• Assisting with the inspection of a local highway and Pavement inspections.
• Pavement design to National Highways standards and specifications.
• Pavement design to military and commercial airfield and port standards.
• Design of repairs and maintenance of assets and supporting with expert and technical advice commissions.
• Report writing and preparation of calculations, specifications and drawings.

Graduate Development Programme

Our two‑year Graduate Development programme is designed to support personal and professional development and growth through an engaging blended learning experience. The programmes include core business and professional skills training, career development workshops and resources, valuable networking opportunities, mentoring for professional registration and a breadth of on‑the‑job experience.

To find out more, please visit: Who we are – ECP

Our teams are committed to your career progression, encouraging growth from the outset. Many colleagues joined as graduates and have now advanced within the business. We encourage you to pursue chartered status with professional bodies such as the ICE and IStructE, ensuring your development is a priority. You will be fully supported through enrolment in a professional institution’s training agreement, guiding you towards chartered status.

What will be looking for you to demonstrate

• You’ll have graduated with at least a 2:2 in a master’s or bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject for the role you are applying for. Please note we can only consider Master’s degrees for our Bridges team.
• Candidates must complete the application form in full answering all specific questions. This requirement applies to all candidates, inclusive of their background. Successful completion of this stage is mandatory. Candidates who pass this initial stage, will then be required to complete an online skill enabler assessment. Both the application form and the skill enabler assessment are essential parts of the early career’s recruitment process.
• You’ll be looking to start work in either April or September 2026.
• You’ll have a passion for engineering.
• You’ll have a desire for the built environment, infrastructure, places and the economy.
• You’ll have an enthusiasm for creativity and a drive to solve problems.
• You’ll want to inspire us, sharing new ideas you have.

Don’t quite meet all the criteria? Should you have the right qualifications for our positions, apply and we can see how your experience aligns to this role and other opportunities we have available for our Graduate programme.

Application & Selection

For further information regarding our Application & Selection process, including timelines for recruitment, please visit our Early Careers brochure.

We review applications for our Early Career opportunities on a rolling basis, which means we begin progressing some candidates to the final stages before the application closing date. To ensure your application receives full consideration, we recommend submitting it as early as possible.

About Us

We are one of the world’s leading engineering and professional services firms. Our 72,800 passionate people are united by the common purpose of creating positive, long‑lasting impacts on the communities we serve through a culture of innovation, integrity and inclusion. With over 9,000 professionals across the UK and Ireland, we are dedicated to our local communities and propelled by international brainpower.

What’s In It For You?

Work‑life balance

At WSP, we understand that work is just one aspect of your life. It’s important to make time for you, your family, friends, interests and your community.

Our hybrid working policy offers the flexibility to work from home two days a week, while also providing opportunities to collaborate in our modern offices across the UK.

Inclusivity & Belonging

We welcome applicants with varied backgrounds and experiences. We enable rewarding careers by encouraging people to bring their whole and authentic selves to work so that our work represents the fullest spectrum of society. We celebrate integrity and treat people with respect, supporting each other and embracing a culture of inclusion and belonging at WSP. We have our employee resource groups bringing together employees and allies with different backgrounds to promote our culture of inclusivity.

Health & Wellbeing

We are committed to supporting our people, giving you the tools to make improvements to your health and wellbeing through our Thrive programme.

Our Virtual GP service gives you access to an NHS or Irish Medical Council GP at a time and place that suits you – giving you peace of mind and quick access to medical advice when you need it most. We also provide reasonable workplace adjustments for those in need. Additionally, you can benefit from the Gymflex scheme, which offers up to 40% off annual gym memberships through our WSP flexible benefits program, as well as a comprehensive menopause support package.

Flex your time

To enhance work‑life balance, WSP offers the “WSP My Hour,” allowing you to take one hour each day for personal activities, with the flexibility to make up the time earlier or later that day.

We also provide part‑time and flexible working arrangements, the option to purchase additional leave, and the ability to use your bank holiday entitlement to suit you.

Your development

We understand the importance of development and training to you. That’s why we foster a supportive environment that invests in your growth, whether through training, mentoring or Chartership.

#WeAreWSP

Here at WSP we positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, pregnancy or maternity/paternity. As a Disability Confident leader, we will interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria, please let us know if you require any workplace adjustments in support of your application.