Water Engineering & Consulting - Graduate & Placement Opportunities UK & Ireland, 2020

From flood protection to nutrient control to desalination, AECOM’s goal is to ensure that our water clients have access to globally sustainable technologies, locally delivered. Our professionals work in and across the major markets to deliver comprehensive solutions that safeguard human health and the environment.

For us, water is key to creating healthier communities and more beautiful places. We are making both of these a reality; whether delivering flood risk projects that enhance the natural environment, to developing energy-efficient treatment processes and smart water networks. Managing the water cycle across whole catchments, our scope includes water and wastewater treatment, water infrastructure, flood and coastal erosion risk management, and asset management.

In the UK & Ireland each year we hire over 60 graduates and university placement students across Wastewater, Water Resources, Flood Prevention, Dam Structures, Hydrology, Hydrogeology, Groundwater, Coastal, Ports & Marine, and Asset Management.

Read through some of our projects and meet some of our graduates below.

Some of our projects include:

The Thames Tideway Scheme. A new combined sewage storage and transfer system that protects the River Thames from overflows from the capital's Victorian sewers. AECOM are designing the Central section covering 12.7km of 7.8m diameter tunnel about 50m below the river, as well as eight reclaimed foreshore structures and the associated new landscaping.

North Glasgow Integrated Water Management Scheme, Scottish Canals. Bringing together Scottish Canals, Glasgow City Council and Scottish Water to transform Glasgow’s centuries-old canal network into a modern water management scheme. Marrying digital technology with historic infrastructure, the project created a dynamic new stormwater runoff system for the city which serves several new housing regeneration schemes and has enabled real-time, remote management of the canal’s water levels.

York Flood Alleviation Scheme, Environment Agency. Reducing flood risk to the City of York, this Environment Agency project aimed to improve the flood defences across the city, whilst preserving the archaeological heritage. AECOM’s work evolved from analysis of options analysis, cost-benefit analysis to detailed design including hydraulic modelling, river engineering, economic assessment, carbon calculations, and stakeholder consultation.

Peckham Rye FAS: Peckham Rye Park and Common, Southwark Council. A hydraulic modelling, conceptual design, FCERM business case, and planning application project to carry out a Flood Alleviation Scheme within the Peckham Rye Park. The scheme, consisting of two earthen bunds, can hold a maximum of 19,000 m3 of water up to a depth of 1m, which provides attenuation for up to 1 in 75 year events, resulting in significant protection against flooding for central Peckham Rye. A preliminary benefits assessment indicates the scheme has the potential to reduce properties at “significant risk” of flooding from 124 to 13, achieving an estimated EA Partnership Funding score of 69% and economic benefits of 6,063 ￡k.

Isle of Man Ferry Terminal, Isle of Man Government. Civil and Marine Structures design services for the new Isle of Man Ferry Terminal in Liverpool, including the detailed design of the ferry berthing structure, linkspan, dock walls, foul and surface water drainage, retaining walls and highways elements. This involved coordination with multiple stakeholders and disciplines.

Untreated Agglomeration Studies, Wexford. Untreated sewage from the equivalent of 120,000 people across 44 areas enters Ireland’s coastal waters and rivers each day. AECOM is working with Irish Water to provide first-time sewage treatment for four of these areas in County Wexford. The scheme will involve constructing new sewage pumping stations, pipelines and treatment works for these coastal communities and will result in cleaner bathing and fishing waters.

National Sewers Asset Management. Irish Water and Northern Ireland Water must deliver safe and sustainable infrastructure for public good while balancing cost, risk and performance. The AECOM team has applied asset management best practice for Irish Water to prioritise and deliver rehabilitation solutions for sewerage assets. We bring asset planning, prioritisation, project management delivery and site supervision for hundreds of kilometres of sewerage network assets. By proactively increasing infrastructure lifespans, the team strives to be good stewards of Ireland’s infrastructure asset legacy.

Meet some of our graduates:

Lindsay, Graduate Water Consultant, Manchester

I am a Graduate Consultant within the Water Team in Manchester. In my role at AECOM I primarily undertake environmental work within the water sector, including environmental screening and scoping assessments, and reporting, for a variety of projects. I am currently working on a Flood Alleviation Scheme project in the midlands, where I am responsible for writing environmental reports. I am also involved in the coordination of inputs from various teams, building on my collaborative skills, and allowing me to work in AECOM offices across the North. Additionally, I undertake GIS exercises for a range of projects, where I am involved in the creation of maps and figures to support reporting.

AECOM allow you to take 2 paid CSR days per year, which is a great incentive to volunteer and give something back to the local community. I have recently volunteered at local parks and gardens, where I have undertaken vegetation maintenance, planting and painting, helping to enhance the greenspace to be enjoyed by the community. The CSR days also provide a great opportunity for team-building exercises with colleagues.

Anna, Graduate Water Consultant, Manchester

As a Graduate Consultant in the Water Team in Leeds my role involves working with other team members to undertake technical work such as hydraulic modelling and flood risk analysis. As a graduate I have provided support on a diverse range of projects across the UK and Middle East, gaining transferable skills and expanding my knowledge of flood risk and modelling. Through technical on the job training I have gained experience in the use of GIS (ArcGIS, MapInfo, QGIS) and various hydraulic modelling software packages such as InfoWorks ICM, Flood Modeller and TUFLOW. I have also undertaken several Flood Risk Assessments and through these consulted with water civil engineers, the Environment Agency and Local Planning Authorities.

I have been involved with the Jeddah Stormwater Masterplan project and assisted with multiple elements of this international project, which has given me the opportunity to develop my technical hydraulic modelling skills and understanding. I have assisted with the modelling and assessment of options to develop flood risk management solutions.

Since joining AECOM, I have started working towards becoming chartered with CIWEM (the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management) taking the first step by transitioning from a Student Member to a Graduate Member. I have helped organise regular office meetings to discuss competencies and progression towards chartership, and also attended local networking events.

Through the AECOM Graduate Development Programme, I have become a STEM Ambassador. The first activity I undertook for this role was volunteering at the Bradford Science Festival. I helped with an activity where young people and families were assembling a representation of the Sun, the Earth and the Moon. I also assisted on the WISE table, talking to young people about their career aspirations and helping them complete a quiz, with the aim to increase the participation of women in STEM.

I recently used one of my CSR days to volunteer for the Aire Rivers Trust. The day involved using wheelbarrows to barrow material up the river path to construct a revetment necessary to repair the path. I found this a very enjoyable and rewarding experience to give something back.

When I started at AECOM I joined the Leeds Sports & Social Club and have attended events including a Christmas meal and summer BBQ so far, as well as several Graduate Socials.

Daniel, Graduate Water Engineer, Leeds

One of the most exciting projects I have been involved with was the York Flood Alleviation Scheme – a large scheme aiming to upgrade the existing flood defences within York to meet new predicted flood levels (including estimates for the impact of climate change). I was entrusted with a large amount of responsibility to design several elements within this scheme, including the raising of an existing earthen embankment, structural modifications to a large rising flood gate, and the raising of existing flood walls. I produced structural calculations, reports and CAD drawings for all these elements under the guidance of a principal engineer, meaning that I learnt a lot!

It’s really exciting to be involved in such a major project so close to home, and it’ll be really fulfilling to see my ideas transformed into real life, protecting communities around me.

I’m extremely grateful for the level of support that I receive through AECOM to progress through my Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) training agreement, with an eye to becoming a chartered engineer. My line manager also serves as my mentor for the process and we have frequent update meetings. This means my progress is on track, and my goals for chartership are in line with my internal goals. AECOM puts a large emphasis on providing their team members with the means to progress through their professional exams.

I’ve also had the opportunity to give back to the community when several of our water team used a CSR day to help the Aire Rivers Trust. We transported a large amount of material by foot and created a revetment to protect a pathway which was falling into the river. It was a very warm yet rewarding day.