Graduate Hydraulic Engineer

Graduate Hydraulic Engineer

Salary: at least £32,250 per annum with an annual pay review & £2000 joining bonus

Location: Lingley Mere, Warrington

Hours: 37 hours per week

Every day, we deliver one of life's most essential services to millions of people across the North West. From providing safe, high-quality drinking water to protecting the environment and supporting thriving communities, the work we do matters. We're now in the second year of our £16.5 billion investment programme, one of the largest transformation programmes in our history. It's an exciting time to join us as we improve our services, enhance environmental performance, embrace innovation and create a more sustainable future for generations to come.

There's more to us than just great water. We are where purpose flows.

What you can expect as a graduate in the Hydraulic team

You will enrol on a three-year graduate programme and will have dedicated support whilst working towards an Engineering Council approved professional qualification. Whilst on the scheme you will also have the opportunity to take part in placements with other disciplines (e.g. Process, Civil, Mechanical etc.) and within the wider business (e.g. Capital Delivery, Operational Deployment, Standardisation, Innovation etc.).

What you’ll be getting stuck into day to day:

• Enhancing your technical knowledge of water and wastewater networks.
• Working on diverse projects, including hydraulic design of pipelines, treatment units, and flow measurement devices.
• Developing awareness of river flood risk and geomorphology.
• Gaining expertise in data analysis, health and safety, and regulatory standards.
• Collaborating with civil, process, mechanical, electrical, and construction teams, and building strong relationships with Project Managers.

What you’ll bring to the team:

To apply for this role, you will need to have or be on course to achieving a minimum 2:1 (predicted if not yet graduated) in an engineering degree (if it has included relevant modules such as fluid mechanics, civil engineering hydraulics, hydrology etc.)

MEng /MSc graduates are preferred; however, BEng / BSc graduates will be considered

You will also need:

• Strong technical, planning, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and interpersonal communication abilities.

• A full UK driving licence is required, as the role involves travel between project sites. Ideally this must be secured by the time that your programme starts.

Why join United Utilities as a Graduate?

By joining us on our 3-year graduate scheme, you'll not only get first-class training and support, but we'll also provide you with an in-depth understanding of your business area, ultimately giving you the confidence, skills and knowledge required to become one of our future operational, technical or people leaders, driving meaningful change.

What's in it for you?

We know that delivering a great service starts with supporting you, our people. That's why we offer a range of benefits designed to help you thrive both at work and outside of it.

Starting salary of at least £32,250 + £2,000 welcome bonus

Annual pay increase and bonus (subject to performance)

26 days annual leave, increasing to 30 days after 4 years + bank holidays

Enhanced maternity and paternity leave policies

Up to 14% employer pension contribution

Access to colleague wellbeing programmes and dedicated mentors who will support you whilst on scheme

We’ll contribute up to £500 towards driving lessons and tests to help get you on the road

Want to learn more about life at United Utilities and explore our full benefits package? Take a look at our Flexa profile here: United Utilities | Verified Employers | Flexa Careers

Our commitment to opportunity for all

We're committed to creating a workplace where you feel you can belong and can succeed. Our colleague networks play an important role in this, these are;

• GeneQ – supporting gender equality, parents and carers

• Multi-Cultural & Faith

• LGBTQ+

• Armed Forces

• Ability – supporting colleagues with disabilities and long-term health conditions

We recommend that you are open and honest with us throughout the process and make us aware of any reasonable adjustments you may require.

To ensure a fair recruitment process, we ask that you apply for only one Graduate role per recruitment year. Take a look at all our opportunities and apply for the one that interests you most.

Additional Information

Our recruitment process requires you to complete:

Online application form

Online tests

MS Teams Interview

An in-person assessment centre

Please note that you must be available to attend an in-person recruitment stage during the period 17th November – 11th December

Application deadline: 21st October 2026 – please apply early as deadlines are subject to change

Based on current immigration guidelines this role is not eligible for visa sponsorship