Process Engineer - Water Sector

Ready to move beyond your graduate programme and lead the next wave of sustainable water solutions?

You’ve built a strong foundation in process engineering. Now, it’s time to accelerate your career and apply your expertise to the world’s most urgent water challenges. At Stantec, we’re not just designing treatment plants; we’re crafting a resilient future, from source to tap and drain to river.

The Stantec Story: Progress, Impact, and Opportunity

This is your opportunity to join a top-tier global team consistently recognised for its commitment to sustainability and culture. We’re seeking Ambitious Process Engineers – whether your passion lies in cleanwater resilience or wastewater recovery and environmental protection – who are ready to take on more responsibilities and drive innovation. The role will be based from our offices in Southampton & Brighton.

The Role: Process Engineer

You will join our integrated, national team, working on high-impact projects that span the entire water cycle across the UK & Ireland. We’re looking for engineers who are ready to transition from foundational roles to project leadership and technical specialisation.

• The Cleanwater Journey: Help secure long-term water supply through strategic resource options (SROs), design state-of-the-art treatment facilities, and pioneer source-to-tap solutions for emerging contaminants like PFAS.
• The Wastewater Journey: Focus on achieving ambitious environmental goals, designing advanced treatment for nutrient removal, optimising asset performance, and implementing schemes that champion resource recovery (energy, heat, and materials).

Your progression won’t be linear-it will be bespoke. We see this role as a clear pathway to becoming a Chartered Engineer, a recognised technical specialist, or a future projectleader. You’ll be mentored by industry leaders and given the autonomy to take ownership of challenging work.

Your Day-to-Day Impact

You will be involved in the full project lifecycle, operating as a key technical contributor:

• Technical Excellence: Lead process design development, perform hydraulic analysis, develop mass balance models, and prepare technical reports and specifications.
• On-Site Experience: Conduct site investigations, lead asset optimisation studies, and perform essential on-site test work (e.g., jar testing, pilot plant trials).
• Client Collaboration: Work directly with UK water utility clients, helping to shape business plans and translate strategic needs into viable engineering solutions.
• Global Networking: Engage with our “one team” global community, sharing knowledge and applying international best practices to local challenges.

About You

• Demonstrable process engineering experience gained through a formal graduate programme (or equivalent relevant experience) in the water sector, with exposure to either cleanwater or wastewater specialisms.
• A collaborative spirit and a passion for working as part of an integrated, supportive team.
• A drive to apply innovation and industry best practice to deliver high-value, sustainable outcomes.

Why Stantec? Invest in Your Future

Your career development is our priority. We don’t just offer jobs; we offer pathways to leadership and expertise.

• Structured Career Development: Benefit from industry-leading training, a generous budget for external courses, and paid-for professional subscriptions and dedicated time for professional development.
• Unmatched Culture: Join a genuinely friendly and nurturing team environment where collaboration is key and your voice is heard.
• Global Reach, Local Impact: Work on the UK’s most significant water schemes while having the opportunity to connect with and learn from Stantec’s vast global network of experts.
• Exceptional Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, excellent pension, free private medical insurance, generous holidays, and flexible working arrangements that support your work-life balance.

If you are ready to make the leap from a graduate-level role to one where you can truly influence the future of water, we want to hear from you.

About Stantec

The Stantec community unites more than 34,000 employees working in over 450 locations across 6 continents. We have been working with our clients and communities in the UK for over 150 years. We plan, design, deliver and manage the development and infrastructure needed to support the creation of sustainable, healthy and prosperous communities.

Our teams provide effective and relevant solutions, translating our clients’ vision into valued consents, deliverable plans for projects and programmes, and efficient designs for delivery, based on technical excellence and deep market insights. We deal with today’s challenges, but also keep a fairer, better tomorrow in sight, looking at how we deliver clean growth, support radical changes in our economy and meet the needs of future communities.

Stantec provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants for future and current employment and prohibit discrimination on the grounds of race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. We prohibit discrimination in decisions concerning recruitment, hiring, referral, promotion, compensation, fringe benefits, job training, terminations or any other condition of employment. Stantec is in compliance with laws and regulations and ensures equitable opportunities in all aspects of employment.

Building an inspired, inclusive work environment that attracts, supports, and develops world-class talent is a crucial key to our success. If you are excited by this role but worry that your experience doesn’t exactly align, we encourage you to apply.

At Stantec we want you to perform your best at every stage of the recruitment process and are committed to ensuring it is accessible to all. If you need any support or require adjustments to be made then please contact View email address on graduateships.com we will talk to you about how we can support you.

ReqID: 8721