Application Guide

How to Apply for Principal Structural Engineer, Water

at AECOM

🏢 About AECOM

AECOM stands out for its commitment to 'building sustainable legacies' through innovative infrastructure, particularly in water and environmental solutions. Working here means contributing to high-profile UK and global projects that address critical water management challenges, with a strong emphasis on technical excellence and sustainability.

About This Role

As Principal Structural Engineer, Water, you'll lead the structural design of complex water infrastructure projects, from deep pumping stations to large water-retaining structures. This role combines hands-on detailed design with leadership responsibilities, mentoring junior engineers and ensuring project deliverables meet strict quality and compliance standards for major UK water sector clients.

💡 A Day in the Life

Your day typically involves reviewing structural calculations for a pumping station design, mentoring a junior engineer on foundation design principles, leading a coordination meeting with hydraulic and mechanical teams, and preparing technical specifications for a water-retaining structure. You'll split your time between technical design work, team leadership, and client/stakeholder communication.

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🎯 Who AECOM Is Looking For

  • Has extensive experience designing heavy civil engineering structures for water projects, specifically pumping stations, water-retaining concrete structures, and complex piled foundations
  • Demonstrates proven ability to both lead design teams and personally prepare detailed designs, calculations, and technical reports
  • Possesses strong client-facing skills with experience managing stakeholder relationships in multidisciplinary water infrastructure projects
  • Has a track record of reviewing and signing off structural deliverables with meticulous attention to compliance and efficiency

📝 Tips for Applying to AECOM

1

Highlight specific UK water sector projects where you've designed pumping stations or water-retaining structures, quantifying your technical contributions

2

Demonstrate your dual capability by providing examples of both leading design teams AND personally preparing detailed calculations/drawings

3

Reference AECOM's sustainability focus by mentioning how you've incorporated sustainable design principles into water infrastructure projects

4

Showcase your experience with the full project lifecycle from concept through construction, emphasizing quality assurance processes

5

Tailor your examples to UK standards and regulations (Eurocodes, British Standards) relevant to water infrastructure design

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your technical expertise in water-related structural engineering, specifically with pumping stations and water-retaining structures', 'Examples of successfully leading structural design teams while maintaining hands-on technical involvement', "How your approach aligns with AECOM's sustainability mission in water infrastructure", 'Your experience ensuring compliance and quality in structural deliverables for complex projects']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → AECOM's recent UK water sector projects (Thames Tideway, regional water company frameworks)
  • → The company's 'Sustainable Legacies' strategy and how it applies to water infrastructure
  • → AECOM's technical publications or case studies on innovative water structure design
  • → Current challenges in UK water infrastructure (aging assets, climate resilience, regulatory changes)

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Walk us through your design process for a deep belowground pumping station, including foundation considerations
2 How do you balance leadership responsibilities with maintaining technical excellence in detailed design work?
3 Describe a time you had to resolve a complex structural challenge on a water infrastructure project
4 How do you ensure quality and compliance when reviewing and signing off structural deliverables?
5 What experience do you have mentoring junior engineers on water sector projects?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Presenting only building structure experience without specific water infrastructure examples
  • Focusing solely on management experience without demonstrating hands-on technical design capability
  • Using generic structural engineering examples without tailoring to UK water sector context

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to AECOM!

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