Water Engineers
- Introduction — What water engineers need to know and why
- Where are jobs for water engineers located in the UK?
- Outlook for water engineers in the UK
- What types of water engineering jobs are available in the UK?
- What are the earnings for a water engineer?
- Working as a water engineer in the UK
- Important information for your CV
Introduction — What water engineers need to know and why
Looking to take the next big step in your water engineering career? Ever thought about applying for overseas engineering positions in the UK?
This page is designed to provide qualified water engineers with all the information they need to successfully transfer their careers to the UK.
The information below will tell you everything you need to know about:
- where you will find jobs in the water industry
- what sorts of projects you will work on
- how much money you can earn and
- any technical specifications that you should be aware of.
Where are jobs for water engineers located in the UK?
While water engineering jobs are available all across the UK, the greatest number of jobs exist in the South East of the UK, particularly in London.
Water engineering jobs may be found in such locations as:
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Tip: If you have a preference for a particular part of the UK, make your wishes clear to the recruitment consultants you are dealing with. Register with specialised engineering agencies now!
Outlook for water engineers in the UK
As part of UK being part of the EU the Water Framework Directive (WFD) is the most substantial element of water legislation. The Water Framework Directive requires all inland and coastal waters to reach ‘good chemical and ecological status’ for surface waters and ‘good status’ for groundwater in terms of quality and quantity by 2015.
As a direct result jobs in the water industry are abundant in the UK, meaning that the demand for qualified and experienced engineers is very high. Design, Construction, Maintenance, Project Management and Consulting engineers for civil – water and wastewater are all sought after.
Projects
The scope of UK projects is impressive in terms of both size and diversity. The UK's need to both maintain old and develop new infrastructure is fuelled by a strong, globally-influential economy; along with increasing demands of an expanding population.
Water engineers are required for any projects involving the management of water. Working on jobs in the water industry, you may be required to perform any number of the following tasks:
- Asset management
- Network maintenance
- Network design modelling
- Project management (inc. water tunnel engineering)
Prospects
Water engineers with 1 or more years experience should not have trouble finding work in the UK. Specialist experience in water modeling is a sure way to gain well paid contract employment quickly. For those coming from overseas, the key is to ensure you get apply to agencies and jobs before you arrive to save significant time and give you time to consider different locations, companies and projects.
As your level of experience increases so to will your engineering job prospects in the UK. Water engineers with 2 - 6+ years experience will find a greater range of opportunities available to them in both contract and permanent positions.
Recruitment agencies don't normally represent graduate water engineers. Graduates wishing to move to the UK should directly apply for a graduate position with a UK-based consultancy or water company. (Holding an EU passport is also required to be considered)
Recruitment
Recruitment agencies play a critical role in the UK's engineering industry. A recruitment agency's business is built on its ability to provide quality candidates for employers while simultaneously facilitating the candidate's development and career progression.
Managing a vast network of the best engineering recruiters, WORKgateways is your ultimate water engineer job search resource.
To find your perfect water engineering job:
- Register with recruitment agencies up to 2 years before you arrive in the UK. In order to find the best job for you, recruitment agencies will contact you for further discussions before submitting your CV to potential employers.
- Begin applying for jobs about three months before you arrive. If you register with an agency, your recruitment consultant will begin the process of arranging interviews around 3 months before your arrival.
- Aim to be in contact with 2-3 recruitment agencies who you feel comfortable with. (This may mean you need to register with more then 3 recruitment agencies or apply to jobs over a period of time!) Recruitment consultants who deal with water and waste water positions also often deal with environmental and coastal engineers which ensures they can cover all the areas you are potentially suitable.
- If your travel plans or arrival date changes, make sure you inform your recruitment consultant immediately.
- Be sure to include any Modelling experience or other software experience you may have.
- Learn how to get the most out of your WORKgateways UK job search in our FAQs.
What types of water engineering jobs are available in the UK?
Water engineering jobs in the UK generally follow this hierarchy:
- Assistant Water Engineer
- Senior Water Engineer
- Principal Water Engineer
Alternatively, a water engineer may work exclusively as a:
- Modeller
- Design Engineer
- Project Manager
In the UK, water engineers work almost exclusively for private consultancies or one of the large water companies, on either a contract or permanent basis. (Water companies in the UK are often owned by large pension funds or infrastructure investors)
Register with specialised engineering agencies now and kick-start your career in the UK.
What are the earnings for water engineers?
Jobs in the water industry are well payed in the UK. As always, however, your earning power will correspond to your experience and new arrivals to the UK should not expect to earn premium rates immediately.
The following tables provide a rough guide for the potential earnings for a water engineer in the UK:
| Grade | Experience (yrs) | Salary Range £/hr (Contract) | Salary range p/a (Permanent*) |
| Assistant engineer | 1-4 | £15-23 | £21-24K |
| Engineer / Senior Engineer | 4-8 | £20-26 | £25-37K |
| Principal engineer | 8+ | £26-35 | £37K ++ |
| Title | Salary Range p/hr (Contract) | Salary Range p/a (Permanent) |
| Modeller | £20-30 | Up to £35K |
| Design engineer | £15-35 | Up to £38K |
| Lead project manager | £25-40 | Up to £55K |
The earnings you receive may be affected by a number of factors, such as:
- the particular project experience you posses
- the size and financial strength of the company
- the urgency of a company to have a project completed
- the location in which you work.
Working as a traffic or transport engineer in the UK
Software and applications
To work as a water engineer in the UK, you will need to be experienced in the use of industry-specific software. This, of course, does not mean that you must have experience with UK-specific software. Previous experience with any software applications should be sufficient when looking for work in the UK.
Training in the use of new software packages is usually offered for those taking on a new position (particularly in permanent roles).
Your qualifications in the UK
An appropriate engineering degree or diploma from an approved tertiary institution will usually be recognised in the UK. Make sure you remember to bring a copy of your degree certificate with you.
Membership of a professional institution is not a prerequisite for water engineers in the UK. Holding a Masters of Science may be advantageous, though this is not required.
Important information for your CV
Be sure your CV includes a list of the projects you have worked on, including specific details of the scope of the projects and your responsibilities on these projects.
Information such as project value, type of project and a basic description of the work required will ensure that the full depth of your experience is communicated to recruitment consultants and potential employers.
Be sure to list your experience in reverse-chronological order (i.e. most recent experience first). Use lists and bullet points in order to enable the reader to quickly scan and understand your experience and abilities.
Example
| Mar 2006 — Present | Company Name, Country Graduate Water Engineer |
| Responsibilities: |
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| Software: | Sewer Hydraulic Modeling Software (Intermediate), Microsoft Access (Advanced), AutoCAD (Intermediate) |
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