Water Science Graduate Environment Edinburgh- Summer 2026 start

About Our Team:

Our multidisciplinary water environment team are looking to recruit a Water Science Graduate to join our team in Edinburgh from Summer 2026 onwards.

Our team includes specialists in hydrogeology hydrology hydro-morphological water quality and water resource management.

We work for clients from across the public and private sectors including the Environment Agency Local Authorities Highways England Natural England Water Utilities Rivers and Wildlife Trusts as well as commercial developers and overseas clients.  We are also involved in major ongoing projects such as HS2 and the Thames Tideway Tunnel and as a team are responsible for coordinating/ leading water environment chapters in ESs as well as coordinating WFD assessments.

All members of the Water Environment team take an active role in client contact and commercial aspects of our projects. Health safety and environmental considerations underpin everything that we do.

We have an impressive portfolio of water science projects including technical investigation restoration projects and impact and WFD assessment for major national and international infrastructure projects.   A selection of our current and recent projects includes:

We are seeking to recruit a Water Scientist to assist with a range of projects. Most of our work is in the fluvial environment although a significant proportion is also focused on estuaries lakes and the marine environment and so experience of these environments is beneficial.  

This is a fantastic opportunity to further your career by gaining valuable work experience within a specialist surface water environment team in an established consultancy. Your work will cover a broad range of hydrological water quality hydro-morphological and hydro-ecological activities including on the following types of projects.

Heres what youll do:

• Water quality studies (e.g. baseline studies environmental impact assessment nutrient loading studies and pollution studies including monitoring and modelling).
• Hydrological investigations (e.g. flood drought and water resource allocation).
• Geomorphological studies including supporting channel enhancement/ restoration projects Natural Flood Management studies and Fluvial Audits.
• hydro-morphological l studies (e.g. assessing the effects of schemes on aquatic organisms such as salmonids freshwater pearl mussels invertebrates and macrophytes).
• WFD / Environmental Compliance studies.
• EIA (e.g. highway rail aviation utilities power generation including renewables mixed use/commercial/residential and other development types).
• Pollution prevention advice including preparing Water Management Plans acting as Environmental Clerk of Works and developing sustainable treatment trains; and
• Applications for various permissions (e.g. Environmental Permits for flood risk activities and discharges Water Abstraction / Impoundment Licences and Land Drainage Consents).

Enjoy the Perks 

At AECOM youll enjoy a range of core and personalised benefits designed to support your future and well-being customised to fit your lifestyle. Take advantage of career development opportunities our flexible hybrid working model to ensure a work-life balance that suits your lifestyle technical practice networks AECOM University and volunteering days. 

Here is what you will get from us! 

On the job support and learning 

When a graduate starts at AECOM we pair them with a senior member of the team who will guide and mentor them through their initial period working on live projects and business development tasks to support with any technical queries 

Graduate Development Programme 

Our 2-year graduate ADVANCE programme is designed to help you build your career in AECOM. You will attend several instructor-led training sessions where you will meet and hear from people across the business and take part in a series of interactive activities to equip you with the knowledge and skills you need to succeed in your role. Alongside the instructor-led elements of the ADVANCE programme you will also engage with an online curriculum via AECOM University and can join the ADV ANCE webinar series. We will provide you with all the support and tools you need to achieve your professional development ambitions which may include Chartership with the relevant international professional institution ie Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM).

We have more than 750 graduates on our programmes across the UK and Ireland from more than 40 different disciplines each making a tangible difference to the environment in which we live and work. 

See our digital early careers e-brochurehere 

Qualifications :

Ready to push the limits of whats possible

Heres what were looking for:

• Degree qualified with an MSc in Geography Geomorphology Environmental Sciences Environmental Engineering Hydrochemistry or similar.
• Ability to conceptualise surface water environment issues.
• Excellent report writing skills.
• Strong analytical and numerical skills. 
• Ability to communicative effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Have experience using GIS
• A full driving licence would be beneficial as the role will involve travel for site surveys with equipment and limited public transport access 

We celebrate diversity including neurodiversity and believe it enriches our team. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and abilities. If you are an applicant with a disability that requires reasonable accommodation to complete the application process please contact us at

At AECOM we value everyones unique contributions and perspectives. If you meet some of the requirements above or have transferable skills you believe would benefit us we would be delighted to hear from you!

Additional Information :

Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible since CVs will be reviewed and candidates selected for an advanced offer start.  

Please include a covering letter with your application and provide all predicted and/or obtained academic grades. 

You must have permanent right to work in the UK as we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this position. 

About AECOM

AECOM is the worlds trusted infrastructure consulting firm delivering professional services throughout the project lifecycle from advisory planning design and engineering to program and construction management. On projects spanning transportation buildings water new energy and the environment our public- and private-sector clients trust us to solve their most complex challenges. Our teams are driven by a common purpose to deliver a better world through our unrivaled technical and digital expertise a culture of equity diversity and inclusion and a commitment to environmental social and governance priorities. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm and its Professional Services business had revenue of $14.4 billion in fiscal year 2023. See how we are delivering sustainable legacies for generations to come at and @AECOM.

Freedom to Grow in a World of Opportunity 

You will have the flexibility you need to do your best work with hybrid work options. Whether youre working from an AECOM office remote location or at a client site you will be working in a dynamic environment where your integrity entrepreneurial spirit and pioneering mindset are championed.

You will help us foster a safe and respectful workplace where we invite everyone to bring their whole selves to work using their unique talents backgrounds and expertise to create transformational outcomes for our clients.

AECOM provides a wide array of compensation benefits and well-being programs to meet the diverse needs of our employees and their families. Were the worlds trusted global infrastructure firm and were in this together your growth and success are ours too.

Join us and youll get all the benefits of being a part of a global publicly traded firm access to industry-leading technology and thinking and transformational work with big impact and work flexibility. As an Equal Opportunity Employer we believe in each persons potential and well help you reach yours.

We are a Disability Confident Employer and will offer an interview to applicants who have a disability or long-term condition who meet the minimum/essential criteria for the role. Please let us know using this email address   if you would like to apply through the Disability Confident Interview Scheme.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Remote Work :

No

Employment Type :

Full-time