2026 UK Graduate Track Engineering Career Path: Transport

Please note you may only submit one application for our graduate opportunities. Once submitted, changes or new applications cannot be made — unless new vacancies open in the new year.  

To avoid missing out on your preferred role, we recommend applying as early as possible, as positions will close once filled. 

Turn your ambition into action—apply now and shape your future with us.  

Job Description

Are you ready to launch your career in a role where your ideas are valued, your growth is championed, and your work helps connect communities? Join us as a Graduate Track Engineer and help design, deliver, and maintain the rail infrastructure that powers progress and shapes a more sustainable world. 

What You’ll Do:

• Innovate & Collaborate: Work alongside experienced engineers to design, inspect, and maintain railway track systems, ensuring safety, reliability, and sustainability across every project. 

• Grow & Achieve: Access structured training, mentorship, and clear pathways for professional development—including support towards chartership and specialist skills. Your achievements will be recognised and celebrated. 

• Make an Impact: Contribute to projects that modernise rail networks, improve passenger journeys, and drive positive change for society and the environment. 

Track Engineering encompasses a diverse skillset to ensure we provide a track asset that meet key performance criteria, including desired train speeds/journey times and ensuring ride quality for passengers. As a Track Engineer you will be involved in a wide range of activities including, but not limited to, track alignment design, gauging assessments, journey time evaluations, small project management/design management roles, Track-Ex (rail wear modelling), and buffer stop risk assessments. 

Your role will include developing track alignment designs at both feasibility and detailed design stages for clients such as Network Rail, East West Rail, and contractors involved in smaller design-and-build projects. Track alignment design includes horizontal, vertical and cant alignments, designed using survey data and presented on plan and profile drawings. In some cases, to support track alignment design, a gauging assessment is required to evaluate the clearances between adjacent tracks and/or structures, both existing and proposed, such as a new bridge design. These assessments are carried out using specialist software, with track alignment as a typical input. 

As part of the Rail Division, you will also have the opportunity to rotate into other disciplines, typically two six-month placements, before returning to Track to complete your graduate scheme. Other disciplines include Stations & Civils, Signalling & Operations, Overhead Contact Systems, Rolling Stock and more, offering a well-rounded foundation in railway engineering.

We have opportunities in the following locations: Croydon,Manchester, and York.

Candidate Specification

At Mott MacDonald, we’re looking for curious, motivated graduates who want to make a real difference.  Join our purpose-driven teams where your ideas matter, your growth is supported, and your work enhances the world we live in.  

To be eligible for this opportunity, you will have less than 12 months’ relevant experience (excluding placements) and have a Master’s degree (obtained no earlier than 2024) or expected to achieve one, in one of the following degree disciplines:  

•  Civil engineering 

• Mechanical engineering 

In your application, you should aim to demonstrate your genuine interest in both the opportunity and in joining Mott MacDonald. You can do this by highlighting any relevant experience or interests—such as modules you've studied, previous work experience, or any research you've undertaken about our company, values, and projects. 

We personally review every completed application we receive as our selection process is entirely human led – we do not use AI tools and kindly expect you not to either. We want you to answer each application question with authenticity so we can get to know the real you. Joining us as a graduate is your opportunity to shape your own story 

We are looking for graduates with the following strengths: 

• Proactively takes initiative to complete tasks efficiently and independently 

• Communicates effectively and clearly with clients and colleagues

• Delivers high quality written work with strong attention to detail and clarity

• Demonstrates a structured and analytical approach to problem solving

• Knowledge of current affairs and regulation relating to rail transport 

• Well-rounded knowledge on wider environmental issues  

• Familiarity with data management, analytics and digital technologies  

• Understanding of rail infrastructure and the transport sector  

As we want the best people for the role, we support flexible working.  Please ask us at interview stage about any flexibility you may need. 

Mott MacDonald Ltd. are not currently offering sponsorship to candidates under the Skilled Worker visa route in the UK. This decision is as a consequence of the changes made to the Skilled Worker route by the UK Government in April 2024.  

Our ethos is to develop, train and retain our graduates and therefore we are looking for a long-term relationship with our graduates. For this reason, we cannot accept applications from candidates who would be working under the Graduate visa route or other time-limited visas, (irrespective of visa duration), due to their temporary nature and the requirement for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route in future. 

We continue to welcome applications from candidates who are eligible for alternative immigration routes in the UK, that do not require sponsorship as a Skilled Worker now or in the future. 

About your development

A graduate position should be more than just a job. We know this and so do you. That’s why with our graduate roles we aim to give you the experience and technical knowledge you need to progress your career.  From the moment you join us, you’ll receive the training you need. You will be assigned a mentor, who will guide you to meet the objectives of your professional training needs.  You will join our three-year early careers soft skills development programme – Accelerating your Future, which is designed to give you the skills and tools necessary for a long-lasting successful career here at Mott MacDonald.  

You will have the opportunity to make a difference; learn more about Our Purpose and the difference we can make!  

You’re probably wondering what else is on offer. Join us, and you’ll get:

• Biannual salary reviews: we believe that hard work should be rewarded and recognised. Therefore, for the first three years of your career with us, you’ll have biannual salary reviews.
• A competitive salary: in addition to biannual reviews, we will ensure that you’re given a salary that matches the current industry standard.
• Contributory pension up to 7% of your salary: we have the best people on our team, and we like to look out for them. With our support, you’ll have all the advice and options you need to be able to invest in your future.
• A flexible benefits scheme: our company is made up of a range of different people and we understand that different people want different things. That’s why with our flexible plan, you’ll have the ability to manage the range of benefits we have on offer, to suit your specific needs. 

Our social side

Being part of Mott MacDonald means more than just work; there’s a huge range of fun and exciting things that you can get involved in.  

From the moment you join us, you’ll have the opportunity to expand your social and professional network, whether it’s meeting other graduates or joining forces with other members of staff from around the company at our annual sports day. Each of our offices have a sports and social committee which will give you the chance to be part of a variety of sports, social and charity events. We’re committed to promoting a strong culture of social responsibility and encourage our staff to play active roles in the local community. 

It's worth noting that sports and social committees tend to vary from office to office, so as well as getting involved in what’s already on offer, don’t be afraid to suggest new events or initiatives that you think could be a great addition.  It doesn’t stop there. As well as events, you’ll also have access to discounts on cinema tickets, travel, fashion, utilities and much more as part of our company benefits which you can take advantage of the moment you join.