2027 UK Degree Apprenticeship Programme: Rail Systems Engineering

Before making an application, please browse all apprenticeship opportunities available as we will only accept one application per candidate.  Once you have made an application you will not be able to make changes to your selection or make a new application.  The exception is if we open new vacancies in Spring 2027.  

These opportunities are for those who have A-levels or equivalent and looking to undertake a degree apprenticeship (level 6).  We will close for applications on 15th January 2027.

Application process

• Application form
• Online strengths-based assessment

CVs and cover letters are not required as part of the application process. Candidates will be assessed through a single-stage strengths-based interview.

Eligibility

If you are successful and are offered an apprenticeship with us, you will enrol onto the Rail Systems Engineering BEng at London South Bank University, or Sheffield Hallam University, the courses will be delivered as block release.

For more information including their grade requirements, please visit:

Rail and rail systems senior engineer | Sheffield Hallam University

 Rail and Rail Systems Engineering Apprenticeship BEng (Hons) | London South Bank University

Are you ready to start your career journey with purpose, passion, and possibility? Our apprenticeships offer more than just a job - they’re an opportunity to shape your future.

As a paid degree apprentice, you’ll gain hands-on experience working on real projects while studying towards your degree. You’ll develop your technical and professional skills alongside experienced engineers, applying what you learn through your studies directly in the workplace.

Help shape the future of rail

Imagine beginning your engineering career by helping create safer, more reliable and more sustainable transport connections for the communities that depend on them.

As a Railway Engineering Degree Apprentice within our Track team, you’ll have the opportunity to do exactly that. From day one, you’ll be part of a collaborative team, contributing to real rail projects while learning from experienced engineers and developing towards your BEng (Honours) Railway Engineering degree.

You’ll combine academic study with practical experience, giving you the opportunity to apply what you learn and see the impact of engineering decisions in the real world.

Most importantly, you won’t be expected to know everything when you join us. This is an apprenticeship designed to help you build your knowledge, confidence and experience over time, with support from the people around you.

Our Transport team

We help conceive, develop and deliver transport solutions for cities, regions and infrastructure owners and operators around the world.

Our expertise spans the entire project lifecycle, from developing business cases and advising on areas such as procurement, revenue and environmental legislation through to engineering design, infrastructure delivery and ongoing asset management.

Our planning, engineering, environmental and management specialists work together to solve complex challenges responsibly, creating solutions that connect people and places while delivering lasting benefits for society.

Beyond transport, our teams also contribute to complex multidisciplinary civil engineering projects, including water and power tunnels, as well as providing specialist advisory services in areas such as technology and socio-economics.

Our Transport unit consists of four divisions:

• Aviation, Maritime and Offshore
• Heavy Civil Infrastructure
• Rail
• Transport and Mobility Solutions

You'll be joining an environment where collaboration across teams, disciplines and locations helps us share knowledge, challenge ideas and achieve better outcomes together.

Your apprenticeship

An apprenticeship allows you to earn while you learn, combining a paid role and valuable workplace experience with structured academic study.

Meet your team

You'll join our Rail division's Track team, working alongside people with a wide variety of skills and experiences, including civil and mechanical engineers, engineering managers, project managers and technical specialists.

Different perspectives make our teams stronger. You'll have opportunities to learn from colleagues with different professional backgrounds, share your own ideas and work together to solve complex engineering problems.

Our portfolio is varied and includes both UK and international work, with projects for clients including Network Rail, East West Rail, the Department for Transport, Northern Powerhouse Rail and London Underground.

From concept and feasibility through to detailed design, you'll see how different disciplines come together to turn ideas into infrastructure that people can rely on.

What you could be doing

You’ll be part of the team from day one, supporting our engineers while gradually developing the technical knowledge and practical skills you need for a successful career in railway engineering.

Your experience could include:

• Track alignment design, helping identify suitable routes for new railways and modifications to existing rail infrastructure.
• Infrastructure inspections and analysis, using desktop studies and site surveys to understand the condition and requirements of existing assets.
• Gauging assessments, helping ensure appropriate clearances are provided for trains, structures, platforms and passengers.
• Journey time evaluations, helping teams understand how different designs could influence railway performance.
• Track-Ex and rail wear modelling, developing your understanding of how railway operation affects track infrastructure.
• Buffer stop risk assessments, contributing to the safe and responsible design and operation of the railway.
• Track design and specification, helping develop infrastructure solutions that optimise performance, reliability and resilience.
• Preparing engineering reports, calculations and specifications.
• Developing your digital engineering capabilities through BIM models and CAD drawings.
• Supporting site-based activities and learning how designs translate from drawings and models into real infrastructure.

The work you undertake will develop as your knowledge and confidence grow. You'll be supported to ask questions, learn from others and understand not only how engineering decisions are made, but why they matter.

Learn, contribute and grow

Your apprenticeship is the beginning of your professional journey.

Alongside developing your technical knowledge, you'll have opportunities to strengthen skills such as teamwork, communication, problem solving, collaboration and responsible decision-making.

Working alongside experienced colleagues means you'll be able to learn from different perspectives while starting to identify the areas of railway engineering that interest you most. As you progress, you'll have opportunities to take on greater responsibility and celebrate each milestone towards becoming an engineering professional.

We want you to feel comfortable asking questions and sharing ideas. Trust and integrity are fundamental to good engineering, so you'll be encouraged to speak up, consider different perspectives and contribute thoughtfully to the decisions our teams make.

Candidate Specification

As well as the eligibility criteria detailed, above, we are looking for future apprentices 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.

UK Immigration

AI Usage

At Mott MacDonald, we see the value AI can bring, but we take a people-first approach to hiring. While AI tools can help candidates prepare and build confidence, every application and hiring decision is reviewed by our recruitment and hiring teams. We encourage the responsible use of AI while ensuring we get to know the real person behind the application.

Accessibility

We want you to feel supported and able to perform at your best throughout our recruitment process. If there is anything we can do to make applying or interviewing with us more accessible, please contact us at reasonable.adjustments@mottmac.com and we'll be happy to discuss how we can help.

About your development 

An apprenticeship should be more than just a job. We know this and so do you. That’s why with our apprenticeship 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. 

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 apprentices, 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. From your first day, you’ll have access to Perks at Work, giving you discounts on cinema tickets, travel, utilities and much more, helping you make the most of our employee benefits.   

Agile working  

At Mott MacDonald, we believe it makes business sense for you and your manager to choose how you can work most effectively to meet your client, team, and personal commitments. We offer a hybrid working policy that embraces your well-being, flexibility, and trust.

Equality, diversity, and inclusion 

We put equality, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of our business, seeking to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they can contribute.

We offer some fantastic benefits including:

Financial wellbeing

• Biannual salary reviews: We believe hard work should be recognised and rewarded. To support your development and progression, you'll be eligible for salary reviews twice a year during your first three years with us, subject to successfully completing your probation period
• We match employee pension contributions between 4.5% and 7%.
• Life assurance equal up to 4 x your basic salary, with an option to increase the level of cover to 6 x your salary.
• Our income protection scheme provides a financial benefit, as well as absence and return to work support due to long-term illness or injury.
• Flexible benefits, including increased life assurance cover, critical illness insurance, payroll saving and will writing.
• As an independently owned business we share the financial success of the business with all our colleagues in various ways including annual bonus schemes.

Employee Ownership

• Our employee ownership model means no external investors, just us, creating a culture of shared success.
• Our employees have a stake and a voice in our business, giving them a direct connection to our success through our personal and group performance bonuses.
• As your career grows, so does your stake, recognising your long-term impact and contribution.
• Your voice matters, with the opportunity to connect directly with senior leadership through formal channels to help shape our future.
• For our senior roles you will have a direct pathway towards ownership from day one.

Health and wellbeing

• Private medical insurance for all UK colleagues.
• Health cash plan to support you with every day health costs and treatments.
• Access to Peppy, providing free support from menopause experts for all UK colleagues.
• A variety of wellbeing support is available through our comprehensive wellbeing program, including access for you and your family.
• Ability to flex your salary to opt into a wide range of health benefits, many of which can be extended to your family too.

Lifestyle

• 33 days holiday each year, inclusive of public holidays and dependent on level, with the ability to buy or sell leave through our flexible benefits programme.
• 10 days additional paid leave for Armed Forces Reservists and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers.
• Holiday entitlement increased to a minimum of 35 days after 5 years’ service.
• Variety of employee saving schemes and discounts from high-street retailers.

 Enhanced family and carers leave

• Enhanced family leave policies, including 26 weeks paid maternity and adoption leave, and two weeks paid paternity/partner leave.
• Our shared parental leave matches maternity leave meaning we pay up to 24 weeks at full pay.
• Up to five additional days leave are provided for those with significant caring responsibilities, two of which are paid.
• We offer policies and dedicated support to help military families balance service life with career and wellbeing.

Networks, communities, and social outcomes

• Join a wide range of groups including our Advanced Employee Networks which support our LGBTQ+, gender, race and ethnicity, disability, and parents/carers communities.
• We are proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and Gold Award holders in the MOD Employer Recognition Scheme, supported by our dedicated internal Armed Forces Network.
• Make a difference within our communities through our social outcomes.