Engineering Project Manager Industrial Placement

Are you interested in how engineering projects are planned, delivered, and managed from start to finish? At Thames Water, our one year Engineering Project Manager Industrial Placement offers you the opportunity to support the delivery of engineering projects that help maintain and improve water and wastewater services.

What you’ll be doing across your placement year

• Working alongside Project Managers, planners, and commercial teams to support project delivery
• Gaining exposure to project planning, coordination, and management activities
• Participating in the delivery of engineering projects from concept to completion
• Visiting sites to see projects in action and understand real-world engineering challenges
• Developing practical skills in a real-world project environment
• Supporting the team with tasks that contribute to the successful delivery of projects

What you should bring to the role
To thrive in this role, the essential criteria you’ll need is

• Working towards an engineering or project management related degree
• We’re looking for enthusiastic and curious individuals who enjoy working with others and learning new skills. You’ll be someone who likes sharing ideas, asking questions, and contributing as part of a supportive and diverse team

What’s in it for you?  

• Salary: £23,000
• Location: Reading, Clearwater Court
• Duration: 1 year placement, starting September 2026 until August 2027
• 24 days holiday (plus bank holidays) 
• Access to lots of benefits to help you take care of you and your family’s health and wellbeing, and your finances – from annual health MOTs and access to physiotherapy and counselling, to Cycle to Work schemes, shopping vouchers and life assurance

Next steps

• Apply online by completing the application form for the role
• Complete the online pre-screen and assessment sent to you by email after you apply. This stage helps us get to know you better and may include:
  • Questions about your values, personality, and how you would handle different situations
  • Reasoning exercises (including verbal, numerical, mechanical, or inductive), depending on the programme
• Upload evidence of your degree(s), or a letter from your university if you are currently studying, when requested
• Record a video interview so we can learn more about you and your motivations
• If successful, attend an interview which will be taking place from March 2026
• Offer and feedback

Find out more about our benefits and perks

Who are we?

We’re the UK’s largest water and wastewater company, with more than 16 million customers relying on us every day to supply water for their taps and toilets. We want to build a better future for all, helping our customers, communities, people, and the planet to thrive. It’s a big job and we’ve got a long way to go, so we need help from passionate and skilled people, committed to making a difference and getting us to where we want to be in the years and decades to come.
Learn more about our purpose and values

Working at Thames Water

Thames Water is a unique, rewarding, and diverse place to work, where every day you can make a difference, yet no day is the same. As part of our family, you’ll enjoy meaningful career opportunities, flexible working arrangements and excellent benefits.

If you’re looking for a sustainable and successful career where you can make a daily difference to millions of people’s lives while helping to protect the world of water for future generations, we’ll be here to support you every step of the way. Together, we can build a better future for our customers, our region, and our planet.

Real purpose, real support, real opportunities. Come and join the Thames Water family. Why choose us? Learn more.

We’re committed to being a great, diverse, and inclusive place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and want to ensure you feel supported throughout the recruitment process. If you need any adjustments, whether that’s extra time, accessible formats, or anything else just let us know, we’re here to help and support.

When a crisis happens, we all rally around to support our customers. As part of Team Thames, you’ll have the opportunity to sign up to support our customers on the frontline as an ambassador. Full training will be given for what is undoubtedly an incredibly rewarding experience. It’s also a great opportunity to learn more about our business and meet colleagues.

Disclaimer: due to the high volume of applications we receive, we may close the advert earlier than the advertised date, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.