Highways & Traffic Graduate Programme

Job Details

Highways & Traffic Graduate Programme

What we offer

• Free travel on the TfL network for you and a nominee who lives in the same household
• Final salary pension scheme
• Discounted national rail and Eurostar travel
• 30 days annual leave (Pro rata dependent on role) plus public and bank holidays
• Private healthcare discounted scheme
• Tax-efficient cycle-to-work programme
• Retail, health, leisure and travel offers & many more

Duration

2 years

Entry requirements

A minimum of 2:2 degree in any STEM subject (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics).

What is important to us is a passion for engineering and successful applicants will need to demonstrate a yearning to develop in the industry. Emphasis will be on the applicant to demonstrate how they would add value building on their educational base to date.

Proposed start date

8 September 2025

Job overview

TfL keeps London working, moving and growing - but we can only do this through our talented people. We’re a high-profile organisation with countless opportunities to offer that will enhance your skills and develop your career. Our work is high profile, delivering the Mayors Transport Strategy and ensuring London is constantly evolving, so we look for the best people who are passionate about the continued success of London.

Our engineers focus on the assets that form the foundation of our transport system. As a graduate engineer within Highways & Traffic you will gain vast knowledge in a range of engineering areas associated to the highway and contribute actively into the delivery of improvements that make a real difference to London. Your involvement will be wide ranging - you could be designing and commissioning traffic signal layouts, identifying and analysing the results of highway investigations, proposing London’s next cycle routes, or designing schemes to improve the safety of the travelling public.

Sustainability

Sustainability is intrinsic to the way we work, and we ensure that we operate in a sustainable way to protect and regenerate the natural world. Much of what we do, directly contributes to the decarbonisation and public health of London.

What will I be doing?

As a graduate, your two-year development programme will be made up of up to four placement rotations. Our aim is to equip you with the range of skills and experience you need for your successful career.

We also understand that everyone’s career is different, so every graduate’s journey is unique. Here’s an idea of what yours could look like:

Placement 1 – Traffic Engineering – 6 to 9 months

• Developing new junction layouts to improve road safety
• Designing a new cycle route to increase attractiveness for cyclists of all ages and abilities
• Reviewing traffic survey data to understand how new layouts might affect traffic flow

Placement 2 – Highway Engineering – circa 6 months

• Developing intrusive investigation strategies to inform project designs
• Pavement design of asphalt carriageway renewals on London’s busiest roads
• Technical assessment of 3rd party proposals to assess suitability for TfL’s highway

Placement 3 – Traffic Control Engineering – 6 to 9 months

• Designing and upgrading traffic signals to improve connectivity and safety
• Commissioning traffic signals and making sure they are safe and work on street
• Writing traffic signal specifications and testing to ensure they are fit for purpose

Placement 4 – Road Safety – circa 1 month

• Undertaking collision analysis studies and making recommendations to improve road safety
• Undertaking Road Safety engineering to design road safety improvements
• Supporting Road Safety Auditing of scheme’s ensuring proposals are as safe as practical

Placement 5 – Arboriculture & Landscape – circa 1 month

• Learn about the benefits of green infrastructure and the importance of a flexible approach when working with or near urban trees
• Support auditing the annual tree survey recommendations and the management of the tree planting programme
• Assist operational and other technical colleagues by providing guidance and information to keep our green infrastructure safe and healthy

Placement lengths are flexible and can be tailored to an applicant’s individual career aspirations. All placements are, however, compulsory because as an organisation we are keen for our graduates to gain as much varied experience as possible.

Where can this career take me?

A career with us can be varied and will depend on your own individual aspirations and whether a leadership type role and/or technical specialism interests you. Typically, within five to eight years you will have obtained Membership of a Professional Institution and will be working towards Incorporated Engineer / Chartered Engineer status.

This could open up opportunities to be a Senior Engineer overseeing projects and programmes and responsible for making key technical decisions. This could then lead on to a range of leadership positions, managing your own team and making strategic decisions on design, strategy, and processes.

What training and support will you get?

Whilst on the scheme, we’ll support your technical development through a wide range of on-the-job practical experiences and placements. We’ll also support your professional development; this could include a combination of classroom-led training courses, online training courses, mentoring opportunities and structured networking opportunities with scheme alumni as appropriate to your chosen path.

You'll also receive one-to-one guidance throughout the programme from your:

• Placement manager: Responsible for your day-to-day management and support with your development
• Scheme sponsor: A senior manager who acts as a technical and professional adviser and has line manager responsibility
• Buddy: Usually an apprentice or graduate who gives support to you and ensure that you feel welcomed in the organisation
• Development adviser: Supports your professional development through providing career coaching and career progression at TfL

What do we look for?

Our core values are extremely important to us, and we desire candidates who are:

• Caring about our colleagues, our customers and our work
• Open to each other, to new ideas and to working together
• Adaptable to diverse needs and willing to innovate

Everything we do as an organisation is to ensure that our evolving city remains future-proofed for millions of Londoners. Our talented graduates form a vital part of that vision, so it’s important that we find the best people to help us do this. We’re looking for people who:

• Are ambitious with an inquisitive mind
• Relish a challenge and are driven to succeed
• Thrive as part of a diverse team and are motivated to add value

As a member of the team, we’ll give you responsibility and the opportunity to add value from day one. If you are excited by inspiring and influencing the future of London and are up for a challenge and thrive under pressure, then this is the career path for you.

Assessment process

You will receive support and information around each assessment stage as you progress through your application.

Assessment centres for graduates and intern roles will take place from January - March. Please note that many roles only have 1 assessment day and we are unable to guarantee additional dates. We are conducting assessment centres in person and virtually (role dependent).

Inclusive Recruitment Process

We operate a transparent recruitment process that removes barriers for candidates with a disability. Please let us know if you require reasonable adjustments for any stages of the application process.

We're a Disability Confident employer, and we offer guaranteed interviews to candidates who apply via the scheme where the minimum criteria for skills, knowledge and experience has been met. In High Volume campaigns including Graduate, Apprentice and Intern recruitment the minimum criteria we set is achieving a pass mark in our first stage assessments, adopting a proportionate approach as part of the Disability Confident scheme.

Who are Transport for London (TfL)?

We’re the integrated transport authority responsible for meeting Mayor Sadiq Khan's strategy and commitments on transport in London. We run the day-to-day operation of the Capital's public transport network and manage London's main roads.

With such a vast and varied transport network, no two days at TfL are the same but we have one key purpose: to keep London moving. Working at TfL gives you the opportunity to have a meaningful impact on London and Londoners.

‘Employer of Choice’ award for the Transport & Logistics sector by The Times

How to apply

To apply for this role and to find out more, please click on the apply button.

Please note that applications may close before the application deadline, so apply early to avoid disappointment.

6 days remaining to apply for this job