Engineering Careers at Robert Walpole and Partners

Twelve months ago, Jack Tolley joined Robert Walpole & Partners as a Senior Civil Engineer, bringing experience from both the consultancy and client sides of the water industry. A chartered civil engineer and member of Institution of Civil Engineers and has published peer reviewed papers in the field of pipeline engineering with the ASCE and ICE, Jack has spent his first year leading some of our flagship trunk main projects. We caught up with him to reflect on his first year with us.

1. Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your background before joining RWP?

I’m a chartered civil engineer with the Institution of Civil Engineers, and I’ve been fortunate enough to have publications recognised internationally within the pipeline engineering field. I started out as a graduate engineer in the house building sector, where I learned the fundamentals: gravity systems, surface water drainage, highways design, SuDS systems, rising mains and everything up to the foundations of a structure. Being in a small consultancy early on meant rapid growth, in two years I gained what would probably have taken five or six at a larger firm. After that I moved to Thames Water because I wanted to experience life in a larger organisation. That opened my network enormously and gave me exposure to every engineering discipline, from mechanical, chemical and electrical to environmental, and showed me how engineering fits into the bigger picture on major projects. With some excellent mentorship there, I went on to lead the AMP 8 trunk mains programme, a portfolio of 24 trunk mains across London worth £295m, taking schemes through early outline design before they were passed to delivery partners. After four years, I felt ready for the next step.

2. What attracted you to join Robert Walpole & Partners?

While I was on the client side, I saw first-hand the quality of work RWP delivered, and that was the quality I wanted to be part of. The way the firm operates suits how I like to work as an engineer, and a year in it has been a natural fit. I also believe development as an engineer in a smaller firm is second to none. You take on work, and real responsibility for it, that you might not touch in a larger firm until you reach technical director level or above.

3. How would you describe your first year with the team?

I was trusted to deliver from day one. Mark Foster gave me that complete trust straight away, and the relationships I built with Mark Simmons and Jonathan Walpole led to me leading our trunk main projects. Being entrusted with business-critical work from the start is a big responsibility, but it’s exactly what accelerates your development. Of course I got things wrong along the way, and the support from the partners and from Mark Foster was always there to help me move forward. There’s no blame culture here, it’s about working as a team and keeping the project moving. I always bang the drum on this: one year at RWP is the equivalent of four at a bigger consultancy.

4. What kind of projects have you worked on over the year?

Plenty, and across the full range. Two 900mm trunk main via a twin 1500mm diameter tunnels 280m long for a project of national significance. I’d never designed a tunnel before, so having Mark Simmons alongside me, with a career’s worth of tunnelling experience, was invaluable. We then delivered another 900mm trunk main diversion, this time for a new power infrastructure to support the new data centres in the area. You don’t appreciate the scale of these pipelines at 900mm diameter, or the amount of heavy civil engineering involved, until you see them. At the other end of the scale, we had a 300mm, 600m diversion. A simpler, straight run on paper, but once you’re into construction the technical and site queries keep you firmly on your toes. We’re also doing the outline design for 400mm diameter pipeline 12km long near the Channel Tunnel, which really tests your first-principles. At RWP you cover everything from outline design through detailed design to construction support and handover. You don’t have to ask for that exposure, you get it.

5. Have you developed any new skills or responsibilities?

Tunnel design was a big one. I also got to grips with a new standard, CIRIA C816 for thrust block design, which came out last year. Beyond the technical side, I’ve developed a much stronger commercial awareness. You learn how your engineering decisions affect programme, construction time, deliverability and cost. You’re not chasing the gold-plated solution; you’re finding the right one for the project and the client’s budget. You start to think differently, and that has made me a more rounded engineer.

6. What has been the highlight of your year?

Visiting the 900mm diameter diversion on site, the sheer scale of it. When you’re in the office working in AutoCAD and writing reports, you lose that sense of scale, and then you stand next to it and realise this came off the drawing board and is now being built. That’s something I’d encourage every young engineer to do; always get out to site. Seeing your design come to life is what it’s all about.

7. How does RWP compare to where you’ve worked before?

It’s been a completely new experience. I expected a classic senior civil engineer role, and the demands here are far greater than that, in the best way. The exposure you get as a senior engineer at RWP is on another level to a big consultancy, and that has a compounding effect on your career and experience. If you’re a young, ambitious engineer who wants to see what they design actually get built, this is the place to come and work.

8. What advice would you give someone considering joining RWP at a senior level?

You’re going to accelerate your career in ways you never thought you would.

9. And what advice would you give yourself a year ago?

Honestly, not much. I joined at the right time in my career, and it’s the best career move I’ve made.

10. If you had to sum up your first year at RWP in three words?

Technicality. Tenacity. Together.

We’ve thoroughly enjoyed having Jack on the team this year. His drive, his determination, and the leadership he has shown across our projects have been a real asset, and we’re excited to see where his career goes from here.

If you’re an ambitious engineer looking for your next move, keep an eye on our careers page for current opportunities.

Following International Women in Engineering Day, we sat down with Raquel Peixoto, who joined RWP as a graduate in 2018 and has grown over nearly eight years into a Civil Engineer leading her own projects and mentoring the next generation coming through.

We caught up with her to reflect on her time with us:

1. Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you first came to join RWP?

I’m a civil engineer, originally from Portugal. I joined RWP in 2018 after a year and a half working for a contractor back home. Robert Walpole was my first job in the UK, and I started here as a graduate engineer.

2. You joined as a graduate back in 2018. What were those early days like, and what drew you to RWP?

Everyone was very welcoming. The company was much smaller then, around 15 people, and as the only graduate and the youngest by some way, I was given real responsibility early on. My work was always checked, but in a small firm everyone has to turn their hand to a lot, so I had the chance to work across both rail and water and to learn quickly in different areas rather than being stuck on repetitive tasks. That, and a genuinely good working environment, is what I remember most.

3. Nearly eight years on, how has your role changed, and what does your work look like now?

I have far more responsibility now. As a graduate you always had senior engineers working on your projects; today I manage my own. I lead my client meetings, go to site, manage the surveys, and deal with technical queries directly with the client. Where I used to have Rhidian Jones or Mark Foster leading the projects, I’m now leading them myself. It’s more challenging, but much more fulfilling.

4. What have been the biggest projects or moments that have shaped you as an engineer here?

Early on I did a lot of structural calculations and hydraulic modelling. One I particularly enjoyed as a graduate was the Paddington sewer diversion, which involved the design of a shaft and timber headings, and it was a great learning experience. I then moved towards the water side, designing clean water mains for Affinity and Thames Water, such as Preston Road in Wembley and Ivy Chimneys for Affinity. More recently the Thames Water rising mains renewals have been my biggest projects: Lower Radley, Red Lion and Dews Farm. Dews Farm is the one I’m proudest of. I was involved from the very beginning through to delivery, managing interfaces with Network Rail, HS2, a golf course and other landowners. There was a great deal to coordinate to get it over the line.

5. Engineering has historically been a male-dominated field. What has your experience been, and what would you say to women considering a career in civil engineering?

I know engineering is still mostly-male dominated, but at Robert Walpole I’ve never felt that being a woman makes any difference. My opinion is heard, and people trust and have confidence in my work. I’d encourage any woman interested in the field to pursue it, study it, and find a place where she feels heard and supported. I’d happily recommend RWP. I joined as a graduate and have always been well treated and respected, and the other women here feel the same.

6. Mentorship matters at RWP. Who supported you early on, and how does it feel to now be the one helping younger engineers?

Early on I had a lot of support on the water and structural sides from Mark Foster, Jonathan Walpole and Paul Langedijk, a structural engineer who has since moved on, and later from Rhidian Jones and Mark Simmons on the rail side. There was always someone to help me with anything. Now we have more and more graduates joining, and it’s a pleasure to mentor them and help them in their careers. It’s a good learning curve for me too. Knowing how to do something is one thing; being able to explain it and teach others is another, and that’s helped me develop as well.

7. What has kept you at RWP for nearly eight years, when plenty of engineers move around early in their careers?

I reassess it every year, but what keeps me here is that I’m still learning and I feel recognised for my work. I’ve gone from graduate to civil engineer, with promotions and real career growth along the way. The combination of working on my designs and managing my own projects has made me a more complete engineer, and I’ve had that opportunity here.

8. What’s next for you?

My main focus is completing my chartership, which I’m hoping to finish next year. Beyond that, I’d like to keep doing what I’m doing and get involved in new and challenging projects wherever the opportunity comes up.

9. What advice would you give a graduate joining RWP today?

Relax a little. Graduates often feel they carry more responsibility than they actually do, but there are always senior engineers and partners checking and supervising their work. RWP is very supportive; there’s always someone to answer your questions and help you settle into office life and the construction industry. So, take in as much as you can, learn as much as you can, and never be afraid to ask questions. Everyone is here to help you grow in your career.

10. If you had to sum up your time at RWP so far in three words?

Rewarding, supportive, growth.

Raquel is a great example of what’s possible at RWP. Eight years from graduate to a Civil Engineer leading her own projects and supporting the engineers coming up behind her. We’re proud to have her on the team, and we’d love to hear from more engineers, and in particular more women, looking to build a career in civil engineering.

In early July 2025, we welcomed Frank, an undergraduate from the University of Cambridge, to join Robert Walpole & Partners for a summer placement. Over the past month, he has been working alongside our engineers, gaining hands-on experience with real projects and learning more about life in a busy civil engineering consultancy.

We caught up with him to hear about his first month with us:

1. Can you tell us a bit about yourself and what you’re studying at Cambridge?

I’ve just finished my second year studying a general engineering degree at Cambridge. I’m going into my third year where I’ll choose my specialisations. I’ve always had an interest in engineering, but before joining RWP I’d never had proper industry experience like this.

2. What attracted you to join Robert Walpole & Partners for your placement?

It was the wide array of tasks. Many firms specialise in a very small niche, but here I’ve been able to work across a range of projects, applying the same knowledge in different ways and seeing results come to life in varied contexts. Being part of a smaller firm also means there’s a more personal connection with colleagues, which I’ve definitely experienced.

3. How would you describe your first month with the team?

At first there was a steep learning curve. The first week or so was about getting up to speed with things I didn’t know yet. But everyone was relaxed and supportive, giving me the time I needed. After that, I moved between several graduate engineers, helping on their projects and getting exposure to different parts of the job rather than repeating the same task. That’s helped me figure out what I enjoy and where I’m strongest.

4. & 5. What kind of projects or tasks have you been involved in so far, and have you learned any new skills or software since joining?

I’ve worked mainly on three projects. The first was a water mains renewal in London (nearly 5km of water main). My role focused on reviewing technical documents from other firms and interpreting them so we could progress our own work.

I also worked on concrete reinforcement calculations for a submerged base slab. I’d never done this before, so I learned to work from engineering standards to carry out the calculations. It was challenging but very rewarding.

Most recently, I’ve been doing thrust block and pipe calculations, using software like Excel and Python to automate them, and tools like LaTeX and PDF editors to compile the results into clear, shareable documents. It’s been great to contribute something useful for the team while also developing my own skills.

6. What has surprised you most about working in a civil engineering consultancy?

I thought it would be mostly CAD and calculations, but there’s a lot more emphasis on soft skills. Communication with clients, interpreting others’ work, and managing varying requirements can be the most challenging parts, more so than the technical work.

7. What’s been your favourite part of the experience so far?

Definitely the concrete reinforcement calculations. I started with no knowledge, but I was given the time and support to develop my understanding from the ground up. That’s invaluable because it builds the intuition that more senior engineers have, where they can almost instantly tell if something will work.

8. Has your time here influenced how you see your future career path?

Yes, I came here thinking I’d enjoy working in soil mechanics, but I’ve discovered that the water side of civils really interests me. I also like the size of firms like RWP where you know everyone, and your work doesn’t get lost in the noise.

9. How would you describe your first month with the team?

Don’t be afraid to take on work in areas you’ve never touched before. Jump in, even if you’re not confident. It’s far more rewarding to learn something from scratch than to stick to what you already know.

10. How would you sum up your time at RWP in three words?

Technical, involved, supportive.

We’ve really enjoyed having Frank as part of the team and seeing him bring fresh ideas and enthusiasm into our projects. His willingness to take on challenges and learn from the ground up has been great to see, and we look forward to watching his career develop.

If you’re interested in gaining practical experience in civil engineering and working with a supportive, talented team, keep an eye on our careers page for future opportunities.