Principal Civil Engineer

Water infrastructure | Technical authority | Client influence

Some Principal roles give you a bigger title but gradually pull you away from engineering.

This one gives you genuine influence over how water and wastewater infrastructure is planned, designed and delivered, while keeping you close to the technical work.

The Role

You will provide senior technical leadership across civil infrastructure projects from feasibility and concept development through detailed design, construction support and commissioning.

This is a hands-on technical leadership role. You will lead complex design work, guide project teams, strengthen technical standards and work directly with clients to turn operational and delivery challenges into practical engineering solutions.

You will:

• Lead planning, concept, preliminary and detailed design for water and wastewater infrastructure.
• Act as technical lead, design lead, verifier or approver within your demonstrated competency and delegated authority.
• Lead or review engineering calculations, design reports, drawings, specifications, scopes of work and tender-ready documentation.
• Provide specialist input across pipelines, pump stations, water and sewer networks, bulk water systems, treatment facility interfaces and trenchless solutions.
• Lead hydraulic and transient assessments, including network modelling, pump selection and surge analysis.
• Manage design scope, budgets, schedules, risks, interfaces and multidisciplinary inputs.
• Support construction, testing and commissioning through inspections, technical advice and review of contractor submissions.
• Build trusted client relationships and contribute to proposals, tenders and the development of new work.
• Mentor engineers, graduates and designers while improving technical practices across the civil team.

Our Client

Our client is an established engineering consultancy with deep capability across water and wastewater planning, detailed design, project management and delivery support.

Their work is informed by practical experience across design, construction, operations, maintenance and capital delivery. This means the technical team is expected to produce solutions that are not only compliant, but safe, constructible, commercially grounded and fit for operation.

The role is based in Brisbane and may include local and interstate project travel.

What You Bring

This role will suit a senior civil engineer who wants genuine technical ownership and enjoys solving complex infrastructure problems without losing sight of the client, the operator or the people delivering the work.

You will likely bring:

• A Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering or an equivalent recognised qualification.
• Typically 10 or more years of relevant civil engineering experience, including substantial water and wastewater infrastructure experience.
• Demonstrated experience leading civil design packages from planning through detailed design and delivery support.
• Strong capability across several of the following: pipelines, pump stations, network planning, hydraulic modelling, surge analysis, bulk water systems, treatment facility civil works, trenchless design or asset condition assessment.
• Working knowledge of SEQCode, WSAA codes, relevant Australian Standards and utility-specific requirements.
• Experience managing technical scope, programme, budget, risk and multidisciplinary design interfaces.
• Strong client communication and the judgement to explain complex risks, options and recommendations clearly.
• Experience mentoring engineers and reviewing the work of others.
• A current Australian driver licence, Construction Industry White Card and appropriate Australian working rights.

Registration and Technical Systems

• Current RPEQ registration in an appropriate area of engineering, or the demonstrated ability to obtain registration within an agreed timeframe, is required.
• Chartered Professional Engineer status or equivalent is highly regarded.
• Experience with relevant hydraulic modelling and surge analysis software is important.
• Working knowledge of AutoCAD, Civil 3D, 12d Model or Navisworks will be highly regarded.

What You Actually Get

At Principal level, the next move is not simply about managing more people or carrying a larger utilisation target. It is about being trusted to shape technical decisions, improve standards and influence how projects are delivered.

You will have the opportunity to:

• Remain technically engaged while operating as a senior authority.
• Work across the full infrastructure lifecycle rather than one isolated project phase.
• Influence design quality, technical systems and team capability.
• Build direct, trusted relationships with clients and delivery partners.
• Help develop the next generation of water infrastructure engineers.

Interested?

If you are a Principal or experienced Senior Civil Engineer who wants greater technical influence without stepping away from meaningful engineering, this is worth a confidential conversation.

To apply or request further information, contact James Foden at Telos Co.