Principal Civil Engineer

Principal Civil Engineer - Land Development   

About the Opportunity

We are recruiting on behalf of a well-established and highly regarded civil engineering consultancy based in Melbourne's inner east, known for delivering complex and specialised infrastructure projects across sectors including sports, VicRoads, and water sensitive urban design (WSUD).

Due to continued growth, our client is seeking an experienced Principal Engineer to join their leadership team. This is a senior technical role for a proven civil engineer who can operate autonomously on complex design work while providing strategic direction, mentoring, and leadership to a talented design team.

The Role

As Principal Engineer, you will undertake detailed design and plan production for complex and specialised projects with minimal supervision. You'll provide strategic technical leadership, manage and mentor design teams, and be accountable for delivering high-quality engineering outcomes. You'll also play a key role in the business's strategic planning and continuous improvement initiatives, and represent the company to clients and industry stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Undertake detailed design and plan production of complex and specialised projects autonomously
• Carry out complex and specialised engineering work, including advanced modelling, technical assessments, and design verification
• Lead, manage, and engage design teams within the broader design and project teams
• Produce and monitor design programs, ensuring alignment with project and business objectives
• Manage project-based design delivery, ensuring technical excellence, timeliness, and resource efficiency
• Review and verify engineering outputs (plans, reports, modelling), providing clear feedback to team members
• Provide regular training, technical mentoring, and guidance to engineers and designers
• Conduct and document performance reviews for design team members
• Provide input during tender phases for specialist projects, including capability assessments and task hours/timelines
• Contribute to leadership discussions on internal processes (QA), design standards, engineering innovation, and resourcing
• Participate in resourcing and budget discussions to ensure appropriate project resourcing
• Drive compliance with HSEQ requirements and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives
• Represent the business to external stakeholders (clients, authorities, industry bodies)
• Participate in industry functions to build networks and promote the business
• Contribute to strategic planning and continuous improvement of design standards and procedures

About You

Technical skills & experience:

• Advanced proficiency in AutoCAD and 12d
• High level of technical knowledge in civil engineering design, including complex and specialist works
• Extensive experience designing and delivering complex and specialised engineering projects
• Demonstrated ability to produce and verify specialist design outputs autonomously
• Permanent working rights in Australia

Professional requirements:

• MRWA DAS accreditation (or equivalent) preferred
• Registered Engineer and Chartered Engineer status required
• Management and leadership training completed, or actively being undertaken
• Commitment to maintaining up-to-date knowledge of industry policies, standards, and regulations, and sharing this with the broader team

Skills & attributes:

• Excellent communication skills, with strong client and stakeholder engagement
• High level of knowledge in specialist areas (e.g. sports, VicRoads, WSUD, complex modelling)
• Strong leadership, with the ability to effectively manage and mentor teams
• Able to verify a broad range of project types across core and specialist design work
• Eligible to sign off on plans as the Registered Engineer
• Effective management of team HR matters and performance reviews
• Strong time management across competing project deadlines
• A proactive approach to knowledge sharing, innovation, and driving technical excellence

What's on Offer

• A senior leadership role with genuine autonomy and influence
• The chance to work on complex, high-profile specialist projects
• A collaborative, values-driven culture that rewards curiosity and technical excellence
• Competitive salary package, commensurate with experience

How to Apply

To find out more about this confidential opportunity, please apply now or reach out for a confidential discussion.
Adam Brown
0421 200 469
a.brown@aspectpersonnel.com.au