Principal Civil Engineer

Brilliant people trusted to do brilliant things

Mott MacDonald is a vibrant and forward-thinking engineering, management, and development consultancy. Working together as a global team we plan, design, deliver and maintain the transport, energy, water, buildings, and wider infrastructure that is integral to people’s daily lives. We value excellence in every dimension of our business and continuously seek opportunities to improve what we do and how we do it.

We employ brilliant people who combine their diverse skills and experiences to achieve brilliant things. Whether you want to specialise or broaden your experience, you'll be supported by global specialists eager to share their expertise. With numerous opportunities to learn and grow, the possibilities are as diverse as our people. Working as a connected global team, we deliver impactful projects that shape the future.

Your opportunity

As a Principal Pipeline Engineer based in Sydney, you will play a key role in the planning, design and delivery of major water, wastewater and recycled water infrastructure projects across New South Wales. You’ll work closely with our Sydney-based Water team and broader national specialists, supporting pipeline, pumping station, storage and network infrastructure projects from optioneering and concept design through to detailed design, construction support and delivery.

You will be joining a diverse and passionate team with a strong pipeline of work across the water sector. This role will give you the opportunity to lead and contribute to complex pipeline and network infrastructure projects, develop practical and buildable design solutions, collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, and support key clients and delivery partners across NSW. You will also assist with business development opportunities under the direction of our team leaders, including proposal preparation, client engagement and technical input into bids.

This role presents a fantastic opportunity to further develop your technical leadership in pipeline engineering while contributing to projects that support population growth, infrastructure renewal, climate resilience and sustainable water outcomes for communities across Greater Sydney and beyond.

You will have the opportunity to:

• Lead and deliver pipeline, pumping station, storage, water, wastewater and recycled water infrastructure projects across NSW and Australia.

• Develop and review concept designs, detailed designs, technical specifications, design reports and construction-phase documentation.

• Provide technical leadership across multidisciplinary water infrastructure projects, working closely with civil, mechanical, electrical, process, geotechnical and environmental specialists.

• Apply sound engineering judgement to pipeline alignment, hydraulic design, constructability, asset integration, risk, safety in design and whole-of-life outcomes.

• Build strong relationships with clients, authorities, contractors and project partners, representing Mott MacDonald in technical discussions and design reviews.

• Support tenders, proposals and business development activities to contribute to the growth and direction of the Sydney Water team.

• Mentor and develop junior engineers, helping to strengthen technical capability within the NSW and national water teams.

About you

As an experienced pipeline or civil water infrastructure engineer, you will bring strong technical capability, consulting experience and the confidence to lead project delivery within a multidisciplinary environment. You’ll be comfortable working with clients, utilities, contractors and authorities, guiding technical outcomes and supporting the growth of our Sydney-based water infrastructure capability. Some key requirements for the role include:

• Tertiary qualifications in Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Environmental Engineering or a related discipline.

• Significant experience delivering pipeline, pumping station, storage, water, wastewater or recycled water infrastructure projects within a consulting, utility or contractor environment.

• Strong technical understanding of pipeline design, hydraulic design, pressure mains, gravity sewers, rising mains, water supply, wastewater networks and associated infrastructure.

• Experience preparing concept designs, detailed designs, design reports, specifications, technical memoranda, design calculations and construction support documentation.

• Familiarity with relevant Australian standards, water authority requirements and Sydney Water standards, processes or project environments.

• Experience working across multidisciplinary design teams on major infrastructure, utilities, land development, transport interface or capital delivery projects.

• Proven ability to lead technical delivery, manage project interfaces, coordinate design inputs and produce high-quality, client-ready deliverables.

• Strong client-facing capability, including the ability to communicate complex technical information clearly and confidently with clients, authorities and delivery partners.

• Experience in consulting, including preparing proposals, supporting bids and contributing to business development activities.

• Proven technical leadership, including mentoring and guiding junior engineers and supporting knowledge sharing across teams.

• A positive, proactive mindset with the confidence to lead, collaborate and contribute to a vibrant team culture.

Our values, and Benefits

Mott MacDonald celebrates diversity and inclusion, offering a supportive work environment that values work-life balance, diversity, inclusion, and equity. We welcome diverse applicants, including First Nations People, people with disabilities, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and people of all genders, neurodiversity, cultural backgrounds, age groups, and those with intersectional identities.

We offer a range of fantastic benefits and facilities to make this a great place to be, including:

• Agile working environment, supporting our people to work flexibly
• Life, personal accident, and salary continuance insurance
• Employee resource groups including the Inclusive Network for Women, Corporate Social Responsibility and more
  Annual Health Checks and ongoing professional development

You’ve got this!

We endorse a diverse and inclusive workplace, and look to provide suitable opportunities for employees.

If you are interested in this role, please apply!

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