Principal Civil Engineer - Roads & Highways

Principal Civil Engineer - Shape and Lead Our Darwin Team​

Are you ready to take the next step in your career and lead from the front? SMEC is seeking a Principal Civil Engineer to establish and grow our Darwin office, building a high-performing team to deliver across roads, ports, urban development, and general civil infrastructure design projects.

This is a career-defining leadership opportunity where you’ll have the autonomy to shape your own team, secure new work, and deliver impactful projects across the Northern Territory.

About SMEC

SMEC offer unique opportunities to work on iconic projects alongside experienced colleagues and supportive leadership. We empower our people to drive innovation within a well-established and growing organisation.

We’re driven by teamwork, progressive thinking and creative ideas, and we provide platforms for our people to engage in the business, deliver value to clients and grow their careers.

SMEC delivers smart solutions for clients and communities in Infrastructure, Urban Development and Management Services

What Sets SMEC Darwin Apart?

• Globally Connected Specialists: Tap into a network of experts across 40 countries, with access to world-class engineering and consulting capabilities.
• Multidisciplinary Design Excellence: Deliver end-to-end project lifecycle support across transport, water, energy, and urban development.
• Sustainable Solutions: Champion practical and sustainable outcomes, aligning with SMEC’s global commitment to responsible engineering.

About The role

We are looking for a Principal Civil Engineer to take on a leadership role in our Darwin office. This permanent role offers the chance to build and lead a multi-skilled civil engineering team, delivering major infrastructure projects across multiple sectors.

You’ll work closely with SMEC’s national leadership, engage directly with local clients and convert opportunities into successful outcomes. You’ll also mentor and develop the next generation of engineers in the Northern Territory.

Key Responsibilities

• Build, lead, and mentor a Darwin-based civil engineering team with diverse skills across multiple disciplines.
• Actively engage with government, industry bodies, and clients to identify opportunities and grow our project pipeline.
• Oversee and deliver projects to a consistently high standard, ensuring quality, profitability, and client satisfaction.
• Provide civil engineering expertise across a broad range of projects including roads and highways, ports, urban development, and general civil works.
• Manage projects and contracts in line with the Northern Territory Government’s Standard Conditions of Contract.
• Drive commercial performance, including project profitability, utilisation, and EBIT targets.
• Collaborate with SMEC’s transport, water, energy, and urban development teams to provide integrated solutions.

About You

You’re a seasoned civil engineer with strong leadership skills and a passion for delivering quality outcomes. You’re ready to take ownership, build relationships, and make a lasting impact in the Northern Territory.

You’ll Bring

• Degree qualified – Bachelor of Engineering (Civil Engineering or similar).
• Minimum 15 years’ commercial experience in civil engineering, with strong knowledge of the NT market.
• Experience in at least one of the following: roads and highways, ports, urban development, or general civil works (experience across multiple areas is highly regarded.)
• Proven ability to manage engineering projects over $1m successfully to budget, specifications, and client satisfaction.
• Demonstrated project and contract management skills, encompassing administrative, commercial, and technical aspects.
• Experience coordinating, designing, and delivering roads and highways projects as part of multi-disciplinary teams.
• Strong commercial acumen with experience managing profitability, overheads, utilisation, and EBIT.
• An understanding of the broader business, organisational, and marketing context of engineering solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver against clients’ terms of reference within agreed budgets and timelines.
• Ability to produce high-quality technical reports requiring minimal correction, and to conduct final review of team deliverables.
• Proven ability to lead, mentor, and develop engineering teams.
• Active engagement in the industry, with established relationships across government and client networks.
• A passion for building trusted relationships and winning work through reputation and quality delivery.
• Willingness to undertake occasional domestic or international travel.

In return, SMEC offers you the benefits that come from working in a global multidisciplinary consultancy in an environment where your fresh ideas and enthusiasm will be welcomed and rewarded.

Link to benefits: http://www.smec.com/en_au/careers/your-career-with-SMEC

To find out more about SMEC, please visit our careers page at www.smec.com/careers

All recruitment activities go through our Resourcing function and currently, this role doesn’t require agency input. Please do not forward resumes directly to SMEC employees/managers; we do not accept unsolicited resumes and are not responsible for any associated fees.

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