Commissioning Engineer/Manager, Water

WSP in Australia; Newcastle City Council; On-site; AUD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive remuneration

Inclusive, collaborative team culture

Career development, mentoring, and 2nd

Secondment opportunities

Job summary

WSP Water in Newcastle, NSW is seeking an experienced Commissioning Manager to lead commissioning across complex water and wastewater projects on-site. You will oversee planning, testing, readiness and handover, working with project teams, contractors and client operations to ensure safe, compliant delivery.

The role demands strong leadership, broad sector experience in water infrastructure, and a proactive approach to coordinating multidisciplinary teams and systems integration, including SCADA.

Qualifications

• Experience as Commissioning Manager, Commissioning Lead or Senior Commissioning Engineer.
• Experience delivering commissioning activities in water, wastewater, utilities, infrastructure, industrial or energy sectors.
• Strong understanding of commissioning methodologies, testing protocols and operational handover processes.
• Proven experience developing and implementing commissioning plans, procedures and management frameworks.
• Experience coordinating multidisciplinary project teams, contractors, operators and vendors.
• Chartered Engineer status (CPEng) or equivalent accreditation.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Sound understanding of operational readiness, risk management and safe systems of work.
• Experience with electrical, instrumentation, control systems and SCADA integration.
• Proactive, solutions-focused approach in fast-paced project environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead commissioning planning and delivery from project development through to operational handover.
• Develop and review commissioning strategies, management plans, procedures and contractor documentation.
• Provide commissioning and constructability input during concept, detailed design and delivery phases.
• Lead commissioning readiness reviews, shutdown planning and operational cutover activities.
• Oversee FAT, SAT, Integrated System Testing and commissioning programs.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary teams including contractors, designers, asset owners and operational personnel.
• Ensure commissioning requirements are integrated across electrical, mechanical, process, instrumentation and control systems.
• Support quality, safety and environmental compliance throughout commissioning activities.
• Manage stakeholder engagement and collaborate with client operations and maintenance teams.
• Review commissioning records, handover documentation, as-built information and manuals.
• Mentor project teams and contribute to continuous improvement of commissioning practices.

Skills

Commissioning

Project leadership

Stakeholder management

Water/wastewater sector knowledge

Commissioning methodologies

Coordination of multidisciplinaryTeams

Operational readiness

Electrical/instrumentation/SCADA

Job description

Job Description

Commissioning Manager

WSP Water | Newcastle, NSW

WSP's Water Business Group is seeking an experienced Commissioning Engineer or Manager to join a major infrastructure program supporting one of New South Wales' leading water authorities.

Based full-time on site 30 mins away from Newcastle CBD, this role will be responsible for leading commissioning activities across complex water and wastewater infrastructure projects, ensuring assets are safely tested, integrated, commissioned and successfully transitioned into operations.

This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in the delivery of critical infrastructure that will support communities for decades to come while working alongside a highly experienced project delivery team.

The Opportunity

As Commissioning Manager, you will provide leadership across all commissioning phases, from early project planning and design input through to testing, operational readiness and final handover. Working closely with project teams, contractors, client representatives and operational stakeholders, you will ensure commissioning requirements are embedded throughout the project lifecycle and that systems are delivered safely, efficiently and in accordance with contractual and regulatory requirements.

What You'll Do

• Lead commissioning planning and delivery from project development through to operational handover.
• Develop and review commissioning strategies, management plans, procedures and contractor documentation.
• Provide commissioning and constructability input during concept, detailed design and delivery phases.
• Lead commissioning readiness reviews, shutdown planning and operational cutover activities.
• Oversee Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), Site Acceptance Testing (SAT), Integrated System Testing and commissioning programs.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary teams including contractors, designers, asset owners and operational personnel.
• Ensure commissioning requirements are effectively integrated across electrical, mechanical, process, instrumentation and control systems.
• Support quality, safety and environmental compliance throughout commissioning activities.
• Manage stakeholder engagement and collaborate closely with client operations and maintenance teams.
• Review commissioning records, handover documentation, as-built information and operational manuals.
• Mentor project teams and contribute to the continuous improvement of commissioning practices across the business.

About You

We're looking for a collaborative and outcomes-focused commissioning professional with a strong background delivering complex infrastructure projects.

You Will Ideally Possess

• Demonstrated experience as a Commissioning Manager, Commissioning Lead or Senior Commissioning Engineer.
• Experience delivering commissioning activities within the water, wastewater, utilities, infrastructure, industrial or energy sectors.
• Strong understanding of commissioning methodologies, testing protocols and operational handover processes.
• Proven experience developing and implementing commissioning plans, procedures and management frameworks.
• Experience coordinating multidisciplinary project teams, contractors, operators and specialist vendors.
• Chartered Engineer status (CPEng) or equivalent professional accreditation.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Sound understanding of operational readiness, risk management and safe systems of work.
• Experience with electrical, instrumentation, control systems and SCADA integration.
• A proactive, solutions-focused approach and the ability to work effectively in fast-paced project environments.

Highly Regarded

• Experience commissioning desalination plants, advanced water treatment facilities or large-scale process infrastructure.
• Experience working on live operational assets and managing shutdowns, cutovers and staged commissioning activities.Knowledge of Australian water utility standards and operational requirements.
• Construction, operations or maintenance experience within major infrastructure environments.

Why Choose WSP?

We’re Committed To Creating An Environment Where You Feel Supported, Valued, And Empowered To Grow.

• Competitive remuneration that recognises your expertise
• An inclusive, collaborative team culture
• Clear career pathways, mentoring, leadership development, and secondment opportunities
• Flexible work arrangements where project requirements allow
• Purpose‑driven projects with real community impact
• Support for career returners—we value every pathway
• Up to 16 weeks paid parental leave
• Option to purchase up to 8 additional weeks of annual leave
• National and global mobility opportunities

All permanent employees are eligible to participate in WSP’s Employee Share Purchase Plan, allowing you to share in the long‑term success of the business. Learn more about our wellbeing and development programs via our Employee Benefits page.

Ready to Shape the Future of Water?

This is your opportunity to make a real impact—on your terms, with your expertise, alongside people who share your ambition.

Because with us, you can.