Designer- Roads & Highways

SMEC (an SJ Group company); Sunshine Coast Regional; On-site; AUD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

SMEC invites a motivated Designer – Roads & Highways to join our Brisbane, Gold Coast or Sunshine Coast teams. You will support transport infrastructure projects across Australia, focusing on design quality and coordination within a multidisciplinary environment.

You will collaborate with specialists, use 12d and AutoCAD, and contribute to high-quality outputs while developing your technical expertise. This role offers flexibility, opportunities for career growth and a proactive,

Qualifications

• 3–6 years’ experience in roads and highways design.
• Proficiency in 12d as primary design software; Civil 3D/OpenRoads helpful.
• Experience with AutoCAD design drawings and documentation.
• Knowledge of Austroads and local authority standards.

Responsibilities

• Deliver high-quality roads and highways design outputs per standards and client requirements.
• Prepare drawings, models, and technical documentation using 12d and AutoCAD.
• Contribute to design reports, reviews, and peer assessments.
• Ensure compliance with Austroads, client specs, and HSEQ.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams for timely project delivery.
• Support engineers and senior designers with practical, cost-effective solutions.
• Communicate with internal teams to align deliverables.
• Help meet project deadlines and budgets, minimising rework.
• Contribute to continuous design-process improvements.

Skills

Roads & Highways Design

12d

AutoCAD

Civil 3D

OpenRoads

Austroads standards

Communication

Team collaboration

Tools

12d

AutoCAD

Civil 3D

OpenRoads

Job description

• Work alongside industry-leading specialists in a collaborative, flexible environment
• Shape your career with genuine professional growth opportunities

About The Job

• Join a global consultancy delivering iconic infrastructure projects
• Work alongside industry-leading specialists in a collaborative, flexible environment
• Shape your career with genuine professional growth opportunities

About SMEC

SMEC is a global engineering consultancy renowned for delivering complex, sustainable infrastructure solutions across transport, water, energy, and urban development markets. Our teams are empowered to innovate, solve technical challenges, and contribute to projects that positively shape communities across Australia and worldwide.

We are committed to building a diverse, inclusive and gender‑equitable workforce and encourages applications from people of all backgrounds across engineering and technical disciplines. SMEC provides a supportive and flexible working environment that recognises individual contribution, supports career progression, and enables our people to balance work and life at all stages of their career.

As a family‑friendly employer, we offer flexible working arrangements and benefits including 18 weeks of universal paid parental leave. We are proud to foster an inclusive culture that supports gender equity, LGBTI+ inclusion and First Nations representation, with access to strong professional networks, role models, and mentoring and sponsorship programs.

Infrastructure

At SMEC, we understand that our continued success within the infrastructure market is the result of building long‑term client relationships. We listen and understand the specific needs of our clients and deliver a complete value chain of services to provide sustainable solutions across major infrastructure projects worldwide.

The Role

We’re seeking a motivated Designer – Roads & Highways to join our team in either Brisbane, Gold Coast or Sunshine Coast, to support the delivery of transport infrastructure projects across Australia.

This is more than just a technical role — it’s an opportunity for a Designer who enjoys problem‑solving, collaboration, and contributing to high‑quality engineering outcomes within a multidisciplinary environment.

You’ll be a key member of our Roads & Highways team, contributing to the delivery of complex projects with a focus on design quality, technical rigour, and coordinated outcomes, while continuing to build your capability and technical expertise.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver high‑quality roads and highways design outputs in line with technical standards, client requirements, and SMEC quality expectations
• Prepare drawings, models, and technical documentation using appropriate design and drafting tools and methodologies, with 12d and AutoCAD as the primary design and drafting platforms.
• Provide inputs to design reports and contribute to technical documentation and peer reviews
• Ensure compliance with Austroads, client specifications, and HSEQ requirements
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to ensure coordinated, timely, and accurate project delivery
• Support engineers and senior designers in developing practical, compliant, and cost‑effective solutions
• Communicate effectively with internal teams and stakeholders to maintain alignment across deliverables
• Work to project deadlines and budgets, ensuring accuracy and minimising rework
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives across design processes, tools, and delivery outcomes

About You

You’re a motivated and detail‑oriented Designer with a passion for transport infrastructure and a strong foundation in roads and highways design. You enjoy working collaboratively, take pride in producing high‑quality outputs, and are eager to continue developing your technical expertise.

You Will Bring

• 3–6 years’ experience in roads and highways design within a consulting or infrastructure environment
• Proficiency in 12d as the primary design software, with familiarity in other design packages such as Civil 3D or OpenRoads considered beneficial.
• Experience preparing design drawings in AutoCAD, along with design models and supporting technical documentation
• Working knowledge of Austroads and relevant local authority standards
• Strong communication skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across multidisciplinary teams
• A proactive, solutions‑focused mindset with a commitment to quality and continuous improvement
• The ability to manage competing priorities and deliver work to agreed timeframes

Contact

For a confidential discussion regarding this opportunity, please contact Carl Thiedeke – [e-mail]