Graduate Engineer - Roads & Highways (Materials)

SMEC (an SJ Group company); Sydney; On-site; AUD 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

SMEC is seeking a recent Graduate Civil Engineer to join the Materials team in North Sydney as part of Roads & Highways. The two-year Graduate Development Program accelerates your growth through hands-on project exposure, mentoring, and structured learning.

You’ll contribute to major rail and metro infrastructure projects, work with experienced engineers, and develop consulting skills in communication, collaboration and problem-solving while pursuing ongoing development beyond GDP.

Qualifications

• A degree in Materials Engineering or a related discipline.
• Strong communication, analytical, and report-writing skills, along with excellent teamwork, planning, and attention to detail.
• A proactive, adaptable, and practical mindset, with a willingness to learn and take initiative.
• Experience in asset condition inspections, materials testing, construction, or a related field would be advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to the delivery of real projects by supporting asset condition assessments and inspections, materials durability planning and design reviews, reporting, and technical documentation across infrastructure and built environment projects.
• Assist with the analysis of materials durability, long-term structural durability performance, and maintenance requirements, providing recommendations under the guidance of senior team members.
• Participate in project activities and site visits to develop an understanding of how materials and durability solutions are implemented on live projects.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to integrate materials and durability outcomes into road and rail transport, energy, water, ports and maritime, and built environment projects.
• Learn and apply relevant industry standards, specifications, design and modelling tools, digital technologies, and best‑practice principles through structured development and on-the-job experience.

Skills

Strong communication

Analytical skills

Report writing

Teamwork

Attention to detail

Education

Degree in Materials Engineering or related

Job description

• Play a critical role in the built environment by uplifting lives, creating regenerative environments and advancing industries
• Work in a truly flexible environment with an incredibly supportive team
• Environment where collaboration and innovation are encouraged
  

• Play a critical role in the built environment by uplifting lives, creating regenerative environments and advancing industries
• Work in a truly flexible environment with an incredibly supportive team
• Environment where collaboration and innovation are encouraged
  

About SMEC

SMEC provides unique opportunities to work on iconic industry projects with experienced colleagues and leadership teams. We support and empower employees to drive innovation initiatives within a well-established and growing organisation.

With over 16,500 employees working out of 120 offices in 120 offices in 40+ countries throughout Australasia, Asia, the Middle East, UK, Africa, North and South America, we partner with our parent company Surbana Jurong and sister company Robert Bird Group (RBG) to deliver integrated Infrastructure, Urban Development and Management Services expertise to our clients worldwide.

The Role

We are seeking a recent Graduate Civil Engineer to join our Materials team, as part of Roads & Highways, in North Sydney.

As a Graduate at SMEC, you’ll be part of a high-impact talent group, contributing to the delivery of major rail and metro infrastructure projects alongside experienced engineers and technical specialists.

Our two-year Graduate Development Program (GDP) is designed to accelerate your growth — combining hands‑on project experience with structured learning, mentoring, and exposure across teams and disciplines.

What You Can Expect

• Real project exposure from day one across major rail and transport infrastructure projects
• A connected ANZ graduate network and strong peer community
• Mentoring from senior engineers and technical specialists
• Structured development through workshops, online learning, and immersive experiences
• Opportunities to build consulting skills including communication, collaboration, and problem-solving
• Industry and global networking opportunities across the SJ Group
• Ongoing development beyond the GDP, with support for further study
  

Key Responsibilities

• Contribute to the delivery of real projects by supporting asset condition assessments and inspections, materials durability planning and design reviews, reporting, and technical documentation across infrastructure and built environment projects.
• Assist with the analysis of materials durability, long-term structural durability performance, and maintenance requirements, providing recommendations under the guidance of senior team members.
• Participate in project activities and site visits to develop an understanding of how materials and durability solutions are implemented on live projects.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to integrate materials and durability outcomes into road and rail transport, energy, water, ports and maritime, and built environment projects.
• Learn and apply relevant industry standards, specifications, design and modelling tools, digital technologies, and best‑practice principles through structured development and on-the-job experience.
  

About You

You’re a motivated graduate who is passionate about materials engineering and durability, enjoys solving technical challenges, and is keen to contribute to the design, construction, and long-term performance of real-world infrastructure.

You Will Bring

• A degree in Materials Engineering or a related discipline.
• Strong communication, analytical, and report‑writing skills, along with excellent teamwork, planning, and attention to detail.
• A proactive, adaptable, and practical mindset, with a willingness to learn and take initiative.
• Experience in asset condition inspections, materials testing, construction, or a related field would be advantageous.
  

At Surbana Jurong, we put talent, hard work, teamwork and a fun workplace together to approach problems and solve them creatively and collaboratively. Join us in making a positive impact on the world!