Graduate Mechanical & Aerospace Engineer – Hybrid Program

Boeing Defence Australia; Adelaide; Hybrid; AUD 130,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work arrangements

Additional annual leave

Public holiday flex

Professional development

Job summary

AECOM is seeking a Ventilation Engineer with nuclear experience to join our Adelaide Building Engineering team. You will design and engineer specialist ventilation and containment systems for complex, safety-significant projects in a highly regulated environment.

You will lead technical work across concept to detailed design, mentor engineers, and collaborate with architecture, structural, electrical and operations teams to ensure compliant, integrated plant solutions.

Qualifications

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent with experience delivering ventilation/HVAC on regulated projects.
• Experience in nuclear/defence/pharma or other highly regulated environments and understanding safety culture.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and engineering of nuclear ventilation systems (HVAC, air handling, filtration, ductwork).
• Coordinate with multidisciplinary teams to integrate ventilation into facility design.
• Perform studies, airflow modelling, contamination control assessments, risk analyses.
• Support safety cases, engineering justifications and verification activities.

Skills

HVAC design

Ventilation systems

Containment systems

Regulatory compliance

ALARP principles

V&V experience

Education

Mechanical Engineering

Job description

Mechanical Engineer (Nuclear Ventilation)

Company Description

Come and grow with us.

Our global portfolio of work comprises the design of iconic and award-winning buildings and landscapes. From strategic planning through to project realisation, the connections we make among people and place provide sustainable outcomes for our clients and the communities we serve. We place a premium on investing in digital capabilities and innovations which bring a unique consistency and efficiency to our scalable work. Together with our clients, we are working to evolve and elevate the built environment across sectors including social infrastructure, transit, technology and logistics, and commercial and corporate real estate, while focusing on solutions that promote long term health and wellbeing for all.

Everyone belongs at AECOM

We’re committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging – because great ideas come from diverse perspectives. AECOM is proud to be a Fortune 500 Most Admired Company, a WGEA Employer of Choice for Gender Equality, a #Work180 Equitable Workplace Awards 2025 Winner and an AWEI Bronze Tier LGBTQ+ Inclusive Employer.

Job Description

We’re looking for a Ventilation Engineer with Nuclear experience to join our Adelaide Building Engineering team. You will be working on complex and safety-significant projects in a highly regulated environment. You’ll be responsible for the design and engineering of specialist ventilation and containment systems, working closely with multidisciplinary teams and providing technical leadership across the project lifecycle.

How you'll make a difference

• Lead the design and engineering of nuclear and safety-significant ventilation systems, including HVAC, air handling units, filtration, ductwork and associated mechanical plant.
• Develop and review technical specifications, calculations, equipment schedules and design documentation through concept, preliminary and detailed design phases.
• Work closely with multidisciplinary teams across building, architectural, structural, electrical, controls, process and operations to integrate ventilation systems into the wider facility design.
• Undertake engineering studies, airflow modelling, contamination control assessments, hazard and risk assessments to support design development and technical decision-making.
• Support safety cases, engineering justifications, requirements management and verification and validation activities for safety-significant ventilation and containment systems.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to engineers and designers, while managing scope, programme, resources and technical deliverables.
• Support commissioning, testing, balancing, containment verification and performance acceptance activities, as well as engagement with clients, stakeholders, suppliers and regulators.

Qualifications

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent qualifications and experience, with proven experience delivering ventilation, HVAC or mechanical systems on major infrastructure, industrial, defence, energy, transport or other highly regulated projects.
• Experience within nuclear, defence, pharmaceutical, life sciences, laboratory, semiconductor or other highly regulated environments, with an understanding of safety culture and working within stringent regulatory requirements.
• Strong understanding of HVAC and ventilation engineering, including airflow management, pressure regimes, containment, confinement and contamination control.
• Experience with specialist ventilation systems such as HEPA filtration, radiological or hazardous environments, fume/process exhaust, cleanrooms, laboratories, controlled environments, smoke management or emergency ventilation.
• Knowledge of safety-significant and safety-classified systems, hazard analysis, risk assessment, ALARP principles, and reliability, availability, maintainability and inspection requirements.
• Experience with ventilation controls and BMS integration, requirements and configuration management, systems engineering, V&V, equipment procurement, vendor management and factory acceptance testing would be advantageous.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to provide technical leadership, work autonomously when required and collaborate effectively across multidisciplinary teams.
• Chartered Engineer / CPEng status, or a commitment to achieving professional registration, is desirable. A willingness to learn and work in a dynamic, deadline-driven environment is essential.
• The ability to meet AUKUS Clearance requirements is essential.

Benefits

• Flexible work arrangements, including alternative start/finish times, full-time, part-time, job-sharing and hybrid work options.
• Purchase up to 6 weeks additional annual leave per year.
• Flex public holidays – swap Easter or other holidays for ones that suit you better.
• Continuous learning and growth – lunch and learns, professional development courses, financial study assistance, 5 days paid study leave, global career opportunities.

EEO / Diversity & Inclusion

We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including those with disabilities, additional health or mental health needs, and/or neurodiverse conditions. If you require any adjustments during the hiring process, please let us know.

Work Location and Hours

Hybrid – work from an AECOM office, remote location or at a client site. Working hours are standard and flexible as per the project needs.

Other Information

Applications are reviewed as they come in, and the role may close earlier than expected, so if this opportunity sounds like you, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible. You will be required to attend an in-person Day 1 onboarding at an AECOM office location as a condition of employment.

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands on which we, our clients and our communities live and work around Australia. We pay our respects to their cultures and to their Elders – past, present, and emerging. We are committed to connecting to Country through meaningful engagement with First Nations peoples and businesses.

AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm and its Professional Services business had revenue of $16.1 billion in fiscal year 2025.