Head of Project Engineering

RWE; City of Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible and hybrid working

Company pension scheme

Employee stock programme

Training and development opportunities

Job summary

RWE Renewables Australia Pty Ltd. invites applicants for the Head of Project Engineering Australia role to lead regional engineering across onshore wind, solar PV, BESS and hybrid projects.

You will oversee a multidisciplinary team, drive execution from development through COD, ensure design optimisation, LCOE reduction and alignment with global RWE standards, while embedding health, safety and environmental requirements.

Qualifications

• At least 10 years of project engineering experience in renewables.
• Chartered Engineer status and RPEQ registration highly regarded.
• Degree in engineering or related technical discipline.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Project Engineering function across Australia for onshore wind, solar PV, BESS and hybrid projects.
• Coach and mentor the regional engineering team and coordinate with Development, Grid, Procurement, and Construction.
• Ensure design optimisation, energy yield improvement and cost efficiency throughout the project lifecycle.
• Oversee scopes of work, technical specs and contract management for procurement.
• Embed health, safety and environmental requirements in design activities.

Skills

Project leadership

Engineering management

Cross-functional collaboration

Strategic planning

Education

Engineering degree

Job description

RWE Renewables Australia Pty Ltd.

To start as soon as possible, full time, permanent

Functional area: Engineering

About The Role

As RWE expands its renewable energy portfolio in Australia, RWE Renewables Europe & Australia is seeking a Head of Project Engineering Australia to lead regional engineering across onshore wind, solar PV, battery energy storage systems (BESS) and hybrid projects.

The role is accountable for engineering and technical delivery across the project lifecycle, from development and construction through to commercial operation date (COD). It ensures optimised plant design, competitive technical solutions and consistent application of approaches that reduce the levelised cost of energy (LCOE).

You will lead the regional Project Engineering team and partner with Development, Grid, Procurement and Construction to deliver projects to the required technical, schedule and cost outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the Project Engineering function in Australia and manage a multidisciplinary team spanning civil, electrical, layout, resource, design management and balance-of-plant (BoP) engineering.
• Coach, mentor and provide technical leadership to the engineering team.
• Deliver engineering support across the full project lifecycle, from early development through execution and commissioning.
• Optimise plant design, energy yield and cost efficiency across onshore wind, solar PV, BESS and hybrid projects.
• Oversee concept and execution engineering, ensuring compliance with project requirements, permits and applicable standards.
• Prepare scopes of work and technical specifications for large, complex procurement contracts.
• Manage internal and external engineering resources, direct engineering service providers and assure the quality of deliverables.
• Provide project engineering expertise to support permitting, grid connection, procurement and construction.
• Contribute to technical due diligence, supplier evaluation, tendering and contracting.
• Resolve technical issues during execution and ensure compliance with technical specifications.
• Collaborate with global engineering functions to align with RWE standards and continuously improve technical solutions.
• Embed health, safety and environmental requirements in all design activities, including coaching and guidance on Safety in Design.

Candidate Profile

• At least 10 years' project engineering experience in renewable energy, with recent onshore wind experience highly desirable.
• Experience supporting projects from late-stage development through final investment decision and into construction. Commissioning and hold-point testing experience is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated experience leading engineering teams or coordinating multidisciplinary technical workstreams.
• Strong understanding of project delivery across development, engineering and construction.
• Experience in plant design, energy yield assessment, BoP engineering and technical package delivery.
• Demonstrated ability to manage engineering consultants, suppliers and contractors, supported by sound contract management skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-growing, international project environment.
• Chartered Engineer status and Registered Professional Engineer of Queensland (RPEQ) registration are highly regarded.
• Degree in engineering or a related technical discipline.

Your Benefits

We aim to make your time with us as rewarding as possible by fostering a supportive and inclusive environment. Alongside competitive pay and opportunities for growth, we care about your well-being and the balance between work and life. Our benefits include:

• Flexible and hybrid working, enabling a balance between remote work and in-office collaboration.
• Company pension scheme to help secure your future.
• Employee stock programme giving you a stake in our success.
• Training and development opportunities to support your professional growth.

We value diversity and therefore welcome all applications - regardless of gender, disability, nationality, ethnic and social origin, religion/belief, age, sexual orientation, and identity. #inclusionmatters

RWE Renewables Europe & Australia is a leading player in the renewable energy sector with over 30 years of experience. We currently operate onshore wind farms, solar plants and battery storage systems with around 5 gigawatts of installed capacity in our core markets in Europe and Australia.

Supported by a workforce of around 2,000 employees, we continue to expand our renewable generation capacity in a value-accretive way. Our expertise spans the entire project lifecycle: we develop, plan, finance, build and operate our projects. With a strong project pipeline, we are working with communities to create a long-term value for everyone, today and for the future.