Laboratory Engineer – School of Civil & Environmental Engineering

UNSW; Sydney; On-site; AUD 101,000 - 136,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Job summary

UNSW Sydney invites applications for a Laboratory Engineer to support laboratory operations, R&D, consulting, and project delivery within CIES. You will coordinate lab and field-testing across civil and infrastructure disciplines and work with academics, industry partners and government agencies to deliver high-quality research, development and consultancy projects.

The role reports to the Director of CIES and involves collaboration with technical staff, industry and government stakeholders in a

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualification in Civil/Construction Engineering or related field.
• Understanding of Australian research funding pathways and industry engagement.
• Postgraduate qualifications or project management training desirable.
• Valid Australian Driver Licence desirable.
• Experience with laboratory testing, field work and data synthesis for civil/infrastructure engineering.
• Experience managing projects, budgets and competing priorities.
• Experience preparing proposals, tenders, technical reports, and funding submissions.
• Familiarity with construction materials, structural and geotechnical topics and BIM/digital twins.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and deliver laboratory and field-testing programs and engineering support.
• Plan, manage and deliver laboratory testing programs and engineering design work.
• Support research, consultancy and industry engagement activities.
• Engage with academics, industry partners and government stakeholders.

Skills

Laboratory testing

Project management

Communication skills

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Advanced IT literacy

Drivers licence

Data synthesis

Budget management

Proposal writing

Education

Civil/Construction Eng degree

Postgraduate qualifications desirable

Job description

The Opportunity:

The Laboratory Engineer will support the laboratory operations, research and development (R&D), consulting, and technical project delivery activities of the Centre for Infrastructure Engineering and Safety (CIES) within the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering at UNSW Sydney. The successful candidate will work closely with academics, researchers, technical staff, industry partners, and government agencies to:

• Coordinate and deliver laboratory and field-testing programs, technical project execution, and engineering support across a broad range of civil and infrastructure engineering disciplines, including construction materials, structural engineering, geotechnical engineering, and construction management.
• Contribute to high-quality research, consultancy, and industry engagement by planning, managing, and delivering laboratory testing programs; undertaking technical analysis and engineering design; and supporting the successful delivery of research, development, and consulting projects.

This role reports to the Director of CIES, Professor Hamid Valipour, and has no direct reports.

• Salary, Level 7 - $118,483 per annum + 17% superannuation
• Full Time: 35 hours
• Fixed Term: 12 months
• Location: Kensington - Sydney, Australia

About UNSW:

UNSW isn't like other places you've worked. Yes, we're a large organisation with a diverse and talented community; a community doing extraordinary things. But what makes us different isn't only what we do, it's how we do it. Together, we are driven to be thoughtful, practical, and purposeful in all we do. If you want a career where you can thrive, be challenged and do meaningful work, you're in the right place. The Faculty of Engineering at UNSW continues to be a national and international leader in engineering research and education, cementing its status as the University's premier research faculty. As the largest Engineering Faculty in Australia, it graduates the highest number of engineers and maintains the largest research expenditure in the country. Through excellence in both fundamental and applied research, the Faculty strives to sustain and further its global impact, aiming to be ranked among the top engineering faculties worldwide. For more information, visit the Faculty website: https://www.unsw.edu.au/engineering/about-us

Skills & Experience:

• A tertiary qualification in Civil/Construction Engineering or related engineering disciplines
• Understanding of Australian research funding pathways, industry engagement, and consulting environments.
• Postgraduate qualifications or project management training are desirable.
• A valid Australian Driver Licence is desirable.
• Experience with laboratory testing, field work and data synthesis for a broad range of materials and structure types relevant to Civil/infrastructure engineering and CIES activities.
• Experience in managing projects, budgets, and competing priorities.
• Experience preparing proposals, tenders, technical reports, and funding submissions.
• Understanding of construction materials, structural, geotechnical, construction engineering, surveying, remote sensing, and digital twins and BIM.
• Familiarity with technical service delivery, and industry-funded projects, procurement, tendering, and commercial project delivery processes is advantageous.
• Strong communication, interpersonal, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to engage confidently with academics, technical staff, industry leaders, consultants, and government stakeholders.
• Excellent organisational, project coordination, and time management skills.
• Commercial awareness and problem-solving capability.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams.
• High level of professionalism, initiative, adaptability, and attention to detail.
• Advanced computer literacy, including proficiency in Microsoft Office, with a strong willingness and ability to learn new software platforms, digital tools, and laboratory instrumentation systems.
• Commitment to continuous improvement, organisational culture, and professional development.

Pre-Employment Checks:

As part of our recruitment process candidates may be required to undergo pre-employment screening, which may include reference checks, qualification verification, right-to-work verification, and criminal history screening where relevant to the role. Compliance with the necessary combination of these checks is a condition of employment at UNSW. Additional details about the specific responsibilities for these positions can be found in the position description. This is available via JOBS@UNSW.

Contact:

Allyssar Hamoud – Talent Acquisition Associate
E: [e-mail]

Applications close:

11:55 pm (Sydney time) on Sunday 11th October 2026

UNSW is committed to evolving a culture that embraces equity and supports a diverse and inclusive community where everyone can participate fairly, in a safe and respectful environment. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds and encourage applications from people of diverse gender, sexual orientation, cultural and linguistic backgrounds, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background, people with disability and those with caring and family responsibilities. UNSW provides workplace adjustments for people with disability, and access to flexible work options for eligible staff. The University reserves the right not to proceed with any appointment.