Manager Technical Services (Principal Design Engineer)

Leading Roles; Ayr; On-site; AUD 230,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Burdekin Shire Council in Ayr, QLD, seeks an experienced Manager Technical Services (Principal Design Engineer) to lead civil design, asset management and facilities. The role provides credible technical review and direction through to construction‑ready documentation, with a strong emphasis on roads and drainage.

The position reports to the Director Infrastructure, Planning and Environmental Services and participates in the Senior Leadership Group, guiding the Design Office and driving capital

Qualifications

• Senior civil engineering leadership experience.
• Experience leading civil design, asset management and facilities functions.
• Ability to provide credible technical review and guidance through to construction-ready documentation.
• Experience operating at senior organisational levels and contributing to strategy.

Responsibilities

• Provide senior technical review and direction across civil design with emphasis on roads and drainage.
• Lead and develop technical employees, establishing accountability for delivery.
• Contribute to infrastructure strategy, capital planning, budgets and investment priorities.
• Lead civil design, asset management and facilities with autonomy and ownership.
• Provide senior engineering advice and present technical matters to Council and elected members.

Job description

Manager Technical Services (Principal Design Engineer) – Burdekin Shire Council – Ayr QLD

• Shape infrastructure planning, civil design and delivery across the Burdekin
• Lead established civil design, asset management and facilities functions
• TRP approximately $240k inclusive of cash, superannuation and vehicle option

Burdekin Shire Council is seeking an experienced civil engineering leader to join the organisation as Manager Technical Services (Principal Design Engineer). Reporting to the Director Infrastructure, Planning and Environmental Services, this management role leads Council’s civil design, asset management and facilities functions and contributes to broader organisational priorities through the Senior Leadership Group.

The position combines senior technical engineering leadership with responsibility for established multidisciplinary functions. The Design Office is a priority within the portfolio, with a team delivering predominantly roads and drainage designs and requiring an experienced Manager who can provide credible technical review, guidance and direction through to construction ready documentation.

Key responsibilities include:

• Providing senior technical review and direction across Council’s civil design program, with a strong emphasis on roads and drainage.
• Leading and developing technical employees while establishing clear accountability for delivery.
• Contributing to infrastructure strategy, capital planning, budgets and future investment priorities.
• Leading civil design, asset management and facilities with a high level of autonomy and ownership.
• Providing senior engineering advice and regularly presenting technical matters to Council and elected members.

Council is seeking an established engineering manager with demonstrated experience leading technical functions and the capability to operate confidently at a senior organisational level. Strong roads and drainage design experience, sound technical judgement, confidence to sign off designs and the ability to provide practical guidance to engineers and designers are essential.

An extended handover with the retiring incumbent provides access to established organisational and technical knowledge.

Applications close strictly at 12:00 pm AEST Monday 9 November 2026.