Principal Civil Engineer, Water / Wastewater Infrastructure

Jacobs; Adelaide; On-site; AUD 160,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working policy

Professional development opportunities

Flexible benefits

Job summary

Jacobs in Adelaide, South Australia, is seeking a Principal Civil Engineer/Technical Lead to head complex water infrastructure projects, delivering high‑calibre design and technical leadership across multi‑discipline teams. You will guide major water/wastewater schemes, ensuring buildable, compliant outcomes and strong project delivery.

This role offers hybrid work, collaboration with major water authorities across ANZ, and opportunities for business development and mentoring of junior engineers

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering or equivalent.
• Chartered Engineer (CPEng) or equivalent (Ceng or PE).
• Around 15+ years experience in water or wastewater civil engineering.
• Strong background in water industry consultancy, Civil Design, construction or delivery.
• Proven track record of technical leadership for successful delivery of water infrastructure projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex water/wastewater infrastructure projects including large diameter pipelines, treatment plants or pump stations.
• Provide expert consultancy and detailed design engineering services for clients.
• Collaborate with design teams, commercial and project management to win new work.

Skills

Technical leadership

Coordination across locations

Mentoring professionals

Safety in design

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering or equivalent

Chartered Engineer (CPEng) or equivalent (CEng or PE)

Around 15+ years experience in water or wastewater civil engineering

Job description

Location Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Capabilities Civil and Structural

Office Setup Hybrid

Job ID #44500

Industry Water

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting‑edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.

Your impact

Shape the Future of Water Engineering with Jacobs. Embark on a Journey of Innovation and Excellence

Our Water Infrastructure team are passionate about transforming South Australia's water future through innovative engineering solutions that serve communities, protect resources, and enhance liveability.

Due to a secure pipeline of work, we’re looking for a Principal Civil Engineer/ Technical Lead in Adelaide to lead complex projects that will shape Australia's water or wastewater landscape for decades to come. This role offers the opportunity to make a significant impact through planning, design, project delivery leadership, and business development while working closely with major water authorities across South Australia, Australia and New Zealand.

As a Principal Civil Engineer, you'll provide expert consultancy and detailed design engineering services for our clients while providing technical leadership for successful project delivery and contributing to winning new work. You'll collaborate with design teams and other technical leaders, commercial, project management to create opportunities for Jacobs across our extensive engineering services panel work.

By joining our team you’ll not only get to work on some of ANZ’s most interesting projects, you’ll also enjoy a comprehensive compensation and benefits package, workplace flexibility that respects your life beyond work and a culture that invests in your continued professional development.

What You’ll Do:

You will bring extensive experience designing major water/ wastewater infrastructure projects including large diameter or reticulation pipelines, treatment plants or pump stations. We are seeking personnel with pure design or Design and Construct project experience. You balance technical innovation with practical implementation, ensuring designs are both excellent and buildable whilst maintaining commercial awareness throughout project delivery.

What We Require:

• Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering or equivalent
• Chartered Engineer (CPEng) or equivalent (Ceng or PE)
• Around 15+ years experience in water or wastewater civil engineering.
• Strong background in water industry consultancy, Civil Design, construction or delivery
• Proven track record of technical leadership for successful delivery of water infrastructure projects.
• Comprehensive knowledge of safety in design and Australian water industry standards.
• Proven ability to coordinate multiple engineering or adjacent disciplines across geographic locations
• Ability to mentor early or mid career professionals

Flexibility

We value collaboration and believe that in-person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work.

We're open to considering candidates who need to work around school drop-offs/pick-ups or those interested in part‑time arrangements – we understand the importance of balancing work commitments with family responsibilities.

With safety and flexibility always top of mind, we’ve gone beyond traditional ways of working so you have the support, means and space to maximize your potential. You’ll uncover flexible working arrangements, benefits and opportunities, from well‑being benefits to our global giving and volunteering program, to exploring new and inventive ways to help our clients make the world a better place. No matter what drives you, you’ll discover how you can cultivate, nurture and achieve your goals – all at a single global company. Find out more about life at Jacobs here.

We aim to embed inclusion and belonging in everything we do. We know that if we are inclusive, we’re more connected and creative. We accept people for who they are, and we champion the richness of diverse perspectives, lived experiences and backgrounds in the workplace, as a source of learning and innovation. We are committed to building vibrant communities within Jacobs, including through our Jacobs Employee Networks, Communities of Practice and our Find Your Community initiatives, allowing every employee to find connection, purpose, and belonging. Find out more about our Jacobs Employee Networks here.

Our meticulously curated employee benefits support ALL employees throughout every stage of life. From paid parental leave to a lifetime financial allowance for you and your partner to access family forming Fertility & IVF treatment, adoption and surrogacy assistance along with menopause and Low T treatment.

We are steadfast in our commitment to the wellbeing of you and your loved ones with a comprehensive suite of wellbeing resources supporting you physically, emotionally and financially. This is demonstrated in our company being recognised by WGEA for 12 consecutive years as an employer of choice for gender equality along with our industry leading GOLD employer status by the Australian Workplace Equality Index.

Cultural Support:

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are strongly encouraged to apply. Jacobs aims to provide cultural safety at our interviews. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are invited to nominate a cultural representative to participate on the interview panel; please let your recruiter know in your application. No matter what drives you, you'll discover a way to cultivate, nurture and achieve your goals – all at a single global company.

We value collaboration and believe that in-person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work.

Your application experience is important to us, and we’re keen to adapt to make every interaction even better. If you require further support or reasonable adjustments with regards to the recruitment process (for example, you require the application form in a different format), please contact the team via Careers Support.