Principal Engineer

Environment Protection Authority Victoria; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 167,000 - 191,000; Full time

Job summary

Environment Protection Authority Victoria – Macleod VIC seeks a Principal Engineer to act as senior engineering authority, providing governance and assurance across complex systems. You will lead a team, shape standards, and deliver defensible regulatory advice.

The role focuses on risk, process safety and resilience in environmental and infrastructure contexts. You will lead high-impact projects, develop partnerships, and communicate technical concepts to varied audiences, supporting EPA's

Qualifications

• Bachelor degree in engineering accredited by Engineers Australia or an equivalent recognised body.
• Advanced engineering judgement applied to complex infrastructure, environmental, regulatory or high-risk matters.
• Proven ability to analyse evidence and provide authoritative strategic advice.
• Desirable: Registered Professional Engineer Victoria or eligibility.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop EPA's engineering team, including performance, capability and culture.
• Establish and maintain engineering governance, QA, peer review and escalation pathways.
• Lead systems-level assessment of complex projects with multifactor risks.
• Provide authoritative leadership in risk assessment, barrier effectiveness and resilience.
• Lead regulatory science advice, technical reports and multidisciplinary insights.
• Build strategic partnerships and represent EPA with diverse stakeholders.

Skills

Senior leadership

Engineering governance

Regulatory risk

Technical leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Written communication

Analytical thinking

Education

Bachelor degree in engineering

Job description

Environment Protection Authority Victoria – Macleod VIC

Whoever you are, whatever skills you bring, you have a critical role in protecting Victoria's lands and waters. Whether in the office or on the ground, you get to see the difference you make each day.

Ongoing, full-time role

Salary: Science D.2 - $166,939 to $191,084 + 12% superannuation

Location: Centre for Applied Sciences, Ernest Jones Drive, Macleod VIC 3085

About the Organisation

EPA is currently transitioning to a new operating model, creating a range of opportunities across the organisation. We're looking for talented people to join us and contribute to EPA's important work protecting Victoria's environment and community.

EPA works to prevent and reduce the harmful effect of pollution and waste on Victoria's environment and people. We work with community, industry and businesses. As the needs of Victorians change, we must be equipped to adapt and respond to a range of factors.

We are a workplace committed to new ways of working. EPA celebrates diversity of people and lifestyles, and offers practical options to support both work and personal life.

The EPA Experience

• See the impact in the communities we live in: at EPA you see your work first‑hand
• Range of internal working groups, networks and volunteering opportunities
• On‑the‑job training for a wide range of environmental roles
• Flexible start and finish times, as well as compressed work week options

About the role:

As Principal Engineer, you will be EPA Victoria's senior engineering authority, providing strategic leadership, technical governance and engineering assurance across complex environmental, industrial and infrastructure systems. You will provide authoritative advice on engineering risk, process safety, resilience and engineering controls, while leading a team of engineering professionals and strengthening regulatory decision-making across EPA.

This is an opportunity to shape engineering standards and capability across the organisation, influence responses to emerging technologies and high‑consequence risks, and ensure engineering evidence is translated into clear, practical and defensible regulatory advice.

• Lead and develop EPA's engineering team, including performance, capability, resource allocation, business planning and a positive, accountable team culture.
• Establish and maintain engineering governance, quality assurance, peer review and escalation pathways for complex engineering matters.
• Lead systems‑level assessment of complex industrial, infrastructure and emerging technology projects where environmental, safety, operational and community risks interact.
• Provide authoritative technical leadership in engineering risk assessment, critical control management, barrier effectiveness, resilience engineering, root cause analysis and prevention‑by‑design.
• Lead high‑quality regulatory science advice, technical reports, publications and multidisciplinary insights, including support during environmental incidents.
• Build strategic partnerships and represent EPA with community, government, industry, academia, research organisations and professional forums.

Skills and experience

• Demonstrated senior leadership experience, including setting direction, clarifying priorities, managing performance and building organisational engineering capability.
• Advanced engineering judgement applied to complex infrastructure, industrial, environmental, regulatory or high‑consequence risk matters.
• Proven ability to analyse evidence, uncertainty and competing considerations and provide authoritative strategic advice on complex regulatory, governance and risk matters.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain scientific uncertainty, risk, evidence and regulatory implications to varied audiences.
• Demonstrated success leading engineering or applied research programs, developing partnerships and producing scientific or technical reports, publications or presentations.
• Bachelor degree or higher qualification in engineering accredited by Engineers Australia or an equivalent recognised engineering body.
• Desirable: Registered Professional Engineer Victoria, or eligibility and commitment to obtain registration. Experience in high‑risk industrial facilities, waste and resource recovery, water and wastewater, data centres, energy infrastructure, landfills, contaminated land, circular economy technologies or major infrastructure projects will be highly regarded.

Need to know more?

All prospective employees will undergo a National Criminal Record Check prior to an offer of employment. You must be an Australian Citizen or Permanent Resident or hold a valid work permit or visa. Preferred candidates will be subject to pre‑employment checks including police checks, reference checks and role‑related security clearances.

This position has a financial delegation. The successful applicant is required to complete a Declaration of Private Interests upon appointment. Identified positions may require additional security clearance, and certain field‑based duties may require specified vaccinations.

EPA Victoria recognises the value of the diversity, strength and knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as we work with Traditional Owners to care for our environment. We provide a culturally safe and embracing work environment.

We are an equal opportunity employer committed to merit, equity, diversity and inclusion. We actively welcome people of different abilities, orientations, backgrounds, faiths and genders.

For enquiries relating to this role, please contact *******@epa.vic.gov.au.