Principal engineer - Water

Michael Page; St Leonards; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Michael Page partners with a growing utility engineering consultancy to recruit a Lead/Principal Engineer to own Sydney Water Major Projects and Development capability. You will lead a high-performing team, deepen relationships with developers, councils, and contractors, and drive new business opportunities while providing technical leadership.

This senior role offers significant influence over strategy, growth, and profitability within the water division.

Qualifications

• Senior leadership experience in Sydney Water sector and related development projects.
• Ready to take a broader commercial and leadership role.
• Experience building client relationships and winning work.

Responsibilities

• Leading and growing a well-established Sydney Water and WSC capable engineering team
• Developing and strengthening relationships with developers, councils, contractors and key industry stakeholders
• Identifying, securing and delivering new business opportunities
• Providing technical leadership across major development and infrastructure projects
• Mentoring and developing a capable team of engineers and designers
• Contributing to strategic business decisions and future growth initiatives
• Representing the business within the broader Sydney Water market

Skills

Leadership

Client management

Business development

Stakeholder relations

Technical leadership

Water infrastructure

Civil engineering

Education

Bachelor in Civil Eng

Job description

• Exciting opportunity to lead and grow a business unit

• Growing engineering utility consultancy
• Exciting opportunity to lead and grow a business unit

About Our Client

Are you recognised across the Sydney Water market not only for your technical expertise, but also for your ability to build trusted client relationships, win work and lead high-performing teams?

An established and growing utility engineering consultancy is seeking an experienced Lead or Principal Engineer to take ownership of its Sydney Water Major Projects and Development capability. This is a rare opportunity to step into a senior leadership position with genuine influence over business strategy, client growth and team development.Working alongside an established team that already focuses on Water infrastructure projects, you'll be instrumental in driving the next phase of growth across subdivision, unit development and broader water infrastructure projects throughout Sydney.

Job Description

This role is about far more than delivering technical outcomes.You will be responsible for:

• Leading and growing a well-established Sydney Water and WSC capable engineering team
• Developing and strengthening relationships with developers, councils, contractors and key industry stakeholders
• Identifying, securing and delivering new business opportunities
• Providing technical leadership across major development and infrastructure projects
• Mentoring and developing a capable team of engineers and designers
• Contributing to strategic business decisions and future growth initiatives
• Representing the business within the broader Sydney Water market

The Successful Applicant

We are interested in speaking with professionals who have built a strong reputation within the Sydney Water sector and are ready to take on a broader commercial and leadership role.

You may currently be working as a:

• Principal Engineer
• Lead Engineer
• Senior Design Manager

You’ll ideally bring:

• Extensive experience delivering Sydney Water and/or development-related projects
• Strong relationships across developers, councils, contractors and industry stakeholders
• Demonstrated ability to identify and win new work
• Commercial acumen and client management expertise
• Proven leadership and team development capability
• A passion for growing people, projects and business performance

What's On Offer

What Makes This Role Different?

• Significant influence over the future direction of the business
• Strong autonomy and authority to shape the Water division
• Existing project pipeline and market presence to build upon
• Opportunity to leverage your industry profile and relationships
• Genuine pathway to help drive long-term growth and profitability
• Profit-share structure that rewards business success

What's On Offer?

• Highly competitive base salary
• Profit Share Bonus
• Flexible, senior leadership role
• Strong level of autonomy and decision-making authority
• Opportunity to shape and grow a key business division
• Established brand and market presence
• Career-defining leadership opportunity within the water industry

If you're a respected industry professional in civil engineering with a strong reputation in the water infrastructure sector, looking for the opportunity to lead a business unit, grow a team and leverage your network to create lasting impact, we'd love to have a confidential conversation.

Quote job ref: JN-092026-7108875