Principal Geotechnical Engineer

WSP; Townsville City; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Job summary

WSP Australia invites applications for a Senior Associate or Principal-level Geotechnical Engineer to join our Townsville team. This senior role blends technical leadership, client engagement, project delivery, business development and mentoring across major infrastructure and resources projects.

Based in Townsville with hybrid working options and relocation assistance. You’ll lead geotechnical delivery and grow a collaborative, high-performing team while shaping safe, high-quality project

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in geotechnical engineering, engineering geology or related discipline with relevant tertiary qualifications and accreditations.
• Strong technical capability across ground investigations, geotechnical analysis, design and risk management.
• Proven project leadership including scope, budgets, programmes, resources and deliverables.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder engagement and client relationship management.
• Experience across transport, tunnelling, water and urban development will be highly regarded.

Responsibilities

• Lead geotechnical and engineering geology delivery across major infrastructure and development projects.
• Oversee project planning, investigations, analysis, design, risk management and technical governance.
• Build trusted client relationships and provide high-value technical and commercial advice.
• Mentor and develop engineers while fostering a strong, collaborative team culture.
• Drive project performance across safety, quality, commercial outcomes and client satisfaction.
• Contribute to business growth through client engagement, strategic initiatives and winning work.
• Champion safe, high-quality delivery across all geotechnical activities.

Skills

Geotechnical engineering

Engineering geology

CPEng/RPEQ

Project leadership

Client engagement

Mentoring team

Education

Tertiary qualifications in geotechnical engineering

CPEng, RPEQ accreditation

Job description

What if you could do the kind of work the world needs, and do it in tropical sunshine? What if relocation assistance was available to help you live your dream?

At WSP, you can enjoy the best of both worlds: a rewarding career with a leading Tier One consulting firm, and an exceptional North Queensland lifestyle. You’ll join a globally connected consultancy with deep local expertise, where technical excellence, collaboration and genuine career influence go hand in hand.

About the role

As our pipeline continues to grow, we’re looking for a Senior Associate or Principal-level Geotechnical Engineer to join our Townsville team. This is a senior role with genuine influence, combining technical leadership, client engagement, project delivery, business development and mentoring across major infrastructure, transport, development, renewables and resources projects.

Based in our Townsville office, you’ll also benefit from hybrid working, with flexibility to work from home when you’re not required on site, in the office or with a client. We’ll even contribute to your relocation costs!

What you’ll be doing

• Lead geotechnical and engineering geology delivery across major infrastructure and development projects.
• Oversee project planning, investigations, analysis, design, risk management and technical governance.
• Build trusted client relationships and provide high-value technical and commercial advice.
• Mentor and develop engineers while fostering a strong, collaborative team culture.
• Drive project performance across safety, quality, commercial outcomes and client satisfaction.
• Contribute to business growth through client engagement, strategic initiatives and winning work.
• Champion safe, high-quality delivery across all geotechnical activities.

About you

You’re an experienced geotechnical professional who combines strong technical expertise with commercial acumen and a collaborative leadership style. You thrive on solving complex ground engineering challenges, building trusted client relationships and mentoring others to succeed.

You’ll bring:

• Extensive experience in geotechnical engineering, engineering geology or a related discipline, supported by relevant tertiary qualifications and CPEng, RPEQ (or equivalent), or progress toward accreditation.
• Strong technical capability across ground investigations, geotechnical analysis, design and risk management, with experience delivering complex infrastructure, construction or multidisciplinary projects.
• Proven project leadership skills, including managing scope, budgets, programmes, resources and technical deliverables.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder engagement and client relationship management skills.
• Experience across sectors such as transport, tunnelling, water and urban development will be highly regarded.

Why Townsville?

Townsville offers the chance to grow your career while enjoying an enviable North Queensland lifestyle. With affordable living, short commutes, more than 300 days of sunshine each year, and easy access to Magnetic Island, the Great Barrier Reef and spectacular natural landscapes, it’s an ideal place to build a meaningful career without compromising work-life balance. Relocation assistance is available to successful applicants.

The team

WSP Australia’s Geotechnical & Tunnels division brings together more than 400 geotechnical, geological and tunnelling consultants nationwide, recognised for technical expertise, collaboration and commitment to best practice. In Queensland, you’ll join a skilled and welcoming geotechnical team of more than 70 professionals, supported by a national geophysics team based in Brisbane.

You’ll work across multidisciplinary and specialist geotechnical projects, from local site investigations through to landmark infrastructure, mining, property and building projects, with the support of a national and global technical network.