Senior Engineer / Project Manager, Rail & Metro

SMEC (an SJ Group company); Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

SMEC is seeking a Senior Engineer / Project Manager to lead end-to-end rail infrastructure projects from North Sydney or Parramatta. The role combines high-level project leadership with delivering complex, multi-disciplinary outcomes and strong client engagement.

You will guide teams across design and delivery disciplines, manage scope and risk, and contribute to business development while ensuring quality and timeliness of project deliverables.

Qualifications

• Degree qualifications in Civil/Structural Engineering or equivalent.
• Experience delivering Rail infrastructure projects in an engineering design consultancy.
• 8+ years’ experience managing Rail infrastructure projects.
• High level communication to advise project design development and represent the design team.
• Extensive experience managing multi-disciplinary complex projects of national significance.
• Proven ability to manage scope and risk of multiple projects and apply business systems.
• Strong client relationships and service delivery.
• Delivery of cost savings and preventing community issues.
• Engage stakeholders to achieve superior project outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Provide project management and governance of complex projects to achieve reliable project performance in terms of commercial outcomes, design solutions, timeliness and quality.
• Source, build and maintain strong and effective client relationships through successful project delivery and targeted activities.
• Provide leadership to employees on the project to ensure project team cohesion, optimal performance, resourcing, retention and professional development.
• Proactively collaborate with team members, contributors and stakeholders to maintain quality, timeliness and coordination of project deliverables.
• Actively contribute to the commercial success of projects and the team; playing an essential role in driving successful business development activities.
• Support business development initiatives, including the preparation, coordination and submission of bids, tenders and proposals, working collaboratively with internal teams to develop compelling submissions that align with client requirements and business objectives.

Skills

Rail project management

Client relationship mgmt

Stakeholder engagement

Leadership & team dev

Education

Civil/Structural Engineering degree

Job description

• Join a global, multi-discipline Engineering Consultancy, with on-going career opportunities and development
• Work on major Rail projects across Australia
• Flexible working arrangements – hybrid work model

About SMEC

SMEC provides unique opportunities to work on iconic industry projects with experienced colleagues and leadership teams. We support and empower employees to drive innovation initiatives within a well-established and growing organisation

With over 16,500 employees working out of 120 offices in 40+ countries throughout Australasia, Asia, the Middle East, UK, Africa, North and South America, we partner with our parent company Surbana Jurong and sister company Robert Bird Group (RBG) to deliver integrated Infrastructure, Urban Development and Management Services expertise to our clients worldwide.

The Role

SMEC is currently seeking a Senior Engineer / Project Manager with experience managing the end-to-end project lifecycle of complex rail projects. This role can be based in either our North Sydney or Parramatta office.

The role is primarily responsible for applying high-level innovative, economical and practical methods to drive the success of complex, high-priority projects across major infrastructure.

This position manages a variety of diverse activities and teams across multiple disciplines, providing expert knowledge when required, as well as effective leadership, management, and development opportunities to project team members.

Our Project Managers are responsible for building SMEC’s reputation as a leading consultant with a strong brand recognised for innovation, technical excellence, quality, and project delivery, as well as growing the business through targeted client relationship management.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide project management and governance of complex projects to achieve reliable project performance in terms of commercial outcomes, design solutions, timeliness and quality
• Source, build and maintain strong and effective client relationships through successful project delivery and targeted activities
• Provide leadership to employees on the project to ensure project team cohesion, optimal performance, resourcing, retention and professional development
• Proactively collaborate with team members, contributors and stakeholders to maintain quality, timeliness and coordination of project deliverables
• Actively contribute to the commercial success of projects and the team; playing an essential role in driving successful business development activities
• Support business development initiatives, including the preparation, coordination and submission of bids, tenders and proposals, working collaboratively with internal teams to develop compelling submissions that align with client requirements and business objectives.

About You

• Degree qualifications in Civil/Structural Engineering or equivalent
• Experience successfully delivering Rail infrastructure projects, within an engineering design consultancy
• Minimum 8+years’ experience managing Rail infrastructure projects
• High level communication skills to advise and guide project design development in a pro-active manner and to represent the SMEC design team as a valuable contributor to the project
• Extensive experience in the management, design and delivery of complex projects of national significance within multi-disciplinary engineering projects
• Successfully monitored and managed the scope and risk of multiple complex and varying size projects and apply business systems
• Built and maintained trusting and effective relationships with key clients and stakeholders, and deliver excellent client service
• Delivered best client outcomes in multiple instances which have resulted in client cost savings and prevented community issues
• Effectively engage key stakeholders to result in superior project outcomes which meet or exceed client expectations

SMEC is committed to building a diverse, inclusive and gender‑equitable workforce and encourages applications from people of all backgrounds across engineering and technical disciplines. We provide a supportive and flexible working environment that recognises individual contribution, supports career progression, and enables our people to balance work and life at all stages of their career.

As a family‑friendly employer, we offer flexible working arrangements and benefits including 18 weeks of universal paid parental leave. We are proud to foster an inclusive culture that supports gender equity, LGBTI+ inclusion and First Nations representation, with access to strong professional networks, role models, and mentoring and sponsorship programs.