Senior Project Engineer - Data Centre Early Contractor Involvement (ECI)

Airswift; Perth; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Airswift is partnered with a leading Australian project owner to recruit a Senior Project Engineer – Preconstruction & Early Contractor Involvement for a major mission-critical infrastructure project in Western Australia. You will lead the ECI process, drive contractor engagement and ensure constructability alignment with design, procurement and delivery objectives.

You will coordinate multidisciplinary inputs, manage governance and evaluate pricing submissions and risk allocations, ensuring

Qualifications

• Degree-qualified in Engineering, Construction Management or related discipline.
• Proven experience as Senior Project Engineer, Preconstruction Manager, ECI Lead or similar on complex capital projects.
• Strong owner-side capability engaging contractors, consultants and stakeholders.
• Experience coordinating multidisciplinary packages through design and preconstruction phases.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) process across a complex multidisciplinary project scope.
• Manage ECI deliverables, governance, contractor engagement, programmes and performance.
• Drive contractor input into constructability, construction methodology, sequencing, logistics and execution planning.
• Coordinate design and constructability reviews between contractors, consultants and project stakeholders.
• Ensure contractor recommendations are assessed and incorporated into delivery strategies.
• Collaborate with commercial, procurement and contracts teams to evaluate pricing, risk allocations, and procurement approaches.
• Coordinate interfaces between key project packages, long-lead equipment suppliers and delivery stakeholders.
• Support transition from preconstruction to contract award and execution.

Skills

ECI process leadership

Stakeholder management

Construction planning

Multidisciplinary coordination

Tendering experience

Education

Engineering degree

Job description

About the Role

Airswift is partnering with a leading Australian project owner to recruit a Senior Project Engineer - Preconstruction & Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) for a major mission‑critical infrastructure project in Western Australia. This is a key owner‑side role responsible for leading the Early Contractor Involvement process through a competitive Design & Construct procurement strategy. You will drive contractor engagement, constructability reviews, modularisation opportunities, commercial alignment and delivery readiness, ensuring the project achieves the best possible outcomes before progressing into execution. Working closely with engineering, procurement, commercial and delivery teams, you will coordinate contractor inputs across multiple disciplines while maintaining alignment between design development, construction planning and commercial objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) process across a complex multidisciplinary project scope.
• Manage ECI deliverables, governance requirements, contractor engagement activities, programmes and performance.
• Drive contractor input into constructability, construction methodology, sequencing, logistics, modularisation and execution planning.
• Coordinate design and constructability reviews between contractors, consultants and project stakeholders.
• Ensure contractor recommendations are appropriately assessed and incorporated into project delivery strategies.
• Work closely with commercial, procurement and contracts teams to evaluate pricing submissions, risk allocations and procurement approaches.
• Coordinate interfaces between key project packages, long‑lead equipment suppliers and delivery stakeholders.
• Challenge contractor assumptions relating to programme, procurement, construction methodology, risk and commercial positions.
• Maintain alignment and consistency across competing contractor submissions during evaluation and contractor selection processes.
• Support the transition from preconstruction activities through to contract award and project execution.

About You

• Degree qualified in Engineering, Construction Management or a related discipline.
• Proven experience as a Senior Project Engineer, Preconstruction Manager, ECI Lead or similar role on complex capital projects.
• Strong owner‑side project engineering capability with the ability to engage and influence contractors, consultants and project stakeholders.
• Experience coordinating multidisciplinary engineering and construction packages through design and preconstruction phases.
• Demonstrated exposure to ECI, tendering, D&C, EPC, EPCM or GMP contracting environments.
• Strong understanding of constructability, project planning, procurement, risk management and delivery strategies.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management and problem‑solving skills.
• Commercially aware with the ability to balance technical, delivery and commercial priorities.
• Highly Regarded Experience delivering major industrial, infrastructure, mission‑critical or technically complex facilities.
• Previous involvement in projects transitioning from concept or reference design through preconstruction and contract award.
• Experience working with modularisation, prefabrication or advanced construction methodologies.
• Exposure to highly regulated or high‑availability operating environments.
• Background across sectors such as advanced manufacturing, healthcare, telecommunications, technology, resources or industrial infrastructure.