Senior Project Engineer - Mechanical

Snowy Hydro; Cooma; On-site; AUD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equal employment opportunity

Relocation support

Parental leave benefits

Employee discounts

Service Award Program

Employee referral program

Job summary

Snowy Hydro is seeking a Senior Project Engineer - Mechanical to join the Project Engineering Group in Cooma. The role is to govern complex mechanical engineering works, manage major refurbishment projects, ensure compliance with design standards and regulatory requirements, and mentor junior engineers.

You will own major work packages, lead Safety in Design, integrate scopes into the project master plan, and support risk management while maintaining a strong safety culture.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering (or equivalent) eligible for Engineers Australia membership; CPEng status or NER registration is highly preferred.
• 8–15 years of mechanical engineering experience leading complex, large-scale plant refurbishment projects in power generation, heavy industrial, or utility sectors.
• Strong knowledge of rotating plant (pumps, turbines, generators), auxiliary systems (piping, valves, filters), lifting gear, and hydromechanical infrastructure.

Responsibilities

• Author mechanical Scope of Service and Scope of Work to drive procurement across maintenance and refurbishment activities on existing assets.
• Act as technical owner of major mechanical design packages, leading design reviews and technical audits to ensure safety, reliability, and maintainability.

Skills

Analytical skills

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Engineers Australia membership (CPEng preferred)

Job description

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Snowy Hydro is a dynamic, integrated energy business that has been providing on-demand, reliable energy to Australia for generations. Snowy Hydro owns and operates a powerful combination of generation assets, including the mighty Snowy Mountains Scheme, gas and diesel plants, and contracted wind and solar energy. We also provide electricity and gas to about 1.5 million retail customers through our retail brands Red Energy and Lumo Energy.

A full-time position exists for a Senior Project Engineer - Mechanical to join the Project Engineering Group. This role is based in Cooma, working a standard Monday to Friday roster with hybrid working arrangements that include a minimum of 3 days in an office or on-site.

We are pleased to offer relocation support to those looking to make the move to Cooma, NSW. This role does not offer a DIDO or FIFO accommodation arrangement.

About the position:

Serving as a senior technical resource and the first escalation point within the Project Team, the Senior Project Engineer - Mechanical is responsible for the technical governance and delivery of complex mechanical engineering works supporting the delivery of major refurbishment projects across Snowy Hydro’s existing assets. The role ensures that projects comply with technical specifications, design standards, performance criteria, and regulatory requirements. You will own major mechanical work packages, lead Safety in Design and design management for high-risk packages, and resolve complex technical conflicts before escalation. Additionally, you will integrate complex mechanical scopes into the project master plan while mentoring less experienced mechanical engineers, ensuring safety and risk management remain embedded as primary accountabilities.

Key Responsibilities:

• Author mechanical Scope of Service and Scope of Work to drive procurement across maintenance and refurbishment activities on existing assets.
• Act as technical owner of major mechanical design packages (turbines, pumps, valves, piping, hydraulic and pneumatic controls, rotating equipment), leading design reviews and technical audits to ensure consultants prioritise safety, reliability, and maintainability.
• Provide strategic oversight of the technical risk register for mechanical packages, focusing on mechanical risks.
• Oversee and participate in Factory and Site Acceptance Tests (FAT/SAT) for mechanical elements; provide field engineering and commissioning guidance.
• Lead mechanical discipline training and knowledge sharing through the SHL Knowledge Community; represent SHL in external technical forums; serve as primary technical mentor to Graduate and Project Engineers.

About the location:

Cooma is a vibrant regional hub located just 80 minutes from Canberra in the heart of the Snowy Monaro region of New South Wales. As the gateway to the Snowy Mountains, Cooma offers an exceptional lifestyle with access to national parks, snowfields, and year-round outdoor recreation. Known for its scenic beauty, rich multicultural heritage, and welcoming community, Cooma provides a unique opportunity to balance career growth with the benefits of regional living.

About you:

• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering (or equivalent with relevant experience) eligible for Engineers Australia membership; CPEng status or NER registration is highly preferred.
• 8–15 years of mechanical engineering experience leading complex, large-scale plant replacement or refurbishment projects, ideally within power generation, heavy industrial, or utility sectors.
• Strong knowledge of rotating plant (pumps, turbines, generators), auxiliary systems (piping, valves, filters), lifting gear, and hydromechanical infrastructure (spillway/tunnel gates, penstocks).
• Sound knowledge of Quality, WHS, and Environmental policies, procedures, and standards; familiarity with WHS Act 2011 (NSW), Construction Design Management (CDM) principles.
• Strong analytical skills with a proven ability to solve complex technical problems and communicate effectively across multidisciplinary teams, site teams, contractors, and stakeholders.

About our workforce:

Diversity and inclusion is important to us. Snowy Hydro has a culture of decency and inclusion, with a commitment to the health and wellbeing of our people and a supportive environment to ensure that everyone - regardless of background - feels included and can succeed. At Snowy Hydro, we recognise that we are made stronger by the unique capabilities and qualities that each individual brings, and we believe in providing an environment that allows that uniqueness to thrive.

Snowy Hydro is proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer. We are committed to the values of Equal Employment Opportunity and provide accessibility accommodations to applicants with physical and/or mental disabilities. If you are interested in applying for a role with Snowy Hydro and are in need of accommodation or special assistance to navigate our website or to complete your application, please send an email with your request to the Snowy Hydro recruitment team at [e-mail]

• A range of parental leave options, including 30 weeks paid leave for primary carers and 10 weeks for non-primary.
• We provide additional leave over and above the minimum National Employment Standards.
• Family discounts on fitness, gyms, pools and leisure centres (location dependant).
• A Service Award Program - employees reaching continuous employment anniversaries receive additional benefits.
• An employee referral plan - good employees attract similar colleagues