Senior To Principal Drafter – Rail & Metro

SJ Group; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

SMEC is a global engineering consultancy seeking an accomplished Senior to Principal Drafter – Rail & Metro for our Melbourne team. You will lead drafting and digital engineering across major rail and metro projects, providing technical leadership and mentoring to a team of drafters.

Based in Melbourne, you will contribute to Victoria-wide and national projects, shaping capability and delivering high-quality design and construction documentation while upholding drafting standards and QA

Qualifications

• 8+ years' experience delivering drafting and digital engineering outcomes across Rail & Metro or major transport infrastructure projects.
• Demonstrated experience leading, mentoring and developing drafting teams within multidisciplinary project environments.
• Strong capability in coordinating resources, managing project deliverables and balancing competing priorities across multiple projects.
• Advanced proficiency with industry software including MicroStation, OpenRail, AutoCAD, Revit or similar platforms.
• Extensive experience preparing and reviewing detailed design and construction documentation.
• Strong understanding of drafting standards, quality assurance processes and digital delivery best practice.
• Proven ability to provide technical leadership and oversight across complex infrastructure projects.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement, communication and collaboration skills.
• A proactive, solutions‑focused mindset with a passion for mentoring others and building high‑performing teams.
• A commitment to continuous improvement, innovation and technical excellence.

Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of high‑quality drafting and digital engineering outcomes across Rail & Metro projects.
• Provide guidance, quality oversight and direction to a team of drafters across complex projects.
• Drive technical excellence and develop team capability within the Rail & Metro business.
• Collaborate with engineers, designers and project managers to deliver innovative rail infrastructure solutions.

Skills

Rail & Metro drafting

Team leadership

Resource coordination

Digital engineering

Documentation

Quality assurance

Client engagement

Mentoring

Innovation

Tools

MicroStation

OpenRail

AutoCAD

Revit

Job description

About the job

• Join a global consultancy delivering iconic infrastructure projects
• Work alongside industry-leading specialists in a collaborative, flexible environment
• Shape your career with genuine professional growth opportunities

About SMEC

SMEC is a global engineering consultancy renowned for delivering complex, sustainable infrastructure solutions across transport, water, energy, and urban development markets. Our teams are empowered to innovate, solve technical challenges, and contribute to projects that positively shape communities across Australia and worldwide.

We are committed to building a diverse, inclusive and gender‑equitable workforce and encourages applications from people of all backgrounds across engineering and technical disciplines. SMEC provides 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.

Infrastructure

At SMEC, we understand that our continued success within the infrastructure market is the result of building long‑term client relationships. We listen and understand the specific needs of our clients and deliver a complete value chain of services to provide sustainable solutions across major infrastructure projects worldwide.

The Role

SMEC is seeking an accomplished and people-focused Senior to Principal Drafter – Rail & Metro to join our Melbourne team. Working alongside industry-leading engineers, designers and project managers, you will provide technical leadership across major rail and metro infrastructure projects while helping shape the future capability of our drafting team.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a growing Rail & Metro business with a strong pipeline of work across Victoria, including our recent success in securing roles on the Sunshine Superhub Alliance and other major rail delivery programs. You will play a key role in delivering innovative rail infrastructure solutions while helping to develop the next generation of drafting talent.

Based in our Melbourne office, you will lead the delivery of high‑quality drafting and digital engineering outcomes, while providing guidance, quality oversight and direction to a team of drafters across a range of complex projects. As a senior leader within the Rail & Metro business, you will play a key role in driving technical excellence, fostering collaboration, developing team capability and ensuring the consistent delivery of innovative, client‑focused solutions across Victoria and nationally.

About You

You are an experienced rail or transport infrastructure drafter who combines strong technical capability with a genuine passion for leading and developing people. You have a proven track record of delivering complex infrastructure projects while mentoring team members, coordinating resources and driving high standards of technical quality and project performance.

You are recognised as a trusted leader who can provide guidance, foster collaboration and create an environment where others can succeed.

You will bring:

• 8+ years' experience delivering drafting and digital engineering outcomes across Rail & Metro or major transport infrastructure projects.
• Demonstrated experience leading, mentoring and developing drafting teams within multidisciplinary project environments.
• Strong capability in coordinating resources, managing project deliverables and balancing competing priorities across multiple projects.
• Advanced proficiency with industry software including MicroStation, OpenRail, AutoCAD, Revit or similar platforms.
• Extensive experience preparing and reviewing detailed design and construction documentation.
• Strong understanding of drafting standards, quality assurance processes and digital delivery best practice.
• Proven ability to provide technical leadership and oversight across complex infrastructure projects.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement, communication and collaboration skills.
• A proactive, solutions‑focused mindset with a passion for mentoring others and building high‑performing teams.
• A commitment to continuous improvement, innovation and technical excellence.

Don't meet every requirement? We still encourage you to apply. We recognise that talent comes from many different experiences and backgrounds, and we're committed to creating an inclusive culture for people from all walks of life.

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