Senior Water and Sewer Engineer

Northrop Consulting Engineers; Sydney; On-site; AUD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Parental leave

Income protection insurance

Career development discussions

Wellbeing support

Social and team events

Job summary

Northrop Consulting Engineers is seeking an experienced Senior Water and Sewer Engineer to lead teams and deliver civil projects across built form, road infrastructure, and public domain works from our Sydney, Newcastle or Brisbane offices. You will own technical delivery from concept to construction while mentoring graduates and engaging with clients.

You will manage diverse projects, support costings and budgets, and collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to ensure design quality and

Qualifications

• 8+ years experience in water and sewer infrastructure design and project delivery.
• Tertiary qualification in Engineering.
• Proficient in industry software including 12d, WaterCAD, Mike +, SWMM.
• Strong understanding of hydraulic design principles and utility coordination.
• Ability to review and verify technical designs for accuracy and constructability.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical delivery of water and sewer projects across residential, commercial, industrial, and public sectors.
• Client facing with responsibility for meetings, inspections and successful project outcomes.
• Mentor graduates and undergraduates; support technical development across teams.
• Develop proposals and contribute to business development.

Skills

Water & sewer design

Project delivery

Client facing

Mentorship

Education

Bachelor/Master in Engineering

Tools

12d

WaterCAD

MikePlus

SWMM

Job description

2mo ago , from Northrop Consulting Engineers

You’re an experienced Senior Water and Sewer engineer looking to take the next step in your career. You will lead project teams, taking ownership of the technical delivery of civil projects across built form, road infrastructure, high-density precinct development, and public domain works.

This role is based from either our Sydney, Newcastle or Brisbane offices.

What You’ll Own

As a Senior Water and Sewer Engineer, You will be joining a professional and collaborative team that comprises of engineers, designers, drafters, graduates and undergraduates, working on a varied scope of projects within the built environment.

With a strong pipeline of upcoming projects with new and existing clients, you will be leading projects whilst supported by a close-knit management team. You will be client facing, with the autonomy of leading projects from concept to construction and technical job delivery - with the support to help you succeed.

Operating with an appropriate level of autonomy to deliver technically challenging projects, key components of this role include, but are not limited to:

• Provide technical delivery of a wide range of water supply and sewer infrastructure projects across residential, commercial, industrial and public infrastructure developments.
• Working closely with a diverse client base, responding efficiently to client's needs, including attendance at meetings and inspections.
• Assist with project costings, monitoring project performance and budget ensuring that key dates are met and projects remain within budget.
• Provide mentorship to our graduates and undergraduates.
• Contribute to technical development across the structural section.
• Develop skills in business development including preparation of proposals.

The Kind of Person Who Thrives Here

Our strongest people share a particular combination of traits. If you recognise yourself in this, we should talk.

You’re grounded. You stay calm under pressure, and your decisions are guided by a clear internal compass. When things get difficult on a project and they always do, you’re the person who holds steady. Not because you don’t feel the pressure, but because your composure is genuine.

You speak up. You’ll bring an alternative perspective to the design table, even when it’s uncomfortable. You do it constructively and without ego; you’d rather give credit to the team than take it yourself, and you won’t stay quiet when something doesn’t sit right.

You build relationships that last. Not transactional networking. Real, sustained professional relationships, the kind where clients call you first because they trust your judgement, and where colleagues across disciplines genuinely enjoy working with you. Humour helps. So does actually caring about people.

You set your own standard. Your quality comes from professional pride, not from someone checking your work. You’re always looking for the next improvement and you’re never quite satisfied. The more complex the problem, the more engaged you become.

You need autonomy, not bureaucracy. You do your best work when you’re trusted to find the right approach, not handed a rigid process to follow. That’s exactly how we operate.

Why Northrop

We’re employee-owned. No external shareholders, no private equity, no quarterly earnings pressure. Just 500+ engineers and consultants across NSW, ACT, QLD, and VIC who have a genuine stake in the business they’re building — and have been doing so for over 50 years.

What that means in practice: decisions are made by people who do the work. Our management structure is open and accessible. When you have an idea for how to do something better, the people who can say yes are in the room - not in a boardroom overseas.

The projects we undertake come in all sizes across a range of sectors including aged care, health, education, land development, commercial, industrial and residential.

What You Bring

Essential:

• Ideally 8+ years experience in water and sewer infrastructure design and project delivery, typically 8+ years.
• Tertiary qualification in Engineering.
• Proficient in industry software including 12d, WaterCAD, Mike +, SWMM
• Strong understanding of hydraulic design principles, infrastructure servicing requirements and utility coordination.
• Demonstrated capability in undertaking and reviewing hydraulic assessments and modelling to inform engineering design and decision-making.
• Strong knowledge of relevant legislation, authority requirements, engineering standards, design guidelines and quality management systems.
• Ability to review and verify technical designs and documentation to ensure accuracy, compliance and constructability.
• Strong team ethic to work collaboratively across functional groups.
• Familiar with financial management of projects internally is highly valued.

What’s In It For You

• Industry-benchmarked salary with annual reviews, we pay properly and revisit it every year.
• Genuine flexibility: hybrid working, flexible hours, alternative public holidays, we’ll have a real conversation about what works for you
• Paid parental leave for primary carers, maternity, and partners
• Salary income protection insurance
• Monthly one-on-one career development conversations, mentoring programs, and investment in both internal and external training
• Free EAP and wellbeing support.
• A positive and enjoyable workplace with a supportive team, a relaxed culture, and regular opportunities to connect through social activities and company events throughout the year.
• A diverse range of projects and opportunities, from small residential developments to major hospitals, race tracks, airports, and everything in between. With such a broad variety of work, there's always something new to keep your role interesting and rewarding.

Northrop is an equal opportunity employer. We actively welcome applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people of all genders, people with disabilities, neurodivergent people, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. If you need any adjustments to participate in our recruitment process, let us know — we’ll make it work.