Designer - Roads & Highways

SMEC (an SJ Group company); Auckland; On-site; NZD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

SMEC, a SJ Group company, is seeking a motivated Designer – Roads & Highways to join our New Zealand team and support transport infrastructure delivery across NZ.

You will be a key member of our Roads & Highways team, delivering high-quality design outputs, collaborating with multidisciplinary colleagues, and contributing to technically rigorous, coordinated outcomes while expanding your own capability and expertise.

Qualifications

• 8+ years’ experience in roads and highways design within a consulting or infrastructure environment.
• Strong proficiency in 12d as the primary design software, with familiarity in other design packages such as Civil 3D or OpenRoads considered beneficial.
• Experience preparing design drawings in AutoCAD, along with design models and supporting technical documentation.
• Working knowledge of relevant New Zealand transport and road design standards.
• Experience across concept, reference, and detailed design project phases.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across multidisciplinary teams.
• A proactive, solutions-focused mindset with a commitment to quality and continuous improvement.
• The ability to support or guide other designers within project teams will be viewed favourably.

Responsibilities

• Deliver high-quality roads and highways design outputs in line with technical standards, client requirements, and SMEC quality expectations.
• Prepare drawings, models, and technical documentation using appropriate design and drafting tools and methodologies, with 12d and AutoCAD as the primary design and drafting platforms.
• Provide inputs to design reports and contribute to technical documentation and peer reviews; ensure compliance with NZ standards and client specifications.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to ensure coordinated, timely, and accurate project delivery.
• Support engineers and senior designers in developing practical, compliant, and cost-effective solutions.
• Communicate effectively with internal teams and stakeholders to maintain alignment across deliverables.
• Work to project deadlines and budgets, ensuring accuracy and minimising rework.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives across design processes, tools, and delivery outcomes.

Skills

Roads design

Highways design

Collaboration

Communication

Tools

12d

Civil 3D

OpenRoads

AutoCAD

Job description

• Global Expertise, Local Insight: With a presence in over 40 countries, SMEC combines global knowledge with local understanding to deliver tailored solutions that meet Australia and New Zealand's unique needs.
• Technical Excellence: Our team of specialists is renowned for their technical prowess and reliable delivery. From transport infrastructure to energy projects, we tackle the most complex challenges with precision and creativity.
• Be an integral part of a global engineering design consultancy present in NZ for 13+ years looking to grow rapidly, providing plenty of local and international career opportunities and upward mobility.

• Global Expertise, Local Insight: With a presence in over 40 countries, SMEC combines global knowledge with local understanding to deliver tailored solutions that meet Australia and New Zealand's unique needs.
• Technical Excellence: Our team of specialists is renowned for their technical prowess and reliable delivery. From transport infrastructure to energy projects, we tackle the most complex challenges with precision and creativity.
• Be an integral part of a global engineering design consultancy present in NZ for 13+ years looking to grow rapidly, providing plenty of local and international career opportunities and upward mobility.

About SMEC

At SMEC, we shape the future of infrastructure through technical excellence, collaboration and innovation, delivering transformative transport, energy, water and urban development projects across Australia, New Zealand, Asia and the Pacific.

As part of SJ Group, SMEC draws on a global network of 16,000+ specialists across engineering, planning, design, project management and advisory, combining local insight with international capability to deliver integrated infrastructure solutions.

That capability is backed by strong international recognition, including ENR rankings of #24 among the Top 225 International Design Firms and #5 in Australia/Oceania, giving our teams access to leading clients, major projects and specialist expertise worldwide.

SMEC is seeing strong transport growth across Australia and New Zealand, with expanding opportunities in resilient networks, sustainable mobility and major city-shaping projects.

At SMEC, you’ll join a collaborative, inclusive culture that supports technical excellence, professional growth and leadership, with opportunities to work on nationally significant projects, partner with global specialists and help shape the future of our Queensland and New Zealand business.

The Role

We’re seeking a motivated Designer – Roads & Highways to join our team, supporting the delivery of transport infrastructure projects across New Zealand.

This is more than just a technical role — it’s an opportunity for a Designer who enjoys problem-solving, collaboration, and contributing to high-quality engineering outcomes within a multidisciplinary environment.

You’ll be a key member of our Roads & Highways team, contributing to the delivery of complex projects with a focus on design quality, technical rigour, and coordinated outcomes, while continuing to build your capability and technical expertise.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver high-quality roads and highways design outputs in line with technical standards, client requirements, and SMEC quality expectations
• Prepare drawings, models, and technical documentation using appropriate design and drafting tools and methodologies, with 12d and AutoCAD as the primary design and drafting platforms
• Provide inputs to design reports and contribute to technical documentation and peer reviewsEnsure compliance with relevant New Zealand standards, client specifications, and HSEQ requirements
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to ensure coordinated, timely, and accurate project delivery
• Support engineers and senior designers in developing practical, compliant, and cost-effective solutions
• Communicate effectively with internal teams and stakeholders to maintain alignment across deliverables
• Work to project deadlines and budgets, ensuring accuracy and minimising rework
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives across design processes, tools, and delivery outcomes

About You

You’re a motivated and detail-oriented Designer with a passion for transport infrastructure and a strong foundation in roads and highways design. You enjoy working collaboratively, take pride in producing high-quality outputs, and are eager to continue developing your technical expertise.

You Will Bring

• 8+ years’ experience in roads and highways design within a consulting or infrastructure environment
• Strong proficiency in 12d as the primary design software, with familiarity in other design packages such as Civil 3D or OpenRoads considered beneficial
• Experience preparing design drawings in AutoCAD, along with design models and supporting technical documentation
• Working knowledge of relevant New Zealand transport and road design standards
• Experience across concept, reference, and detailed design project phases
• Strong communication skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across multidisciplinary teams
• A proactive, solutions-focused mindset with a commitment to quality and continuous improvement
• The ability to support or guide other designers within project teams will be viewed favourably

We understand that no candidate will meet every single requirement. If this role interests you and you feel you can bring value to the team, we encourage you to apply—we’d love to hear from you.

Wrap up

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce and actively encourage candidates from all backgroundsto join our team across engineering and technical disciplines. SMEC aims to provide a supportive professional environment that promotes career growth, recognises and rewards individual contribution, and offers opportunities to work on meaningful projects that help shape the future of SMEC in the industry.

With gender-balanced and diverse representationacross technical, project delivery, and leadership roles within our business, team members have access to strong professional networks, role models, and mentorshipand sponsorship programsthat support career progression and foster an inclusive and supportive workplace culture.

For a confidential discussion regarding this opportunity, please contact Nicholas Fischer-White [e-mail]