Lead Bridge Engineer

Grada Recruitment; Auckland; On-site; NZD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Grada Recruitment in New Zealand seeks an experienced senior bridge engineering lead to shape and grow a NZ capability within a leading Australasian consultancy. You’ll balance hands-on technical delivery with building client relationships and recruiting a high-calibre team.

You’ll operate as the senior bridge engineering lead in NZ, collaborating with the Australian team on a varied portfolio of bridge and transport infrastructure projects.

Qualifications

• Experienced bridge engineer with strong technical credibility.
• NZ transport infrastructure experience preferred.
• CPEng advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Lead bridge and structural engineering delivery across NZ projects.
• Work alongside Australian technical leaders on complex assignments.
• Provide design leadership, review and technical assurance.
• Build relationships with key infrastructure clients and partners.
• Support bids, project pursuits and future workload growth.
• Mentor engineers and progressively build the local bridge team.

Skills

Bridge engineering

Technical leadership

Client relationship

Education

CPEng

Job description

Jora New Zealand will close on 9th September 2026. Thank you for being with us, we are cheering you on as you continue your career journey.

Step into a rare leadership opportunity where you’ll combine hands-on technical delivery with the chance to shape and grow a New Zealand bridge engineering team.

About the company
This established Australasian engineering consultancy has a strong reputation for technical excellence across bridges and complex structures. Their Australian business includes deep specialist capability and an experienced bridge engineering team, giving the NZ operation immediate access to high-level technical support, established systems and a strong project pipeline.

The culture is collaborative, technically focused and low on hierarchy. Good engineers are trusted to do good work.

About the role
Initially, you’ll operate as the senior bridge engineering lead in New Zealand, working closely with the Australian team across a varied portfolio of bridge and transport infrastructure projects.

As the local workload grows, you’ll have genuine ownership of building the NZ capability around you — helping win work, developing client relationships and recruiting a team that reflects how you want to work.

It’s a strong option for an experienced bridge engineer wanting more influence without stepping away from technical engineering.

What's on offer

• Opportunity to build and lead a bridge engineering team in NZ
• Direct access to highly regarded Australian bridge specialists
• Genuine pathway into broader leadership as the business grows
• Varied and technically challenging infrastructure projects
• Autonomy to shape the local team, culture and market strategy
• Supportive, collaborative environment without unnecessary hierarchy
• Competitive senior-level remuneration and flexibility

Step into a rare leadership opportunity where you’ll combine hands-on technical delivery with the chance to shape and grow a New Zealand bridge engineering team.

About the company
This established Australasian engineering consultancy has a strong reputation for technical excellence across bridges and complex structures. Their Australian business includes deep specialist capability and an experienced bridge engineering team, giving the NZ operation immediate access to high-level technical support, established systems and a strong project pipeline.

The culture is collaborative, technically focused and low on hierarchy. Good engineers are trusted to do good work.

About the role
Initially, you’ll operate as the senior bridge engineering lead in New Zealand, working closely with the Australian team across a varied portfolio of bridge and transport infrastructure projects.

As the local workload grows, you’ll have genuine ownership of building the NZ capability around you — helping win work, developing client relationships and recruiting a team that reflects how you want to work.

It’s a strong option for an experienced bridge engineer wanting more influence without stepping away from technical engineering.

What's on offer

• Opportunity to build and lead a bridge engineering team in NZ
• Direct access to highly regarded Australian bridge specialists
• Genuine pathway into broader leadership as the business grows
• Varied and technically challenging infrastructure projects
• Autonomy to shape the local team, culture and market strategy
• Supportive, collaborative environment without unnecessary hierarchy
• Competitive senior-level remuneration and flexibility

Key responsibilities

• Lead bridge and structural engineering delivery across NZ projects
• Work alongside Australian technical leaders on complex assignments
• Provide design leadership, review and technical assurance
• Build relationships with key infrastructure clients and partners
• Support bids, project pursuits and future workload growth
• Mentor engineers and progressively build the local bridge team

What you will need

You’ll be an experienced bridge engineer with strong technical credibility and enough commercial awareness to help grow a practice.

You’ll ideally bring solid NZ transport infrastructure experience, strong client relationships and the ability to lead multidisciplinary project teams. CPEng would be advantageous.

Most importantly, you’ll enjoy combining technical work with people, clients and the opportunity to build something of your own.