Lead Structural Engineer- Transport

JobSpace; Auckland; On-site; NZD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

SMEC in New Zealand seeks an experienced Lead Structural Engineer to lead bridge and civil structures projects nationwide. You will guide multi-disciplinary teams, manage client relationships and grow our structural capability in the transport sector.

Ideal candidates have 15+ years in structural engineering, Chartered Engineer status in New Zealand, and a proven track record leading technical delivery on public sector bridge projects.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience in structural engineering, with a focus on bridge and civil structures projects.
• Strong leadership of multidisciplinary design teams and ability to mentor engineers.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and delivery of bridge and civil structures projects across NZ.
• Provide technical leadership and oversight for multidisciplinary project teams.
• Manage quality, coordination, and design integration across structural disciplines.
• Build and maintain relationships with clients, contractors, and industry partners.
• Contribute to proposals, commercial inputs, and opportunity development.
• Mentor junior engineers and designers to grow capability.
• Apply engineering judgement and innovation to improve project outcomes.
• Support growth of SMEC's structural capability and workload in NZ.

Skills

Structural leadership

Bridge design

Project leadership

Education

Degree in structural engineering

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.

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 an experienced Lead Structural Engineer to join our team and lead the delivery of bridge and civil structures projects across New Zealand.

This is a senior leadership opportunity for a technically accomplished and commercially aware engineer who can guide multidisciplinary teams, manage client relationships, and help grow our structural capability in the transport sector.

You'll play a central role in technical delivery, design leadership, mentoring, and business development, helping to shape high-quality outcomes for clients while strengthening our local presence and project pipeline.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design and delivery of bridge and civil structures projects across concept, reference, and detailed design phases
• Provide technical leadership and oversight for multidisciplinary project teams
• Manage quality, coordination, and design integration across structural and related disciplines
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, contractors, and industry partners to support both delivery and growth
• Contribute to and lead proposals, commercial inputs, and opportunity development
• Mentor junior engineers and designers, supporting capability development within the team
• Apply strong engineering judgement, innovation, and technical rigour to improve project outcomes
• Support the growth of SMEC's structural engineering capability and forward workload in New Zealand

About You

You're a confident and capable structural engineering leader with strong technical depth, commercial awareness, and a collaborative mindset. You bring credibility with clients and colleagues alike, and you enjoy combining hands-on technical delivery with mentoring, leadership, and business growth.

You will bring:

• 15+ years' experience in structural engineering, with a focus on bridge and civil structures projects
• A relevant degree qualification in structural engineering or a related discipline
• Chartered Engineer status in New Zealand
• Demonstrated experience leading technical delivery and multidisciplinary design teams
• Strong experience in public sector bridge and civil structures projects
• Excellent client-facing, commercial, and consulting skills, including proposal development experience
• Experience in collaborative or alternative delivery models such as ECI, D&C, PPP, or alliance projects
• A strong interest in mentoring others and helping grow team capability and workload
• Well-developed technical and commercial writing skills, with an appreciation of the wider social, cultural, environmental, and regulatory context influencing infrastructure projects

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.

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce and actively encourage candidates from all backgrounds to 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 representation across technical, project delivery, and leadership roles within our business, team members have access to strong professional networks, role models, and mentorship and sponsorship programs that support career progression and foster an inclusive and supportive workplace culture.