Lead Structural Engineer- Transport

SMEC; Auckland; On-site; NZD 160,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

SMEC in New Zealand seeks an experienced Lead Structural Engineer to lead bridge and civil structures projects across NZ. You will guide multidisciplinary teams, manage client relationships, and help grow SMEC’s structural capability in the transport sector.

The role focuses on technical delivery, design leadership, mentoring, and business development within a collaborative, inclusive culture offering opportunities on nationally significant projects.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of structural engineering experience with a focus on bridge and civil structures.
• Degree qualification in structural engineering or a related discipline.
• Chartered Engineer status in New Zealand.
• Experience leading technical delivery and multidisciplinary design teams.
• Strong client-facing, commercial and consulting skills including proposal development.
• Experience with collaborative or alternative delivery models such as ECI, D&C, PPP, or alliance projects.
• Strong mentoring interest and ability to grow team capability and workload.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and delivery of bridge and civil structures projects across concept, reference, and detailed design phases.
• Provide technical leadership for multidisciplinary project teams.
• Manage quality, coordination, and design integration across structural disciplines.
• Build and maintain client relationships to support delivery and growth.
• Contribute to and lead proposals and commercial inputs.
• Mentor junior engineers and designers to develop capability.
• Apply engineering judgement and innovation to improve project outcomes.
• Support growth of SMEC’s structural capability in New Zealand.

Skills

Technical leadership

Client-facing

Proposal development

Mentoring

Structural design

Education

Structural engineering degree

Chartered Engineer (NZ)

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 meetAustralia andNew 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,Asiaand 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, majorprojectsand specialistexpertiseworldwide.

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

At SMEC,you’lljoin a collaborative, inclusive culture that supports technical excellence, professionalgrowthand 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.

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.

Learn more about SMEC:

http://smec.com/infocus/