Principal Engineer

Stellar Recruitment; Auckland; On-site; NZD 180,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive remuneration

Equity participation

Strategic scope and autonomy

Sustainable workload

Contribute to innovative projects

Real environmental outcomes

Flat collaborative structure

Job summary

Stellar Recruitment is partnering with an established environmental and engineering consultancy in New Zealand's water sector. They seek a Principal Engineer to lead the delivery of complex water, wastewater and stormwater projects from Auckland and to grow capability across the firm’s three waters services.

You will provide technical leadership, drive design quality, manage risk, and engage clients while mentoring teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Engineering (Civil or Environmental) is required
• Chartered Professional Engineer status is required
• 15+ years in three waters engineering
• Deep understanding of three waters design, assessment and planning
• Established NZ council and water sector networks
• Experience in contract management and site supervision
• Interest in environmental outcomes and nature-focused engineering solutions

Responsibilities

• Provide high-level technical leadership and oversight across three waters projects
• Lead and manage project teams to deliver quality, sustainable outcomes
• Prepare, review and release technical deliverables and design documentation
• Grow and maintain key client relationships across New Zealand
• Support directors with engineering reviews and engineer-to-contract roles
• Contribute to strategic development of the firm's engineering services
• Promote water-sensitive design, climate adaptation and sustainability
• Mentor engineers across experience levels in a collaborative environment

Skills

Leadership

Client relationship management

Engineering design leadership

Mentoring

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Bachelor of Engineering (Civil or Environmental)

Chartered Professional Engineer

Job description

Stellar Recruitment is partnered with a well-established environmental and engineering consultancy with a strong reputation across New Zealand's water infrastructure sector.

We are seeking a Principal Engineer to join the Auckland team and play a key role in leading the delivery of complex water, wastewater and stormwater projects.

In this role, you will support and grow capability across all aspects of delivery, including design quality, risk management, and client engagement. This is an opportunity for an influential changemaker to build and maintain enduring client relationships, contribute to new work, and help shape the strategic direction of the firm's three waters capability across New Zealand.

The Company

Our client is an established, purpose-driven environmental consultancy that has spent 26 years developing sustainable engineering solutions across New Zealand. Working at the intersection of water, land, and ecology, they tackle complex infrastructure challenges with a genuine commitment to restoring and protecting ecosystem health for future generations.

Driven by an obligation to achieve high-quality outcomes and innovation, they build connections, empower communities, and bring changemakers together to deliver pragmatic, sustainable solutions that co-create a better future for Aotearoa.

Key Responsibilities

• Providing high-level technical leadership and oversight across three waters projects
• Leading and managing project teams to deliver quality, sustainable outcomes
• Preparing, reviewing, and releasing technical deliverables and design documentation
• Growing and maintaining key client relationships across New Zealand
• Supporting the directors with engineering reviews and engineer-to-contract roles
• Contributing to the strategic development of the firm's engineering services and capability
• Promoting and integrating water-sensitive design, climate adaptation, and sustainability principles
• Mentoring and supporting engineers across experience levels in a collaborative, non-hierarchical environment

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor of Engineering (Civil or Environmental)
• Chartered Professional Engineer status
• 15+ years professional experience in three waters engineering
• Deep understanding of three waters infrastructure design, assessment, and planning
• Established networks across NZ councils, consultants, and the broader water sector
• Experience working across environmental outcomes, ecology, GIS, or water-sensitive design
• Experience in contract management and site supervision
• A genuine interest in environmental outcomes and nature-focused engineering solutions
• An appreciation of and connection to tikanga Māori and mātauranga Māori

What's on Offer

• Competitive remuneration
• Equity participation
• Genuine strategic scope and autonomy within an established, purpose-driven consultancy
• A sustainable workload within a diverse and collaborative team environment
• The opportunity to contribute to innovative, nature-focused projects across New Zealand
• Work that delivers real environmental outcomes and leaves a lasting legacy for future generations
• A flat, collaborative structure where your voice carries weight from day one