Project Engineer

Higgins; Wellington; On-site; NZD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

KiwiSaver

Training opportunities

Career progression

Benefits for you and family

Job summary

Higgins in Wellington seeks a driven Project Engineer to own delivery of civil construction and road maintenance projects, providing technical leadership across engineering, quality and safety. You will lead planning, programming, and site coordination while managing subcontractors and stakeholders to deliver high-quality outcomes.

The role requires a strong background in civil construction, a tertiary engineering qualification, and a full Class 1 licence; RAMM familiarity and NZ contract

Qualifications

• Experience in civil construction, infrastructure or road maintenance project delivery.
• Experience leading projects, workstreams or sections of work.
• Solid understanding of construction methodologies and engineering principles.
• Strong planning, programming and site coordination capabilities.
• Commercial awareness including cost control, claims, forecasting and variations.
• Experience managing subcontractors and multiple stakeholders.
• Strong communication, leadership and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to solve problems, make decisions and manage competing priorities.
• Tertiary qualification in Engineering, Construction or related discipline.
• Full Class 1 driver’s licence.
• Experience in road maintenance operations is advantageous.
• Familiarity with NZS3910/NZS3917 contracts and RAMM

Responsibilities

• Lead planning, coordination, and delivery of construction and maintenance activities.
• Take ownership of project or workstream delivery from planning through to completion.
• Drive short and medium-term programming and daily site coordination.
• Provide technical leadership across engineering, quality, and compliance functions.
• Oversee setting out, verification, and technical assurance activities.
• Manage quality systems, ITPs, project documentation, and non-conformance resolution.
• Monitor progress, identify risks, and implement corrective actions.
• Support commercial performance through claims, cost tracking, forecasting, and variation management.
• Coordinate subcontractors and suppliers to ensure safe, efficient, high-quality delivery.
• Build and maintain relationships with clients, consultants, subcontractors, and internal stakeholders.
• Champion health, safety, environmental and quality standards across activities.
• Coach and support Site Engineers, Graduates and delivery teams.

Skills

Civil construction

Project delivery

Leadership

Planning & programming

Site coordination

Commercial awareness

Stakeholder management

Problem solving

NZ contracts knowledge

Full driver’s licence

Education

Engineering/Construction degree

Tools

RAMM (AWM)

Job description

Description

Higgins Wellington is looking for a driven and capable Project Engineer to join our team. This is an exciting opportunity for someone ready to take ownership of project delivery, provide technical leadership, and contribute to the successful delivery of civil construction and road maintenance projects across the Wellington region.

What You'll Be Doing

• Leading the planning, coordination, and delivery of construction and maintenance activities
• Taking ownership of project or workstream delivery from planning through to completion
• Driving short and medium-term programming and daily site coordination
• Providing technical leadership across engineering, quality, and compliance functions
• Overseeing setting out, verification, and technical assurance activities
• Managing quality systems, ITPs, project documentation, and non-conformance resolution
• Monitoring progress, identifying risks, and implementing corrective actions
• Supporting commercial performance through claims, cost tracking, forecasting, and variation management
• Coordinating subcontractors and suppliers to ensure safe, efficient, and high-quality delivery
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with clients, consultants, subcontractors, and internal stakeholders
• Championing health, safety, environmental, and quality standards across all activities
• Coaching and supporting Site Engineers, Graduates, and delivery teams

What You'll Bring To The Role

• Proven experience in civil construction, infrastructure, or road maintenance project delivery
• Experience leading projects, workstreams, or sections of work
• Sound understanding of construction methodologies and engineering principles
• Strong planning, programming, and site coordination capabilities
• Commercial awareness, including cost control, claims, variations, forecasting, and contract administration
• Experience managing subcontractors and multiple stakeholders
• Strong communication, leadership, and relationship-building skills
• Ability to solve problems, make sound decisions, and manage competing priorities
• Tertiary qualification in Engineering, Construction, or a related discipline
• Full Class 1 driver's licence
• Experience in road maintenance operations would be highly advantageous
• Working knowledge of AWM (RAMM) and familiarity with NZS3910 and NZS3917 contracts would be beneficial

Why join us?

• Competitive salary package
• Permanent, full-time role with guaranteed 40 hours per week
• KiwiSaver employer contributions matched up to 4%
• Ongoing training and development opportunities
• Support to gain additional qualifications and licences
• A wide range of benefits for you and your family
• Career progression opportunities within one of New Zealand's leading infrastructure businesses

About Higgins

Higgins is a leading construction and infrastructure company, proudly building and maintaining roads, bridges, and civil projects that connect communities across New Zealand.

With a strong focus on safety, quality, and sustainability, we deliver projects that make a real difference. At Higgins, you'll join a team that values collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement. We believe our people are the foundation of our success and are committed to helping them grow and thrive.

Higgins is committed to a drug-free workplace. The successful applicant will be required to pass pre-employment drug and alcohol testing, along with a medical assessment, as part of our recruitment process.

Research shows that women and people from underrepresented groups often only apply for a role when they meet every requirement. If you're excited about this opportunity but don't meet every criterion, we encourage you to apply. We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone can succeed.