Senior Associate Hydraulic Lead - Building Services

Jacobs; Christchurch; Hybrid; NZD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working arrangements

Well‑being benefits

Global giving and volunteering program

Paid parental leave

Lifetime financial allowance for Fertn

Adoption assistance

Surrogacy assistance

Menopause and Low T treatment

Job summary

Jacobs in New Zealand is seeking a Senior Associate Hydraulic Lead to join our Buildings and Places team in Christchurch. You will lead hydraulic design for complex buildings and data centres, mentor engineers and engage with clients to shape project outcomes.

You'll drive technical excellence, coordinate multidisciplinary teams and help grow our hydraulic engineering capability across Australia, New Zealand and the wider region while delivering projects to time and budget.

Qualifications

• Degree in Mechanical or Hydraulic Engineering or related field.
• Significant hydraulic design experience in built environment projects.
• Proven ability to lead multi-disciplinary delivery teams.
• Strong understanding of NZ/Australian standards and best practices.
• Experience with data centres or mission-critical facilities is valued.

Responsibilities

• Lead hydraulic engineering design and consultancy across complex building and infrastructure projects.
• Provide technical leadership and ensure high-quality deliverables across projects.
• Act as Hydraulic Lead on major projects, managing budgets, schedules and risk.
• Build and maintain strong client relationships and drive business development.
• Support growth of Jacobs' hydraulic capability across NZ, Australia and the wider region.

Skills

Project leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Multi-disciplinary teamwork

Client relationship development

Strong communication

Education

Degree in Mechanical or Hydraulic Engineering

Job description

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission‑critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting‑edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.

Your impact

At Jacobs, we're delivering some of the region's most complex and impactful building and infrastructure projects, helping clients solve critical challenges through innovative engineering and design solutions. As our Buildings and Places business continues to grow across Australia, New Zealand and the wider region, we're looking for an experienced Senior Associate Hydraulic Lead to join our team.

This senior leadership role offers the opportunity to play a key part in the delivery of major building, mission‑critical and Data Centre projects while helping shape the future growth of our Hydraulic Engineering capability. Working closely with clients, project teams and multidisciplinary specialists, you'll provide technical leadership, build strategic relationships and contribute to the continued success of Jacobs' Buildings business.

The position is ideally suited to an experienced hydraulic engineering professional who enjoys combining engineering excellence with client engagement, project delivery, business development and team leadership. As a trusted advisor to clients, you'll help deliver complex projects, identify new opportunities and support the growth of both our people and our project portfolio across Australia and the broader region.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of hydraulic engineering design and consultancy services across complex building, mission‑critical and infrastructure projects
• Provide technical leadership through the development, review and assurance of hydraulic engineering designs and project deliverables
• Act as a Hydraulic Lead on major projects, ensuring high‑quality technical outcomes and successful project delivery
• Manage projects and design packages, ensuring delivery is achieved safely, on time, within budget and to a high standard of quality
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key clients, acting as a trusted advisor across both public and private sector projects
• Drive business development and work‑winning activities by identifying opportunities, supporting pursuits and contributing to successful project outcomes
• Prepare and contribute to proposals, bids and tender submissions
• Represent Jacobs at client meetings, industry forums and thought leadership events
• Support the ongoing growth and development of Jacobs' Hydraulic Engineering capability across Australia, New Zealand and the wider region

Here is what you'll need

• Degree qualification in Mechanical Engineering, Hydraulic Engineering or a related discipline
• Significant experience delivering hydraulic engineering design and consultancy services within the built environment sector
• Demonstrated technical expertise across hydraulic systems design for complex buildings and major development projects
• Experience leading multidisciplinary project delivery teams and coordinating hydraulic services through all project phases
• Strong understanding of relevant Australian standards, codes and industry best practices
• Proven ability to develop and maintain strategic client relationships within a consulting environment
• Strong commercial awareness, including project planning, budgeting and risk management
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to influence both technical and non‑technical audiences
• Experience delivering projects within sectors such as Data Centres, commercial, health, education, defence, aviation or other mission‑critical facilities will be highly regarded

To be considered for this opportunity, applicants must have current Australian working rights. Applications will only be considered from candidates who hold unrestricted work rights in Australia, including Australian Citizens, Permanent Residents and New Zealand Citizens with the right to work in Australia.

With safety and flexibility always top of mind, we’ve gone beyond traditional ways of working so you have the support, means and space to maximize your potential. You’ll uncover flexible working arrangements, benefits and opportunities, from well‑being benefits to our global giving and volunteering program, to exploring new and inventive ways to help our clients make the world a better place. No matter what drives you, you’ll discover how you can cultivate, nurture and achieve your goals – all at a single global company. Find out more about life at Jacobs here.

We aim to embed inclusion and belonging in everything we do. We know that if we are inclusive, we’re more connected and creative. We accept people for who they are, and we champion the richness of diverse perspectives, lived experiences and backgrounds in the workplace, as a source of learning and innovation. We are committed to building vibrant communities within Jacobs, including through our Jacobs Employee Networks, Communities of Practice and our Find Your Community initiatives, allowing every employee to find connection, purpose, and belonging. Find out more about ourJacobs Employee Networks here.

Benefits

• Flexible working arrangements
• Well‑being benefits
• Global giving and volunteering program
• Exploring new and inventive ways to help our clients make the world a better place
• Paid parental leave
• Lifetime financial allowance for you and your partner to access family forming Fertility & IVF treatment
• Adoption assistance
• Surrogacy assistance
• Menopause and Low T treatment
• Recognised by WGEA for 12 consecutive years as an employer of choice for gender equality
• Industry leading GOLD employer status by the Australian Workplace Equality Index

Cultural Support

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are strongly encouraged to apply. Jacobs aims to provide cultural safety at our interviews. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are invited to nominate a cultural representative to participate on the interview panel; please let your recruiter know in your application. No matter what drives you, you’ll discover a way to cultivate, nurture and achieve your goals – all at a single global company.

We value collaboration and believe that in‑person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work.

Your application experience is important to us, and we’re keen to adapt to make every interaction even better. If you require further support or reasonable adjustments with regards to the recruitment process (for example, you require the application form in a different format), please contact the team via Careers Support.