Senior Lead Structural Engineer - Bridges & Civil NZ

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

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.