Technical Principal Engineer - Water

JobSpace; Hamilton; On-site; NZD 160,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

WSP NZ in Hamilton seeks a Technical Principal Engineer – Water to lead water and wastewater projects across Kirikiriroa Hamilton and the Waikato region. You will drive technical excellence, manage complex designs, and mentor teams to deliver on time and on budget.

The role requires a Civil Engineering degree, 15+ years in water infrastructure, NZ code knowledge, and CPEng registration or progress toward it. Strong commercial sense and leadership are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Civil Engineering or closely related discipline.
• 15+ years' experience in civil and/or water infrastructure in NZ.
• CPEng registration or progressing towards it.
• Strong commercial awareness with budgets, risk and contracts.
• Design/construction experience in water supply and wastewater infra.

Responsibilities

• Prepare/review studies, plans and reports; lead strategic project views.
• Be a technical lead in water and wastewater, pipelines, trenchless work.
• Ensure budgets and financial targets are in place to maximise revenue/minimise costs.
• Lead the technical review process for complex water projects.
• Undertake technical reviews from inception to completion with value adds.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of plans, standards, codes and best practice.
• Plan projects and assist PMs to correctly scope inputs/outputs/activities.
• Lead design on projects with day-to-day guidance and robust solutions.
• Provide commercial leadership and market knowledge on contracts/risk.
• Coordinate and deliver design package deliverables on time with quality

Skills

Technical leadership

Water/wastewater engineering

Project delivery

Budget management

Leadership

Education

Bachelor of Civil Engineering

CPEng registration or equivalent

Job description

Jora New Zealand will close on 9th September 2026. Thank you for being with us, we are cheering you on as you continue your career journey.

Technical Principal Engineer – Water, Hamilton

At WSP, you can access our global scale, contribute to landmark projects and connect with the brightest minds in your field to do the best work of your life. You can embrace your curiosity in a culture that celebrates new ideas and diverse perspectives. You can experience a world of opportunity and the chance to shape a career as unique as you.

As the premier design, engineering and environmental consultancy in Aotearoa New Zealand, WSP exists to future-proof our cities and environment. We are proud to have the blueprint of Aotearoa New Zealand in our DNA and our 2,500 expert professionals in 35 offices are united by the common purpose of creating positive, long-lasting impacts on the communities we serve.

We are looking for a senior leader within our national Water Division who will provide technical leadership on water and wastewater projects across Kirikiriroa Hamilton and the wider Waikato region, as well as nationally. A subject matter expert with a proven track record of successful water and wastewater infrastructure project delivery.

This is a role for technical leaders who understand the challenges involved in moving projects from planning through to construction, and who are skilled at driving project outcomes through technical excellence and genuine value add.

A technical leader who enjoys developing people and takes satisfaction in seeing their teams grow and their ideas turned into real-world solutions—delivered on time, on budget, and contributing to the future of Kirikiriroa Hamilton and the wider Waikato.

Given our stable growth of project pipeline and ability to scope this role to suit the talent we meet, we have the ability to include people leadership within this role if that is in your career plan. We are keen to hear from you whether you are at the beginning of your leadership journey or well-versed in growing and building on a high performing team's capabilities.

Key responsibilities include:

• Prepare and/or technically review studies, plans and reports, participate in public consultation/engagement programmes, take a lead strategic view across projects, formulate advice to clients on technical issues when required.
• Be recognised in WSP as a technical lead in water and wastewater with a focus on large pipelines, including experience in trenchless installation, pump stations and underground structures, and provide technical inputs into projects and proposals.
• Ensure that agreed budgets and financial objectives are in place that maximise revenues and minimise costs.
• Lead the technical review process for complex water infrastructure projects, bringing together other discipline reviews and manage the overall review and verification process.
• Undertake technical reviews for water and wastewater projects at both a local and national level from project inception to completion, ensuring that technical solutions are sound and add value.
• Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of all relevant plans, standards, legislation, codes of practice, and best practice in areas of competence.
• Effectively plan projects and assist project managers to correctly scope their projects with appropriate inputs, outputs, implementation activities, verification and technical review.
• Lead design on projects and programmes of work through day-to-day design guidance, verification and review, providing robust and future ready solutions that meet client and community needs.
• Provide commercial leadership and market knowledge with experience of contracts, risk, variations, cash management and sub-consultancy arrangements.
• Responsible for coordination and delivery of design package deliverables on time with fit for purpose quality and value for money.

About you:

You're a respected engineering professional with a strong reputation for technical excellence, leadership, and client-focused delivery. You're comfortable operating at both strategic and hands-on levels and enjoy solving complex challenges.

• A Bachelor of Civil Engineering (or closely related discipline)
• 15+ years' professional experience in civil and/or water infrastructure and experience and knowledge of New Zealand engineering codes, legislation and best practices
• Registration as CPEng or equivalent (or actively working towards)
• Strong commercial awareness and experience managing budgets, risk, and contracts
• Design, construction/supervision experience in water supply and wastewater infrastructure, including pipelines, pumpstations and treatment facilities.
• Preferably minimum of 10 years professional experience in a design delivery related discipline.
• Preferably minimum of 5 years experience in an infrastructure design related leadership position.

Imagine a better future for you and a better future for us all. WSP NZ has proudly earned its place among the top five employers to work for in Aotearoa New Zealand, as recognised in Randstad's latest employer survey. In addition, WSP has been listed as one of TIME's 2023 top 100 companies globally for employees.

Join our close-knit community of talented individuals who share your passion for making a positive impact. Our global team includes more than 69,000 employees, working together to make a difference in communities both close to home and around the world. With us, you can.