Director, Engineering

Ausenco; Tucson (AZ); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Reporting to the VP, USA & Project Execution, you will drive innovation, build capability, and partner with study managers and clients to shape scope and strategy while delivering on time and within budget.

Qualifications

• University degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Civil or Chemical Engineering with at least 15 years’ experience in the mining industry.
• Registration as a Professional Engineer
• Leadership training or development experience is a strong asset
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience in proposal writing and delivering presentations
• Solid engineering background with strong technical expertise in the relevant discipline
• Proven ability to deliver projects on time and within budget
• Commercial mindset with experience growing business with new and existing clients
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to set direction, provide clear guidance, and mentor others

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of Engineering Managers, discipline engineers, and designers.
• Mentor and develop managers across North America.
• Build and strengthen technical capability across engineering teams to meet project and market demands.
• Serve as a key member of the Southwest Leadership Team and contribute to strategy and growth.
• Lead governance, standards, and project audits to ensure quality.
• Oversee studies and projects as executive sponsor and ensure delivery on time and budget.
• Collaborate with clients, study managers, and directors to manage expectations and scope.

Skills

Leadership

Mentorship

Strategic thinking

Budgeting

Client relationships

Cross-functional collaboration

Proposal writing

Education

Engineering degree

Professional Engineer (PE)

Job description

Ausenco is a fast-growing company with big ideas. We redefine what’s possible in some of the world’s most complex projects and toughest environments. Delivering innovative, value-add consulting, project delivery, asset operations and maintenance solutions is what we do. From 22 offices in 9 countries, with projects in over 80 locations worldwide, we create sustainable outcomes for our people, clients and communities.

We're looking for a strategic and people-focused Director, Engineering to lead and grow our engineering teams while ensuring projects and studies are well-resourced and technically strong. Reporting to the Vice President, USA & Project Execution (North America), you will support the leadership and ongoing success of the Southwest US business including driving innovation, building technical capability, and supporting cross-functional collaboration. This role blends leadership, operational oversight, and continuous improvement, with responsibilities spanning budgeting, compliance, and team development.

Engineering Leadership & People Development

• Lead a team of Engineering Managers, discipline engineers, and designers.
• Provide mentorship, technical guidance, and leadership development to managers and engineering professionals across North America.
• Build and strengthen technical capability across engineering teams to meet evolving project and market demands.
• Serve as a key member of the Southwest Leadership Team, contributing to business strategy, organizational priorities, and regional growth.
• Lead by example, drive accountability and embody Ausenco's values, culture, and leadership behaviors.

Technical Excellence & Continuous Improvement

• Champion engineering quality through the implementation of standards, workflows, governance processes, and project audits.
• Lead the adoption of new engineering tools, technologies, and systems that improve project execution.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives that enhance engineering efficiency, consistency, and effectiveness.
• Serve as a technical leader, bringing mining industry expertise, innovation, and strategic thinking to complex challenges.

Project Oversight & Delivery Excellence

• Act as an executive sponsor for studies and projects, providing guidance to support successful outcomes.
• Ensure engineering teams are appropriately resourced and aligned to maximize value, efficiency, and project performance.
• Lead stage-gate and independent project reviews to ensure studies and projects are ready to progress to the next phase.
• Drive collaboration across disciplines to ensure consistent, high-quality project delivery.

Client & Business Leadership

• Support strategic planning, budgeting, forecasting, utilization, and resource planning activities.
• Build strong, long-term client relationships by understanding their business challenges, operational priorities, and growth objectives.
• Partner with Study Managers, Engineering Managers, Project Managers, and Directors to manage client expectations and ensure successful project delivery.
• Help shape project scope and solutions based on a deep understanding of client needs and project objectives.
• Continuously identify opportunities to enhance client satisfaction, strengthen partnerships, and expand business opportunities.
• Contribute to engineering components of proposals, ensuring alignment between proposed solutions and execution strategies.

Governance & Global Collaboration

• Ensure engineering activities comply with applicable professional, regulatory, and corporate requirements, including EGBC regulations.
• Collaborate with Engineering Directors across North America and globally to facilitate work-sharing, share best practices, and strengthen technical excellence.

About You

• University Degree in a relevant discipline such as Mechanical, Electrical, Civil or Chemical Engineering with at least 15 years’ experience in the mining industry with extensive knowledge of the regional market.
• Registration as a Professional Engineer
• Leadership training or development experience is a strong asset
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience in proposal writing and delivering presentations
• Solid engineering background with strong technical expertise in the relevant discipline
• Proven ability to deliver projects on time and within budget
• Demonstrated success managing multiple projects or leading large-scale, complex initiatives
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to set direction, provide clear guidance, and mentor others
• Commercial mindset with experience growing business with new and existing clients
• Highly organized with strong problem-solving skills and the ability to manage tight deadlines

Why Ausenco?

We Support Individual Growth And Aim To Allow You To Work In a Way That Plays To Your Strengths. Beyond a Competitive Remuneration Package, We Offer

• Career advancement - Embark on a journey of continuous growth through technical training, mentorship initiatives, and networking opportunities.
• Holistic approach to wellness – Take a proactive approach to your overall wellbeing. Access to confidential counselling, information services and a benefits program that supports your health & wellness.
• Accessible leadership team – Work with highly reputable industry leaders who value your contribution.

Our people don’t settle for the status quo. If you have an entrepreneurial spirit and want to help set a new standard in sustainability, we’ll help you find your place. This means working with you to develop a unique career path and skillset to match your ambition.

We’re proud of the work we do, and we do it within a culture that is open, honest, and cooperative. We have a history of attracting visionary people who embrace challenges and deliver creative solutions for every project, and your voice is an important part of the conversation.

As a global company we embrace and encourage diversity in its fullest sense – gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, experience, nationality, colour, language, religion, location, disability, education, skills, working styles and time availability. Our work environments are based on mutual trust and respect for the rights and opportunities of every individual.

Due to the organizational impact and level of responsibility associated with this role, the successful candidate will be required to complete a comprehensive background check as part of our standard hiring process for senior level and/or -sensitive roles. The check will be conducted in compliance with applicable privacy and employment legislation.

Join us and work a better way.