Civil/Structural Engineer, Southern Africa

Trinnex Inc.; Pretoria; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Job summary

CDM Smith is seeking a Civil/Structural Engineer to lead civil and structural preliminary design for a water-conveyance feasibility study. The role focuses on reservoirs, pump stations, and associated hydraulics, involving extensive design and coordination across disciplines.

Qualifications include a master’s degree in structural engineering, 15+ years of relevant experience, and professional registration. Travel 20–40% is expected with collaborative work across Lesotho, Botswana, and South

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Structural Engineering and professional registration.
• 15 years post-qualification experience in reservoir and hydraulic-structure design.
• Experience with design and planning of water-system projects.

Responsibilities

• Establish design criteria, loading, safety factors, and standards.
• Lead preliminary design of reservoirs, pump-station buildings, abtractions and outfalls.
• Perform structural, stability, deformation, seepage, foundation-treatment analyses.
• Develop concrete concepts, reinforcement quantities and layouts.
• Coordinate with geotechnical findings and dolomitic terrain considerations.
• Produce layouts, sections, details, and temporary-works concepts.
• Support safety, climate-risk, and asset-management planning.
• Prepare calculations, drawings, specifications, and cost estimates.

Skills

Structural design

Reservoirs

Pumping stations

Hydraulic structures

Seismic design

Foundations

Geotechnical coordination

Engineering calculations

Multidisciplinary coordination

Education

Master’s degree in Structural Engineering

Job description

Company Overview

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Job Description

Project Overview

The Orange-Senqu River Commission (ORASECOM) is seeking consulting services to conduct a technical feasibility study and produce the preliminary design for the water conveyance system of the Lesotho to Botswana Water Transfer Scheme. The bulk water transfer scheme is intended to mobilize water in Lesotho and convey it through South Africa to Botswana, while supplying users along the route. The study will assess and integrate technical, financial, environmental, regulatory, institutional, social, and climate considerations to support financing and implementation decisions.

The assignment covers route confirmation, demand and socioeconomic assessment, topographical and cadastral surveys, geotechnical and materials investigations, climate risk assessment, hydraulic modelling and optimization, preliminary design of pipelines, pump stations, reservoirs and supporting infrastructure, cost estimation, economic analysis, and preparation of detailed-design terms of reference and a Record of Implementation Decision.

Position Description

CDM Smith is seeking a Civil/Structural Engineer to lead civil and structural preliminary design for the anticipated water-conveyance feasibility study. The position will develop feasibility-level designs for reservoirs, pump-station structures, break-pressure tanks, abstraction and outfall works, crossings, valve chambers, energy-dissipation structures, foundations, and other major hydraulic and supporting structures.

*Professional engagement is contingent on project award and client approval.

Responsibilities

• Establish civil and structural design criteria, loading cases, factors of safety, allowable stresses, stability criteria, seismic parameters, durability requirements, and applicable codes and standards.
• Lead the preliminary structural design of reservoirs, break-pressure tanks, pump-station buildings, abstraction works, outfall structures, energy-dissipation structures, crossings, valve chambers, and other significant structures.
• Undertake structural, stability, deformation, stress, seepage, foundation-treatment, grouting, and steady-state or transient load analyses as applicable.
• Develop reinforced-concrete concepts, dimensions, reinforcement estimates, indicative reinforcement arrangements, and accurate concrete and reinforcement quantities.
• Coordinate structural foundations and earthworks with the geotechnical investigation findings, including dolomitic terrain, undermined areas, subsidence, seismicity, and river-crossing conditions.
• Develop structure layouts, plans, sections, details, temporary-works concepts, spoil plans, construction methods, constructability inputs, and design health and safety requirements.
• Support HAZOP, reliability analysis, instrumentation planning, climate-risk assessment, O&M and emergency-preparedness planning, and strategic asset management.
• Prepare and review design calculations, drawings, specifications, bills of quantities, cost estimates, implementation plans, construction programmes, and preliminary design reports.

Coordinate interfaces with pipeline, hydraulic, electro-mechanical, roads, survey, geotechnical, ESIA, land, and cost specialists.

Skills & Abilities

• Advanced civil and structural engineering for reservoirs, pump stations, hydraulic structures, and large water-system facilities.
• Reinforced-concrete and structural analysis, hydraulic loading, stability, seepage, deformation, seismic design, foundations, and durability.
• Ability to integrate geotechnical, hydraulic, mechanical, electrical, architectural, constructability, environmental, and occupational-safety requirements.
• Strong feasibility and preliminary-design calculations, drawing development, quantity estimation, specifications, and cost inputs.
• Design leadership, multidisciplinary coordination, technical review, risk management, and clear English-language reporting.

Qualifications

• Minimum qualification of a master’s degree in Structural Engineering or relevant fields
• 15 years post qualification experience in the design, planning and development of reservoir and hydraulic structurers for water system projects.
• They should be registered as a professional engineer with a recognized statutory engineering professional body

Preferred Qualifications

• Civil and structural design experience on reservoirs, pump stations, break-pressure tanks, abstraction works, outfalls, crossings, or similar hydraulic structures in Lesotho, Botswana, or South Africa.
• Experience designing structures for large-diameter, high-pressure pipeline and high-head pumping systems, including transient hydraulic loading.
• Demonstrated experience with reinforced-concrete water-retaining structures, foundation treatment, seepage control, energy dissipation, and structural instrumentation.
• Experience addressing structural and foundation risks associated with dolomitic terrain, undermined mining areas, subsidence, seismicity, and difficult river crossings.
• Working knowledge of applicable structural, concrete, water-retaining, seismic, occupational-safety, and construction standards used in the target countries.
• Current professional engineering registration that can be readily verified in a relevant statutory jurisdiction.

Amount of Travel Required

20% - 40%

Background Check and Drug Testing Information

CDM Smith Inc. and its divisions and subsidiaries (hereafter collectively referred to as “CDM Smith”) reserves the right to require background checks including criminal, employment, education, licensure, etc. as well as credit and motor vehicle when applicable for certain positions. In addition, CDM Smith may conduct drug testing for designated positions. Background checks are conducted after an offer of employment has been made in the United States. The timing of when background checks will be conducted on candidates for positions outside the United States will vary based on country statutory law but in no case, will the background check precede an interview. CDM Smith will conduct interviews of qualified individuals prior to requesting a criminal background check, and no job application submitted prior to such interview shall inquire into an applicant's criminal history. If this position is subject to a background check for any convictions related to its responsibilities and requirements, employment will be contingent upon successful completion of a background investigation including criminal history. Criminal history will not automatically disqualify a candidate. In addition, during employment individuals may be required by CDM Smith or a CDM Smith client to successfully complete additional background checks, including motor vehicle record as well as drug testing.

Additional Pay Range Information

CDM Smith is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. This pay range is a good faith estimate representative of all experience levels for the geographic location assigned to the position. In addition to geographic location, a candidate’s salary is determined by several other factors including, but not limited to, the role, function and associated responsibilities, relevant work experience, skills, required certifications, and education/training.

Additional Compensation

All bonuses at CDM Smith are discretionary and may or may not apply to this position.

Visa Sponsorship Available

No - We are not open to sponsoring for this position