Principal Civil Design Engineer (Water/Wastewater)

The Legends Agency; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 400,000 - 500,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading engineering firm in Cape Town is seeking a Principal Civil Design Engineer to manage critical water infrastructure projects. The ideal candidate will have over 12 years of experience in civil engineering and proficiency in design tools like AutoCAD. You will collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams and mentor junior engineers while ensuring technical compliance with project specifications.

Qualifications

• Minimum 12 years of civil engineering experience, ideally in the water/wastewater sector.
• ECSA registration (Pr Eng or Pr Tech Eng) required.
• Proficient in design tools such as AutoCAD and familiar with relevant industry standards.

Responsibilities

• Manage civil design interfaces within multi-disciplinary project teams.
• Develop and review design calculations, CAD drawings, and reports.
• Collaborate with colleagues and stakeholders to ensure successful design integration.

Skills

Civil engineering experience

Design tools expertise

Leadership skills

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Education

BTech/BSc in Civil Engineering

Tools

AutoCAD

Job description

Overview

Principal Civil Design Engineer (Water/Wastewater) – Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

About the job

Lead Civil Engineering Design on Critical Water Infrastructure Projects. Cape Town-based role with a competitive salary in the Water/Wastewater sector.

About Our Client

Our client is an established engineering firm delivering high-quality projects across sectors including water, energy, and infrastructure. With a strong in-house design and engineering team, they are known for providing end-to-end solutions with a focus on innovation and value engineering. Their design division plays a key role in project delivery, from feasibility through to detailed design and construction support.

Responsibilities

• Manage civil design interfaces within multi-disciplinary project teams.
• Interpret and deliver technical designs in line with project specifications and Eurocode standards.
• Develop and review design calculations, CAD drawings, reports, and risk assessments.
• Embed health and safety considerations throughout the design process.
• Review subcontractor and supplier outputs for technical compliance.
• Track and manage design effort relative to budget and schedule.
• Mentor and guide junior engineers and support knowledge sharing across teams.
• Collaborate with colleagues and stakeholders to ensure successful design integration.

Qualifications

• Minimum 12 years of civil engineering experience, ideally in the water/wastewater sector.
• BTech/BSc in Civil Engineering with ECSA registration (Pr Eng or Pr Tech Eng).
• Proficient in design tools such as AutoCAD and familiar with relevant industry standards.
• Strong understanding of treatment plants, pumping stations, and multidisciplinary design.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and team collaboration skills.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with multiple concurrent projects.
• Committed to continuous professional growth and development.