Principal Civil Engineer – Consulting Industry

RPO Recruitment; Wes-Kaap; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Job summary

RPO Recruitment is seeking a Principal Civil Engineer (Pr.Eng) in Cape Town to lead municipal infrastructure and building civil projects. You will oversee design, delivery and multidisciplinary coordination, and mentor engineers and BIM/CAD personnel.

The role requires registration as a Professional Engineer (Pr Eng) with ECSA, a strong background in civil infrastructure, and leadership with a client-focused approach to delivering complex projects in a dynamic environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from a recognised institution.
• Registration as a Professional Engineer (Pr Eng) with ECSA.
• Typically 8+ years of relevant consulting experience.
• Proven design and delivery experience in civil infrastructure associated with buildings, developments and municipal engineering projects.
• Strong knowledge of relevant South African design standards, municipal requirements and engineering codes.
• Civil 3D proficiency and a strong understanding of BIM-enabled design and multidisciplinary coordination.

Responsibilities

• Lead civil engineering design and delivery for building development and municipal infrastructure projects.
• Develop and review designs from feasibility and concept through detailed design, tender and construction.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to engineers, technologists and BIM/CAD personnel.
• Drive BIM- and Civil 3D-based project delivery, coordinating civil models with other disciplines.
• Undertake technical reviews, design verification and quality assurance.
• Manage project deliverables, programmes, budgets and technical resources.
• Support tender preparation, fee proposals and project pursuits.
• Provide construction-stage technical support, respond to RFIs and undertake site inspections.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Project management

Technical judgement

Mentorship

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering

Tools

Civil 3D

BIM/CAD

Job description

A Principal Civil Engineer (Pr.Eng) opportunity is available with an established engineering consultancy in Cape Town at Principal / Associate level. This role involves leading municipal infrastructure and building-related civil engineering projects, overseeing design and delivery, and coordinating multidisciplinary teams, clients and approving authorities.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from a recognised institution.
• Registration as a Professional Engineer (Pr Eng) with ECSA.
• Typically 8+ years of relevant consulting engineering experience.
• Proven design and delivery experience in civil infrastructure associated with buildings, developments and municipal engineering projects.
• Experience in roads and access infrastructure; bulk earthworks and platform design; stormwater management and drainage; sewer and wastewater infrastructure; potable water and fire water infrastructure; and municipal services and external infrastructure connections.
• Strong technical judgement, design and technical review capabilities, and ability to develop practical solutions to complex civil engineering challenges.
• Strong knowledge of relevant South African design standards, municipal requirements and engineering codes.
• Civil 3D proficiency and a strong understanding of BIM-enabled design and multidisciplinary coordination.
• Experience preparing and reviewing engineering calculations, reports, drawings, specifications, tender documentation and construction information.
• Ability to undertake technical reviews and sign-off where required.
• Experience coordinating with architects, structural engineers, MEP teams, municipal authorities and other stakeholders.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to represent the organisation professionally in client and technical meetings.
• Leadership and mentorship skills, commercial awareness and project management capability.
• A proactive, solutions-oriented approach and ability to manage competing priorities while maintaining technical quality and meeting deadlines.
• Structural design experience will be advantageous.
• Experience delivering projects for, or obtaining approvals from, the City of Cape Town will be advantageous.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead civil engineering design and delivery for building development and municipal infrastructure projects.
• Develop and review designs from feasibility and concept through detailed design, tender and construction.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to engineers, technologists and BIM/CAD personnel
• Drive BIM- and Civil 3D-based project delivery, coordinating civil models with other disciplines.
• Undertake technical reviews, design verification and quality assurance.
• Manage project deliverables, programmes, budgets and technical resources.
• Support tender preparation, fee proposals and project pursuits.
• Provide construction-stage technical support, respond to requests for information (RFIs) and undertake site inspections where required.
• Coordinate with clients, consultants, contractors and approving authorities to support successful project delivery.
• Resolve design challenges using sound technical judgement and maintain engineering quality throughout the project lifecycle.