Senior Designer - Roads & Highways

About the role

SMEC, a global engineering consultancy delivering infrastructure projects in transport, water, energy and urban development, is looking for a Senior Designer - Roads & Highways to join its team in Cairns or Townsville. The role supports the delivery of transport infrastructure projects across Queensland and Australia, focusing on design quality, technical rigour and coordinated outcomes. It suits someone who enjoys solving complex design challenges, collaborating across disciplines and taking greater ownership of design outcomes.

Key responsibilities

• Lead and deliver high-quality roads and highways design outputs in line with technical standards, client requirements and SMEC quality expectations.
• Develop complex design models, drawings and technical documentation using 12d and AutoCAD as the primary platforms.
• Provide technical input into design reports, documentation, reviews and project deliverables.
• Review design outputs and support quality assurance and peer review processes.
• Ensure designs comply with Austroads, client specifications and relevant HSEQ requirements.
• Collaborate with engineers and multidisciplinary teams to develop practical, compliant and cost-effective solutions.
• Mentor designers and junior team members and communicate with internal teams, clients and stakeholders.
• Manage design activities against project deadlines and budgets, minimise rework and contribute to continuous improvement.

Required profile

• 6-10 years' experience in roads and highways design within a consulting or infrastructure environment.
• Comfortable owning complex design packages, working across multidisciplinary teams and guiding less experienced designers.
• Strong communication skills and a proactive, solutions-focused approach to design quality and continuous improvement.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and deliver quality work within agreed timeframes and budgets.

Required skills

• Strong proficiency in 12d as a primary design platform; Civil 3D or OpenRoads experience considered beneficial.
• AutoCAD experience for drawing preparation and coordination, and complex design modelling.
• Working knowledge of Austroads, TMR and relevant state and local authority standards.

Applications are submitted online through the company's careers page; unsolicited resumes are not accepted. The role is based in Cairns or Townsville.