Design Manager - Water Infrastructure

About the role

SMEC is seeking an experienced Design Manager to lead water and wastewater infrastructure projects. This client‑facing position combines deep technical expertise with strong project and stakeholder management to deliver complex, multidisciplinary outcomes.

Key responsibilities

• Provide technical oversight of engineering design packages for major water projects.
• Lead the technical delivery of a project or program, ensuring quality and schedule compliance.
• Build and sustain strong relationships with clients, contractors, regulators and delivery partners.
• Coordinate and guide multidisciplinary design teams across civil, structural and process disciplines.
• Represent SMEC as a proactive advisor committed to positive impact.

Required profile

• Minimum 15+ years of experience in wastewater treatment plant or network design.
• Proven track record in design management within an engineering consultancy.
• Strong commercial acumen: scope, budget, risk and client expectation management.
• Extensive experience coordinating complex multidisciplinary engineering designs.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and influencing skills in client‑facing environments.

Required skills

• Wastewater treatment plant design
• Wastewater network design
• Design management
• Multidisciplinary engineering design coordination

What we offer

• Flexible working options
• Dynamic career pathways and SMEC Adventures
• Professional development and mentoring programs
• Education assistance and additional annual leave
• Generous parental leave and wellbeing initiatives