Principal/Lead Civil Engineer – Roads & Highways

About the role

SMEC is seeking a Principal/Lead Civil Engineer to drive the delivery of major transport infrastructure projects across road and rail sectors. Based in Perth, the role will support both local and national projects, applying innovative and economical engineering solutions throughout the project lifecycle.

Key responsibilities

• Provide project management and governance for complex transport projects, ensuring commercial, design, timeliness and quality targets are met.
• Build and maintain strong client relationships through successful delivery and targeted engagement activities.
• Lead multidisciplinary project teams, fostering cohesion, optimal performance, resource planning and professional development.
• Collaborate proactively with stakeholders to maintain quality, schedule and coordination of deliverables.
• Contribute to the commercial success of projects and support business development initiatives.

Required profile

• Proven experience delivering major transport infrastructure (road and/or rail) projects in Australia.
• Demonstrated ability to manage end‑to‑end project lifecycles and lead diverse engineering teams.
• Strong client‑facing skills with a track record of building lasting relationships.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management capabilities.

Required skills

What we offer

• Opportunity to work on iconic infrastructure projects with a globally connected workforce.
• Supportive environment that encourages innovation and professional growth.
• Access to a full lifecycle engineering portfolio across metro, light rail, freight and heavy haul systems.