Design Manager – Roads & Highways

About the role

SMEC is seeking an experienced Design Manager to lead the Roads & Highways team in Melbourne. This senior position (15+ years’ experience) will oversee complex design projects, ensuring technical excellence and client satisfaction.

Key responsibilities

• Deliver high‑quality design outputs that meet project briefs, stakeholder and statutory requirements.
• Provide senior technical leadership to define scope and develop fit‑for‑purpose road and highway solutions.
• Implement risk‑mitigation strategies and ensure standards are applied throughout design phases.
• Manage all design activities from preliminary through detailed and final design, including value engineering and contractor workshops.
• Support strategic pursuits by contributing recognised design leadership and market presence.
• Maintain client satisfaction by allocating suitably skilled resources.
• Communicate regularly with internal teams, clients, contractors and approval authorities.
• Resolve technical disputes, design clarifications and scope definitions.

Required profile

• Tertiary engineering qualification.
• CPEng accreditation.
• RPEQ / RPEV / NSW PER registration or ability to obtain.
• 15+ years of detailed design and design‑management experience in roads and highways.

Required skills

• Road and highway design.
• Design management.
• Value engineering.
• Design package coordination and version control.
• Stakeholder engagement and workshop facilitation.

What we offer

• Opportunity to work on iconic infrastructure projects.
• Collaborative, flexible environment with industry‑leading specialists.
• Professional growth and leadership development.