Technical Principal - Ports & Maritime

About the role

SMEC is seeking a Technical Principal to lead the Ports & Maritime team. The role involves providing senior technical expertise for the design and delivery of port, maritime and coastal infrastructure projects across Australia and internationally.

Key responsibilities

• Generate innovative, economical, and practical engineering solutions for sea walls, revetments, breakwaters, groynes, beach nourishment, jetties, wharves, pontoons, boat ramps, moorings, intakes, outfalls, dredging, reclamation, terminals and land development.
• Lead project implementation, research & development, and business development activities.
• Build SMEC’s brand globally and regionally through technical excellence and client relationship management.
• Provide project governance at director level to ensure timely, high‑quality delivery.
• Support regional management by offering technical leadership, resource planning, staff retention and professional development.

Required profile

• 20+ years of experience in the Ports & Maritime industry, preferably within an engineering design consultancy.
• Proven track record of delivering large‑scale maritime infrastructure projects.
• Strong ability to build trusted client relationships and win new work.
• Technical authority capable of spearheading major project deliveries.

Required skills

• Design of sea walls, revetments and breakwaters.
• Design of groynes, beach nourishment schemes, jetties and wharves.
• Design of pontoons, boat ramps, moorings, intakes and outfalls.
• Dredging, reclamation and terminal design.
• Land development services for maritime sites.

What we offer

• Opportunities to work on diverse, high‑impact projects locally and internationally.
• Career development within a collaborative and inclusive team.
• Work locations in Melbourne, with access to offices in Brisbane and Sydney.