Drainage Engineer- Transport

• Global Expertise, Local Insight: With a presence in over 40 countries, SMEC combines global knowledge with local understanding to deliver tailored solutions that meet Australia and New Zealand's unique needs. 

• Technical Excellence: Our team of specialists is renowned for their technical prowess and reliable delivery. From transport infrastructure to energy projects, we tackle the most complex challenges with precision and creativity. 

• Be an integral part of a global engineering design consultancy present in NZ for 13+ years looking to grow rapidly, providing plenty of local and international career opportunities and upward mobility. 

About SMEC 

At SMEC, we shape the future of infrastructure through technical excellence, collaboration and innovation, delivering transformative transport, energy, water and urban development projects across Australia, New Zealand, Asia and the Pacific. 

As part of SJ Group, SMEC draws on a global network of 16,000+ specialists across engineering, planning, design, project management and advisory, combining local insight with international capability to deliver integrated infrastructure solutions. 

That capability is backed by strong international recognition, including ENR rankings of #24 among the Top 225 International Design Firms and #5 in Australia/Oceania, giving our teams access to leading clients, major projects and specialist expertise worldwide. 

SMEC is seeing strong transport growth across Australia and New Zealand, with expanding opportunities in resilient networks, sustainable mobility and major city-shaping projects.

At SMEC, you’ll join a collaborative, inclusive culture that supports technical excellence, professional growth and leadership, with opportunities to work on nationally significant projects, partner with global specialists and help shape the future of our Queensland and New Zealand business. 

The Role

We’re seeking an experienced Drainage Engineer to join our team and lead the delivery of drainage solutions for transport infrastructure projects across New Zealand.

This is a growth opportunity for a technically capable and client-focused engineer who can deliver high-quality integrated hard and soft engineering drainage solutions and contribute to the continued growth of our capability in the local market.

You’ll play a key role across project delivery and business development, helping to shape resilient, practical, and integrated drainage outcomes for major infrastructure projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Undertake drainage design and technical delivery for transport infrastructure projects from concept through to detailed design
• Interpret flood modelling, coordinate interfaces with related disciplines, and develop practical, integrated drainage solutions
• Ensure designs align with relevant New Zealand and regional standards, understand local cultural aspirations, planning requirements, and client expectations
• Contribute to technical reports, written advice, proposals, and client-facing documentation
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to deliver coordinated, efficient, and high-quality project outcomes
• Build and maintain industry relationships that support project delivery and the continued growth of SMEC in New Zealand
• Apply sound engineering judgement to improve design quality, project outcomes, and long-term resilience

About You

You’re a technically strong drainage engineer with a broad understanding of transport infrastructure, catchment thinking, and multidisciplinary delivery. You combine practical design capability with strong written and verbal communication, and you are motivated to contribute both to project success and to the growth of the wider team.

You will bring:

• 8+ years’ experience in drainage engineering within transport or related infrastructure projects
• A degree qualification in Civil Engineering or a related field
• Chartered Engineer status in New Zealand, or the ability to obtain it quickly
• Strong drainage design capability, including flood model interpretation and multidisciplinary design coordination
• Experience using industry-standard design tools, with 12d experience considered beneficial
• Experience across concept, reference, and detailed design phases, with the ability to communicate design and drainage management ideas clearly in writing
• Strong client-facing and commercial awareness, with experience contributing to proposals and relationship development
• An appreciation of the environmental, regulatory, and cultural context shaping infrastructure projects in New Zealand, including the importance of engaging with mana whenua perspectives

We understand that no candidate will meet every single requirement. If this role interests you and you feel you can bring value to the team, we encourage you to apply—we’d love to hear from you.

Wrap up 

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce and actively encourage candidates from all backgrounds to join our team across engineering and technical disciplines. SMEC aims to provide a supportive professional environment that promotes career growth, recognises and rewards individual contribution, and offers opportunities to work on meaningful projects that help shape the future of SMEC in the industry. 

With gender-balanced and diverse representation across technical, project delivery, and leadership roles within our business, team members have access to strong professional networks, role models, and mentorship and sponsorship programs that support career progression and foster an inclusive and supportive workplace culture. 

Learn more about SMEC: http://smec.com/infocus/  

How to apply  

All applications must be submitted online. To apply, click on the "Apply Now" link below and follow the prompts. 

For a confidential discussion regarding this opportunity, please contact Carl Thiedeke – [email protected] 

To find out more about SMEC, please visit our careers page at www.smec.com/careers 

All recruitment activities go through our Resourcing function and currently, this role doesn’t require agency input. Please do not forward resumes directly to SMEC employees/managers; we do not accept unsolicited resumes and are not responsible for any associated fees. 

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