Principal Civil Engineer

Roles & Responsibilities

Technical & Engineering

• Lead and provide specialist technical expertise on transport infrastructure projects.
• Plan, design and oversee transport infrastructure projects, including roads, geometric design, pavements, drainage and associated infrastructure.
• Review and approve technical designs, reports, specifications, drawings and tender documentation.
• Ensure designs comply with South African legislation, standards, codes and industry best practice.
• Provide technical input from feasibility and concept through to detailed design, construction and project close-out.
• Identify technical risks and develop cost-effective engineering solutions.
• Conduct technical reviews and quality assurance of project deliverables.

Project Management

• Lead and manage transport engineering projects from inception to completion.
• Manage project scope, budgets, programmes, resources, risks and quality.
• Act as Project Leader and/or Contract Engineer where required.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary teams and ensure effective integration between disciplines.
• Provide technical and commercial input into proposals and tenders.
• Assist with project costing, fee proposals, resource planning and contract negotiations.
• Ensure projects are delivered on time and within budget.

Client & Stakeholder Management

• Build and maintain relationships with clients, contractors, authorities and stakeholders.
• Act as a senior technical contact for clients.
• Lead technical and project meetings.
• Understand client requirements and translate them into practical engineering solutions.
• Support business development and identify opportunities for additional services.

Leadership & Mentorship

• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to engineers, technologists, technicians and graduates.
• Review and guide junior and intermediate staff.
• Promote technical excellence, collaboration, knowledge sharing and professional development.
• Support the development of the Transport Engineering team.

Business Development

• Contribute to the growth of the Transport Engineering business unit.
• Identify new project opportunities.
• Prepare and contribute to tenders, proposals and presentations.
• Develop and maintain existing and new client relationships.
• Promote the company's transport engineering capabilities.

2. Qualifications & Professional Registration

• BSc/BEng/BTech in Civil Engineering or related qualification.
• ECSA Professional Registration:

• Professional Engineer (Pr Eng), or
• Professional Engineering Technologist (Pr Tech Eng).

3. Experience

• Typically 12–15+ years of relevant post-graduate experience.
• Significant experience in civil/transport engineering.
• Strong experience in transport infrastructure and road projects.
• Experience in a consulting engineering environment preferred.
• Proven experience in the design and delivery of roads/transport infrastructure.
• SANRAL project experience would be advantageous.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary projects and teams.
• Project Leader and/or Contract Engineer experience.
• Client management and business development experience advantageous.
• Experience with project construction and close-out processes.

4. Skills & Knowledge

Technical Knowledge

• Transport and road infrastructure engineering.
• Geometric design, pavements and drainage.
• South African/Southern African transport engineering standards and legislation.
• Engineering design, documentation and quality assurance.
• Project lifecycle and construction processes.

Management & Commercial Skills

• Project management and coordination.
• Budget, programme and resource management.
• Risk management.
• Commercial awareness and financial acumen.
• Tendering, proposals and project costing.
• Business development and client relationship management.

Leadership & Interpersonal Skills

• Strong leadership and mentoring ability.
• Excellent verbal and written communication.
• Strong stakeholder and client-management skills.
• Ability to influence and motivate teams.
• Ability to work independently and within multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong organisational and planning skills.
• Analytical and problem-solving ability.
• High attention to detail.
• Proactive, self-driven and solutions-oriented.
• Professionalism and integrity.

Computer & Systems Skills

• Advanced Microsoft Excel.
• Microsoft Word and PowerPoint.
• Microsoft Project or equivalent scheduling software.
• Document control and electronic filing systems.
• SharePoint advantageous.