Position	Associate / Senior Associate – Civil Engineer
Location	Melbourne, VIC (flexible / hybrid working available)
Employment	Full-time, permanent
Reports to	Directors, Melbourne
Direct reports	Helps lead and mentor a project team of 3–5 engineers
Experience	Minimum 10 years’ civil engineering experience

 

About PJA

PJA is one of the leading independent transport, engineering and placemaking specialists in Australia and the UK, with two offices in Australia and six in the UK.

We provide specialist advice on a wide range of projects across Australia, the UK and beyond, from new neighbourhoods and urban regeneration schemes to civil infrastructure design and delivery. Our strength lies with our team of people, all of whom have been employed for their unique skills and talents – but if you cut us in half you’ll find the same core values all the way through us: we are credible, engaging and creative, and our mission is to create better places through great design.

As we continue to grow in Australia, we are looking for an experienced civil engineer to help lead our Melbourne team.

 

The opportunity

This is a senior, hands-on leadership role for a civil engineer who enjoys balancing technical delivery, people leadership and client relationships. Reporting to the Directors, you will help manage and mentor a project team, lead the delivery of civil infrastructure projects, and act as a trusted point of contact for our clients.

You will play a key role in delivering high-quality outcomes across a broad range of civil infrastructure works, while contributing to the growth of the Melbourne office through client management and business development. The role is offered at Associate or Senior Associate level depending on experience.

 

Key responsibilities

Team leadership

• Help lead, mentor and develop a project team of civil engineers, supporting their technical growth and career progression.
• Allocate and oversee work, manage workloads and quality, and support resourcing across concurrent projects.
• Foster a collaborative, supportive and high-performing team culture aligned with PJA’s values.

Client management & business development

• Act as a key client-facing contact, building and maintaining strong, trusted relationships across the private and public sectors.
• Contribute to business development — identifying opportunities, preparing fee proposals and bids, and helping grow the Melbourne pipeline.
• Represent PJA professionally with clients, authorities, councils and project stakeholders.

Technical delivery

• Lead and undertake the design and delivery of civil infrastructure projects across earthworks, roads, drainage and stormwater, and bulk infrastructure.
• Provide senior technical review, guidance and quality assurance on designs, documentation and reports.
• Manage projects through all phases — concept, detailed design, documentation, approvals and construction support.
• Liaise with councils, referral authorities and other consultants to secure approvals and resolve technical issues.

 

About you

Essential

• A minimum of 10 years’ experience in civil engineering, ideally within a consultancy or land development environment.
• A bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering (or equivalent).
• Experience across either the public or private sector (or both); experience in all sectors is not essential.
• Demonstrated experience leading or mentoring a team and managing the delivery of civil projects.
• Strong client-facing skills with a proven ability to build relationships and win and retain work.
• Excellent communication, problem-solving and project management skills.
• Eligibility to work in Australia.

Desirable

• Chartered status (CPEng) and / or National Engineering Register (NER) inclusion.
• Proficiency with Civil 3D and DRAINS (or similar civil design and drainage software).
• Experience in business development and fee proposal preparation.

 

Rewards and Benefits

As a member of the PJA team, you can expect:

• An attractive and modern working environment with good accessibility by all modes of transport centrally located 
• The opportunity to progress quickly within the growing firm 
• A wide range of challenging projects 
• Approved training schemes and development opportunities at a pace and direction that suit you.
• Ongoing support, training and mentoring from senior professionals within the business, with a real commitment from senior management towards personal and professional development.

We also offer an attractive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive salary.
• The ability to purchase additional days of leave.
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements to allow working from home as needed and agreed with management.
• Payment of professional subscriptions.

 

How to Apply

If this sounds like something you would like to be a part of, then we would love to hear from you. Please email your CV and a covering letter to [email protected]. Please ensure you state the role you are applying for in the email subject.

You must have the legal right to work in Australia as no visa sponsorship and relocation support are not available for this role.