Principal Civil Designer - Defence at AECOM · Adelaide

Company Description

“We have a fantastic ability work on major projects with teams across the country. We also have access and use our global expertise to provide genuine value and relevant skills to some of Defence’s most unique and complex projects.“ – Matt Jetson, Defence Lead - Water

Come grow with us.

Balancing the world’s need for safe, reliable water with protecting this critical natural resource for the future requires a deep understanding of interconnected systems.

We work with clients across the entire project life cycle — from initial planning studies through final construction and operations and maintenance services — on both traditional and alternative project-delivery options (design-build, public-private partnerships and financing).

With a robust design and construction division, AECOM offers a unique perspective on designing projects that are fully constructible.

Everyone belongs at AECOM

We’re committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging - because great ideas come from diverse perspectives. AECOM is proud to be a Fortune 500 Most Admired Company, a WGEA Employer of Choice for Gender Equality, #Work180 Equitable Workplace Awards 2025 Winner and an AWEI Bronze Tier LGBTQ+ Inclusive Employer.

Job Description

Come grow with us.

Join AECOM’s multidisciplinary team and apply your expertise to mission‑critical defence water infrastructure that protects people, assets, and the environment.

We plan, design, and deliver end‑to‑end solutions - potable water security, advanced wastewater and recycled water treatment, stormwater and flood resilience, coastal and marine systems, contamination management, and whole‑of‑life asset strategies -under the standards, schedules, and security requirements that defence demands.

You’ll collaborate with our multidisciplinary team of process, civil and environmental engineers, hydrologists, and digital delivery specialists, using BIM, data analytics, and model‑based engineering to solve complex challenges and build a more resilient, sustainable water future.

Opportunity to make an impact.

As a Principal Civil Designer you'll partner in delivering mission-critical water and infrastructure projects that underpin Australia’s defence capability. Our work involves designing and integrating resilient utilities and environmental systems that support the operations of Defence bases and facilities. These long-term, nation-defining projects offer meaningful careers with job security and growth opportunities, all while contributing to Australia’s strategic future.

With a strong emphasis on security, these opportunities require Australian citizenship and eligibility for security clearances, ensuring that you play a vital part in safeguarding our nation. If you’re ready to be part of something impactful and exciting, come help us build the infrastructure that keeps Australia’s Defence capabilities strong.

How you’ll make a difference:

• Delivering drafting and design on large multidisciplinary civil engineering projects
• Leading cooperation and collaboration across multidisciplinary team members, liaising with engineers and drafters (both locally and internationally) and ensuring timely delivery of design deliverables.
• Leverage your technical skills and industry knowledge to deliver high-quality results. By maintaining rigorous standards and best practices, you will help ensure that every project meets the highest levels of excellence.
• Work on projects that improve defence capabilities, ensuring that our solutions are future-ready and adaptable to evolving strategic needs. Your contributions will support the creation of resilient assets that are crucial for Australia’s defence mission.
• Opportunity to mentor/lead juniors in the drafting and design team and wider Adelaide team.

Outside of our key defence criteria, the following qualifications and experience are highly desired, but if you don’t tick all the boxes you could still be a perfect fit for this role. Please apply, all applications will be considered.

Qualifications

The qualities that help you thrive

• Minimum 10 years’ experience in a similar role, ideally within a consultancy environment
• Demonstrable knowledge and confident capability in AutoCAD and 12D or Civil 3D software packages.
• Proven experience leading and delivering design and drafting for large civil Infrastructure/Water projects, ideally with some defence project exposure.
• Ability to lead and develop designs independently in multidisciplinary projects, ensuring innovation, collaboration and safety are prioritised.
• Proven experience leading design and drafting for large civil infrastructure projects in aspects such as utilities coordination, drainage, earthworks and roads design
• Australian citizenship is required as defence clearance is necessary; an Associate Degree or Advanced Diploma in Engineering Design is preferred.

Additional Information

Why you’ll love working with us

• Flexible work arrangements available, aligned with the market and client facing role requirements
• Purchase up to 6 weeks additional annual leave per year
• Reservists leave and representation leave
• Veteran Employment Support
• Flex public holidays – swap Easter or other holidays for ones that suit you better

If you are passionate about making a difference in Australia’s defence landscape and are ready for a new challenge, we want to hear from you!

At AECOM, we are committed to maintaining a secure and trustworthy recruitment process and take any fraudulent hiring activity seriously. To support this commitment, all newly hired employees are required to attend an in-person Day 1 onboarding at an AECOM office location as a condition of employment.

AECOM acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands on which we, our clients and our communities live and work around Australia. We pay our respects to their cultures and to their Elders — past, present, and emerging. We are committed to connecting to Country in our work through meaningful engagement with First Nations peoples and businesses. Find out more about our Australian Reconciliation Action Plan here: https://aecom.com/au/our-vision-for-reconciliation/.

About AECOM

AECOM is the world’s trusted infrastructure consulting firm, delivering professional services throughout the project lifecycle – from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. On projects spanning transportation, buildings, water, new energy and the environment, our public- and private-sector clients trust us to solve their most complex challenges. Our teams are driven by a common purpose to deliver a better world through our unrivaled technical and digital expertise, a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion, and a commitment to environmental, social and governance priorities. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm and its Professional Services business had revenue of $16.1 billion in fiscal year 2025. See how we are delivering sustainable legacies for generations to come at aecom.com and @AECOM.

Freedom to Grow in a World of Opportunity

You will have the flexibility you need to do your best work with hybrid work options. Whether you’re working from an AECOM office, remote location or at a client site, you will be working in a dynamic environment where your integrity, entrepreneurial spirit and pioneering mindset are championed.

You will help us foster a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion – a safe and respectful workplace, where we invite everyone to bring their whole selves to work using their unique talents, backgrounds and expertise to create transformational outcomes for our clients.

AECOM provides a wide array of compensation and benefits programs to meet the diverse needs of our employees and their families. We also provide a robust global well-being program. We’re the world’s trusted global infrastructure firm, and we’re in this together – your growth and success are ours too.

Join us, and you’ll get all the benefits of being a part of a global, publicly traded firm – access to industry-leading technology and thinking and transformational work with big impact and work flexibility. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in each person’s potential, and we’ll help you reach yours.