A fantastic permanent opportunity is now available for a Principal Engineer (Civil) to lead the Design Team within the Technical Services Unit in the Far North District, based in Cairns.

Experience the unique lifestyle of Far North Queensland, where you can build a rewarding career while enjoying a relaxed and balanced way of life. The region is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, offering activities such as fishing, boating, hiking, mountain biking, snorkelling and exploring its stunning natural landscapes.

Job details

About us:
The North Queensland Region spans the Far North, North West, and Northern districts, with offices in Cairns, Cloncurry, and Townsville. Covering 589,240 km² (38.2% of Queensland), it stretches from Australia's northern tip to Camooweal (NT border) and south to Home Hill.

Home to over 546,000 people and 35 local governments, the region thrives on agriculture, tourism, fishing, mining, and retail. It manages 1,756 km of National Highways, 6,335 km of State-controlled roads, and 35,483 km of local government roads.

With its mix of coastal towns, rainforests, outback, and reef, North Queensland offers a truly unique lifestyle.

We offer diverse work experiences that allow you to unleash your potential with benefits such as:
* Flexible work arrangements to enable the best of our people.
* A focus on learning and development opportunities to grow your career path.
* Annual reimbursement of professional fees.
* 5 weeks annual leave + 14% annual leave loading.
* Locality allowance of up to $43.40 per fortnight.
* Relocation assistance.

The role:
As the Principal Engineer (Civil), you will lead and mentor a team to deliver quality design projects for the district's civil infrastructure programs. The role involves providing expert advice, evaluating design options, and ensuring compliance with standards to achieve project success and value-for-money outcomes. You will also manage the preconstruction program and coordinate team resources to foster collaboration and meet organisational goals.

Some of your responsibilities will include:
* Leading and mentoring a team of Civil Designers and Engineers to successfully deliver infrastructure design projects.
* Providing expert advice on design processes and engineering considerations, promoting innovation in areas without defined standards.
* Evaluating design options, resource allocation, and construction practices to ensure project success and value for money.
* Applying relevant standards, policies, and engineering principles to ensure compliance and robust decision-making.
* Managing the delivery of the preconstruction program using program management capabilities.
* Coordinating team resources, fostering collaboration, and promoting a positive and productive work environment.

Mandatory qualifications and conditions:
• A four-year, Washington Accord accredited, Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) or equivalence which is assessed/accepted by Engineers Australia against Washington Accord benchmarks.
• Registration as a Registered Professional Engineer of Queensland (RPEQ) is mandatory for appointment to the position.
• A current Class ‘C' Drivers Licence.
• Pre-employment checks, including a criminal history screening and declaration of serious discipline history are required to be completed.
• Must be eligible to work in Australia.

Desirable qualifications and conditions:
• Proficiency in using 12D Model and AutoCAD software.

Submit your application online via the Smart Jobs and Careers website at www.smartjobs.qld.gov.au. For more information about the role, please contact Anthony Martin on (07) 4045 7266.

Applications to remain current for 12 months.

Job Ad Reference: QLD/684014/26 

Closing Date: Monday, 20 April 2026

Further information

We are committed to building inclusive cultures in the Queensland public sector that respect and promote human rights and diversity.

Please ensure you download all attachments and follow the instructions on how to apply.

Documents

Before applying for this vacancy please ensure you read the documents below.

• 20260324 Applicant Guide - PO5 Principal Engineer (Civil) (PDF, 322KB)
  
  
  Engineering Registration Requirements in Queensland (PDF, 350KB)
  
  
  684014 26 Role Description v1 (Word, 577KB)