Head of Design Engineering

Join our team at EIC Activities to fast-track your career, deliver unique and transformational work, and support positive change in our communities.
We develop careers that take us to the top, working on landmark projects like none other, in teams that put people first.
And as a member of CIMIC Group, our engineering and risk mitigation expertise is key to the Group’s seamless delivery of integrated solutions across every life-cycle phase of asset, infrastructure and resources projects.
Every day, we’re all part of something bigger.

About the role

EIC Activities is seeking an experienced Head of Design Engineering to join our team in Brisbane, Melbourne or Sydney.

The Head of Design Engineering is responsible for leading and advancing the Group's design engineering capability, ensuring the delivery of innovative, safe, constructable and commercially effective engineering solutions across disciplines which currently include geotechnical works, complex structures, renewable energy civil infrastructure, temporary works and mechanical and electrical engineering.

Capacity and capability growth will be achieved through a combination of organic growth, further development of the 1DCS relationship and fostering of partnerships with a range of external design groups. The role is accountable for delivering a profitable result for the Design Engineering Group, whilst also balancing a need to add value to the CIMIC OpCo.

Working in partnership with senior leaders, this role aligns engineering design and methodology services with business priorities, project requirements and growth objectives. The position ensures design engineering capabilities are scalable, responsive and fit for purpose, supporting successful project delivery, operational excellence and the long-term growth of EIC

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the Design Engineering team to provide specialist in-house design engineering capability across technical niches, available on demand to CIMIC Group Operating Companies.

• Collaborate with the Heads of Engineering Strategy and Performance, and Digital Engineering Delivery to optimise and modernise the integrated engineering delivery across the CIMIC Group.

• Drive increased utilisation of ACS and other offshore engineering resources to support self-perform design activities and scalable project delivery.

• Establish and maintain effective interfaces with other CIMIC Group engineering capabilities, including UGL (MEI) and Sedgman (SMP), to maximise the Group's self-perform engineering offering.

• Act as the Australian client-facing design lead for niche international design partners and specialist engineering organisations, including overseas and local design consultants.

• Further develop relationships/partnerships with 1DCS, niche local design groups and international design houses to grow the capability and capacity of EIC to deliver innovative and lean design solutions at an efficient cost of design.

• Drive innovation in engineering design through the mobilisation of highly capable specialist designers and subject matter experts across the CIMIC Group network and strategic partners.

• Support the development of efficient design solutions that improve project value through enhanced constructability, reduced design costs and accelerated delivery programs.

• Support bid development, project delivery and strategic pursuits through innovative engineering and digital solutions.

• Deliver a profitable result for the design engineering practice whilst also balancing the requirement to add value by reducing cost and risk across CIMIC OpCos.

About you

• Tertiary qualification in Engineering (Civil, Structural, Geotechnical, Mechanical, Electrical or related engineering discipline)

• Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng) through Engineers Australia or an equivalent internationally recognised professional accreditation

• Registration as a Registered Professional Engineer (RPEQ, RPEV, RPEWA, NER or equivalent)

• Minimum of 15 years’ experience in engineering design, engineering consultancy, or construction engineering environments

• Proven experience leading multidisciplinary design and engineering teams across complex infrastructure, civil, structural, geotechnical, renewable energy and/or major projects

• Demonstrated success developing and implementing engineering strategies, standards, governance frameworks and technical assurance processes that improve business performance and project outcome and working with internal stakeholders where influencing skills as opposed to directional management predominate

• Demonstrable track record of leading a profitable design engineering business and successfully growing the scale of that business. Strong commercial skills are necessary

• Significant experience providing engineering leadership across a portfolio of projects, ensuring design solutions are innovative, safe, constructable, practical and commercially viable

What We Offer

At EIC Activities, we offer:

• The opportunity to shape a newly established role with significant business impact
• A collaborative environment where your expertise directly influences project success
• Support from a global organisation within one of the world’s leading contracting groups
• Exposure to complex, high‑value infrastructure projects
• Competitive remuneration and benefits, including:
  • Health and wellbeing programs
  • Company‑funded salary continuance insurance
  • Flexible work arrangements

• A culture that values accountability, continuous improvement, and innovation

About EIC Activities

EIC Activities is CIMIC Group’s specialist engineering and technical services business. We enable the seamless delivery of complex infrastructure and resources projects by providing expert capability across all phases of the asset lifecycle.

Our teams include some of the industry’s most respected engineers, technical specialists, and practitioners. We champion technical excellence, grow capability, and amplify insights across the Group.

We are committed to workplace diversity and social inclusion, supporting the advancement of women in engineering and construction, Indigenous participation, and people from all cultural backgrounds.