Principal Surface Water Engineer

About SLR Consulting

SLR Consulting is a global leader in providing sustainability solutions across diverse industries and regions. Our technical experts collaborate with high-profile Australian organizations to enhance operational sustainability. Guided by the mission "Making Sustainability Happen," we foster strong technical leadership, deep understanding of client objectives, and a collaborative culture to create a sustainable future.

Our flexible approach allows us to manage projects of varying scales, from large multi-disciplinary endeavors to focused single-discipline tasks. Our governance promotes empowerment, pragmatic risk management, and teamwork, enabling staff to engage in challenging projects, learn from industry leaders, and confidently build their professional profiles.

Hydrology and Hydrogeology Team

Our APAC region hosts a 60+ member Hydrogeology and Hydrology Technical Discipline, a core business sector for SLR. We aim to grow our presence, primarily serving Tier 1 clients in Mining, Built Environment, Renewables, and Infrastructure. We are looking for a driven surface water expert to help expand our mature technical team by leveraging existing client relationships and establishing new partnerships.

This position reports to the Queensland Surface Water State Lead and can be based in Brisbane or Townsville offices, where established teams exist. It offers great career advancement for professionals with hands-on experience in hydrology, hydraulic modeling, and water resources, involving leadership across multiple industries in collaboration with skilled colleagues.

Our teams work collaboratively across several Australian cities and closely with other environmental specialists within SLR.

Market Focus for 2025

• Growth in infrastructure and renewable energy sectors
• Enhancement of advisory services, including expert witness roles for Queensland courts
• Expansion of surface water services beyond Queensland

Key Responsibilities

• Execute environmental assessments and design projects related to surface water for clients in various sectors.
• Apply hydrologic, hydraulic, and water balance modeling software to develop technical solutions.
• Collaborate with team members to produce modeling results and quality reports, ensuring adherence to timelines and budget constraints.
• Build and strengthen relationships with internal teams and external clients to foster successful project outcomes.
• Contribute to business development by assisting in proposal preparation, defining methodologies, and highlighting client value to meet deadlines.
• Offer expert advice to clients, colleagues, and project managers on best practices and principles related to surface water engineering.
• Perform comprehensive reviews and provide commercial insights as a versatile generalist.

Candidate Experience and Qualifications

• Preferably 10 to 15+ years of industry experience, including consultancy exposure.
• Hold an engineering degree and relevant professional background.
• Registered or eligible for registration as a Registered Professional Engineer Queensland (RPEQ) within six months.
• Extensive proficiency in hydraulic modeling, especially two-dimensional modeling using TUFLOW.
• Familiarity with hydrologic modeling tools such as RORB, WBNM, and XP RAFTS, along with strong knowledge of Australian Rainfall and Runoff guidelines.
• Additional expertise in surface water engineering areas like stormwater management, erosion and sediment control, water quality assessment, streamflow analysis, flood risk evaluation, and site water management is advantageous.
• Experience in water infrastructure design and assessment (e.g., dams, levees, diversions).
• Knowledge of MUSIC or GoldSim modeling is beneficial but not mandatory.
• Understanding of Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), Environmental Authority (EA) amendments, and Queensland resource sector legislation is highly regarded.
• Strong communication skills, including technical writing.
• Track record of managing projects through their full lifecycle.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills, motivation, and teamwork capabilities; mentoring and supervisory experience is a plus.
• Proven ability to cultivate and sustain long-term client relationships.
• Valid driver's license with an excellent driving record.

Additional Information

SLR welcomes applications seeking flexible work arrangements, including permanent part-time roles. Our inclusive culture promotes diversity, mentoring, and supportive parental leave policies. If you're passionate about sustainability and collaborative technical work, consider joining our expert and friendly team.

Contact our Talent Acquisition team for confidential discussions or apply with your curriculum vitae.