Lead Design Civil Engineer

SUMMARY:
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POSITION INFO:
LEAD DESIGN CIVIL ENGINEER Department : Design Office (Municipal Civil Engineering Infrastructure) Reports to: Director \/ Principal Engineer Direct reports: Design Engineers, Engineering Technicians, Candidate Engineers, Draughtspersons Location: Irene, Pretoria Employment type: Full-time, permanent Statutory registration: Professional Engineer (Pr Eng) with ECSA — mandatory 1. Purpose of the Role The Lead Design Engineer is a senior, ECSA-registered civil engineer responsible for the technical leadership, design integrity, and delivery of municipal infrastructure projects — including roads, stormwater, water reticulation and sewer\/wastewater networks — from feasibility through to construction supervision. The role combines hands-on technical design authority with team leadership, client management, and quality and risk oversight across the firm's project portfolio. As a small consulting practice, the successful candidate will operate as both a senior technical resource and a mentor, shaping the firm's design standards, project delivery approach, and the development of junior and candidate engineers on the path to professional registration. 2. Key Responsibilities Technical design leadership Take professional responsibility, as the Pr Eng of record, for civil designs across roads, stormwater, water supply and sewer\/sanitation infrastructure. Lead and review feasibility studies, preliminary and detailed designs, specifications, drawings, bills of quantities and tender documentation. Ensure designs comply with applicable South African codes, standards and guidelines, including SANS standards, COTO\/TRH\/TMH technical recommendations for roads, the CSIR Guidelines for Human Settlement Planning and Design (the 'Red Book'), relevant Department of Water and Sanitation guidelines, and applicable municipal engineering design standards. Sign off and take accountability for design calculations, drawings and reports prior to client submission, in line with ECSA's rules of conduct and scope-of-service guidelines. Oversee site supervision and contract administration during construction, including resolving technical queries, approving variations, and issuing certificates. Project and client management Manage multiple concurrent projects, balancing programme, budget, quality and client expectations. Act as the primary technical point of contact for municipal and private-sector clients, funders and regulatory authorities. Prepare and present technical reports, proposals and fee estimates in line with ECSA's Guideline Scope of Services and Professional Fees. Support business development, including scoping new work, contributing to tender submissions, and maintaining client relationships. Team leadership and mentorship Supervise and mentor design engineers, technicians and candidate engineers, including signing off training and experience records for candidates pursuing ECSA registration. Allocate workload across the design team and review technical output for accuracy, consistency and constructability. Contribute to the firm's internal design standards, templates, and quality management procedures. Quality, Risk and Compliance Maintain a working knowledge of, and ensure compliance with, the Engineering Profession Act, ECSA's Code of Conduct, and relevant legislation including the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Construction Regulations. Identify and manage professional indemnity and public liability risk on projects, escalating concerns to the Director where appropriate. Maintain personal CPD records in line with ECSA's continuing professional development requirements. 3. Qualifications and Registration BEng \/ BSc (Eng) in Civil Engineering from an ECSA-accredited institution (or equivalent, ECSA-assessed qualification). Registered as a Professional Engineer (Pr Eng) with the Engineering Council of South Africa — current and in good standing. Registration must be maintained throughout employment. Membership of SAICE (South African Institution of Civil Engineering) advantageous. 4. Experience A minimum of 8 - 12 years' post-qualification civil engineering experience, with at least 5 years in a senior design or technical leadership role. Demonstrated track record delivering municipal civil infrastructure projects — roads and stormwater, potable water reticulation, and sewer\/sanitation networks — from concept through to construction close-out. Experience working with municipal, provincial and\/or national client bodies (e.g. local municipalities, SANRAL, water boards, DWS) and an understanding of MFMA\/PFMArelated supply chain and reporting requirements is advantageous. Prior experience mentoring candidate engineers through the ECSA registration process is advantageous. Experience preparing tender documentation and working within CIDB-registered contractor environments. 5. Technical Knowledge and Skills Strong working knowledge of relevant design codes and guidelines: SANS standards (e.g. SANS 10400, SANS 1200\/2001 series), COTO Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Works, TRH\/TMH guidelines, the CSIR 'Red Book', and municipal water and sanitation design guidelines. Hydraulic and hydrological modelling for stormwater, water and sewer networks. Pavement and geometric design principles for municipal and provincial roads. Proficiency in civil design and drafting software (e.g. AutoCAD Civil3D \/ iDAS), and hydraulic modelling packages relevant to the firm's practice. Sound understanding of construction methods, costing and contract administration under standard forms of contract (e.g. GCC, FIDIC, NEC as applicable). Competent in MS Office and project\/document management tools. Competent in the use of appropriate AI tools. 6. Core Competencies Sound engineering judgement and the ability to take, and stand behind, professional design decisions. Strong leadership and people-management skills, with a genuine interest in developing junior staff. Excellent verbal and written communication, including report writing and client presentation. High standard of professional integrity and ethical conduct, consistent with ECSA's Code of Conduct. Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities in a smallfirm environment where hands-on involvement is expected at all levels. Being a team player. 7. Additional Requirements Valid driver's licence and willingness to travel to project sites. Willingness to undergo reference, qualification and ECSA registration verification as part of the appointment process. 8. Remuneration and Benefits Cost-to-company will be based on market-related salary band. Company pension fund, medical aid, and travelling allowance. Annual registration fees with ECSA and SAICE. Future shareholding opportunities. Statutory registration Professional Engineer (Pr Eng) with ECSA — mandatory