Project Engineer, Hydraulic Building Services (Public Health)

• Open to plumbers transitioning off the tools or junior engineers
• Major D&C projects including hospitals, corrections & high-rise
• Genuine long-term pathway into Design Management

Project Engineer, Hydraulic / Public Health

This is an opportunity for a Project Engineer to join a privately owned Tier 2 hydraulic contractor operating at a Tier 1 level, delivering D&C Hydraulic Building Services projects across SEQ. Located on the Northern end of the Gold Coast.

The company is seeking someone who can help drive the design and delivery of commercial hydraulic/public health projects from concept through to construction, working closely with builders, consultants and internal delivery teams.

With a strong pipeline of work and long-standing relationships with major builders, this business has built a reputation over 25+ years for delivering practical, commercially sound hydraulic solutions that work in the real world.
The business is led by two highly active directors who remain heavily involved in both construction and design. Around them is a close-knit team of modellers, estimators and project staff who genuinely enjoy working together and investing in each other’s growth.

This role would suit someone who wants more than just another engineering job.

• Someone who likes ownership.
• Someone commercially aware enough to understand that in D&C, the design has to work.
• Someone ambitious who wants the opportunity to grow quickly in the right environment.

The ideal candidate will likely be someone who has already made the transition from working on the tools as a plumber into a hydraulic design/project engineering environment and is now looking for a long-term opportunity with genuine career progression.

However, the company is also open to:

• Trade-qualified plumbers with strong technical aptitude who are looking to transition into an office-based engineering/design role
• Candidates with strong communication skills, commercial awareness and the ability to learn quickly
• Graduate or junior engineers from a civil or mechanical background who have gained a few years of practical industry experience and are interested in developing a career within Hydraulic/Public Health Project Engineering
Above all, they are looking for someone with the right mindset, strong problem-solving ability and the ambition to grow into a key long-term member of the business.

The Role You will work across a range of commercial hydraulic/public health projects from concept through to delivery, coordinating with consultants, builders and internal teams throughout the full project lifecycle.

Projects include:

• High-rise residential
• Shopping centres
• Health projects including major mental health facilities
• Large-scale government and corrections projects
• Major D&C developments with nationally recognised Tier 1 builders
• Approved delivery partner for government and Olympic-related project work through long-standing relationships with key Tier 1 construction groups
• Future Olympic and large-scale infrastructure pipeline projects across SEQ

This is a client-facing role where you will eventually manage 3–6 projects at various stages simultaneously.

Responsibilities include:

• Concept design and design development
• Hydraulic engineering calculations
• Coordination with architecture, structure and other services
• Value management and practical problem solving
• Managing authority requirements
• Working closely with delivery/site teams
• Taking ownership of design outcomes

Career Progression

For the right person, this role has a genuine long-term pathway into a Design Manager position.

The business is looking to invest in someone who wants longevity and is interested in growing into a senior technical leadership role over time, helping set design direction across multiple projects while mentoring and supporting other engineers and project staff.

Why this role stands out

• Employee share opportunities
• Long-term career pathway into leadership
• Directors who genuinely invest in mentoring and development
• Tight-knit office with a strong team culture
• Opportunity to learn D&C properly from experienced operators
• Stable pipeline of work with repeat Tier 1 builder relationships
• Exposure to technically challenging real-world projects
• Gold Coast location with free parking
• Privately owned business with fast decision making and no corporate layers

Skills & Experience

• Hydraulic/Public Health project engineering or design exposure preferred
• Trade plumbing background highly regarded
• Engineering qualification or relevant technical training advantageous
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Technical aptitude and engineering mindset
• Commercial awareness
• Ability to take ownership and work autonomously
• Strong problem-solving ability
• Comfortable working in an office-based environment
• Willingness to learn and develop
• Strong maths/science fundamentals
• Positive attitude and humility
The ideal person is ambitious, quick to learn and wants somewhere they can build a long-term future without being boxed in.
This is the type of company where good people can grow very quickly.


Contact me now for a completely confidential chat.
Mahlah Ludekens 0403 951 110 or via email [email protected]


ABOUT ME

#SCR-mahlah-ludekens

I specialise exclusively in Building Services recruitment and have been working in this sector for over 24 years, building long-standing relationships with consultancies, contractors and developers across the industry.

I’ve spent over two decades recruiting exclusively within Building Services, so I understand the technical roles, the key firms in the market, and what makes a move worthwhile for people in this industry.

Over that time I’ve built a strong network across Australia’s building services industry, including many consultancies and contractors you’ll know — and quite a few you may not.

My role is simple: connecting the right people with the right opportunities.
If this particular role isn’t quite what you're looking for, feel free to get in touch anyway. I'm always happy to have a confidential conversation about the market, your career direction, and opportunities that may not yet be advertised.

All conversations are strictly confidential, and I'm always happy to provide an honest view of the market if you're simply curious about what opportunities might exist.