Senior Maritime Structural Engineer - Sydney

When you join us at Tonkin, you become part of a team who thrive on delivering exceptional outcomes that put people and our communities first.

Founded in 1955, Tonkin is on a strong, sustained growth journey, with a creative and progressive national team working across nine offices throughout Australia. Proudly employee-owned, we provide imaginative and dependable engineering, environmental, urban development, and construction solutions to our clients in both the public and private sectors. With expertise characterised by diversity and industry excellence, Tonkin is a national leader across the markets of water, waste, transport, natural resources management, buildings, public works, and land development.

Our growing pipeline of large-scale, high-profile, and technically challenging projects means we are seeking the best professionals in their fields to join us as we realise our vision to be Australia’s infrastructure consultant of choice.

You will be joining a close-knit team that prides itself on professional, technical, and collaborative excellence while supporting Tonkin’s multidisciplinary approach that ensures our clients receive the best solutions.

About the Role

As a Senior Maritime Structural Engineer, you’ll be responsible for overseeing all aspects of maritime structural project delivery, including technical excellence, financial performance, strategic direction, people leadership, and business development. Working closely with the Programme Manager – Structures and project teams, you’ll ensure the successful execution of projects while leading a culture that values collaboration, innovation, and excellence.

Key Responsibilities:

Project Leadership & Delivery

• Lead the maritime and structural design and documentation for river, port and coastal infrastructure from concept through to detailed design and construction.
• Oversee project financial performance including budgeting, forecasting, and profitability.
• Manage project scope, deliverables, and schedules, ensuring quality, safety, and compliance with Tonkin’s standards and client expectations.
• Drive communication and accountability across structural projects, ensuring high-quality delivery and compliance with statutory requirements and codes.

Technical Excellence

• Undertake detailed structural analysis and design using tools such as SpaceGass, RAPT, ETABS, and RAM Concept.
• Review and verify designs and calculations prepared by other engineers for technical accuracy and constructability.
• Apply and interpret relevant Australian Standards (AS4997, AS3962, AS 3600, AS 4100, AS 5100, AS/NZS 1170, AS 2159, AS 2870) and the National Construction Code.
• Develop and review technical specifications, design reports, and tender documentation.
• Undertake structural inspections, condition assessments, and certification for existing and new structures.
• Coordinate and integrate designs with multidisciplinary teams (civil, geotechnical, transport, and environmental).
• Support innovation and sustainability initiatives through the application of advanced materials, efficient design practices, and digital engineering tools (e.g., BIM/Revit integration).

Client Engagement & Business Development

• Build and manage strong client relationships, ensuring transparency and alignment throughout the project lifecycle.
• Lead or contribute to business development initiatives, including tender submissions, proposal preparation, and market analysis.
• Identify opportunities for new projects or service offerings, supporting Tonkin’s growth strategy through technical and commercial insight.

Health, Safety and Quality

• Champion a culture of safety in design and risk management across all project phases.
• Ensure compliance with Tonkin’s ISO-accredited Quality, Environmental, and OHS Management Systems.
• Promote sustainable and ethical engineering practices in all work undertaken.
• Shape and influence the team’s culture, reputation, and brand through authentic leadership and collaboration.

Leadership & Mentoring

• Provide leadership and mentoring to structural engineers and designers, fostering capability development and succession planning.
• Lead internal design reviews and promote continuous improvement in design processes and quality assurance.
• Contribute to maintaining and enhancing Tonkin’s structural and maritime engineering standards and technical knowledge base.
• Shape and influence the team’s culture, reputation, and brand through authentic leadership and collaboration.

About You

You may be an experienced Senior Engineer seeking to take the next step in technical and leadership responsibility, comfortable operating in both technical and client-facing capacities. You bring both strategic vision and operational discipline to ensure projects run efficiently, clients are supported, and teams are empowered to succeed.

You will have:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Civil or Structural Engineering (postgraduate qualifications desirable).
• 10+ years of structural engineering experience across buildings and/or infrastructure projects.
• Chartered status (MIEAust, CPEng) or ability to obtain within 6 months.
• Proven expertise in the design and delivery of concrete, structural steel, and composite structures.
• Experience with timber, aluminium, precast concrete, and design of floating structures would be viewed favourably.
• Expertise in piling design and soil-structure interaction.
• Proficiency in SpaceGass, RAPT and Bluebeam, and exposure to RAM Concept, ETABS, RCB, and Revit/BIM workflows.
• Demonstrated experience leading project teams in a local consultancy or engineering environment
• Strong understanding of construction methods, sequencing, and practical design delivery.
• Proven ability to manage project finances, develop proposals, and contribute to business planning.
• Proven ability to manage client relationships and drive business growth.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with a collaborative leadership style that builds trust, capability, and engagement.

Why Tonkin?

This is the ideal position for someone who is committed and passionate about furthering their career within a high-performing team recognised for technical excellence, creative problem-solving, and a human-centred approach to delivering meaningful building and infrastructure solutions.

At Tonkin, we know people perform at their best when they enjoy coming to work. We offer you the opportunity to collaborate with leading industry experts in a genuinely supportive and caring environment. We value flexibility and trust—empowering you to build your skills, progress your career quickly, and work in a way that suits you.

Good people. Challenging projects. Caring environment. That’s Tonkin.

Tonkin will only consider applications submitted directly by candidates. We will not accept or consider any applications from recruiters or recruitment agencies for this position unless requested.