Lead Design Civil Engineer

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 Guidel

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