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