Principal (Technical Director) - Mechanical Engineer

Beca HunterH2O

Beca HunterH2O is the Australian water business of one of Asia Pacific’s largest independent advisory, design and engineering consultancies, Beca. We are a collaborative team of 300+ water sector specialists, who are passionate about designing and delivering smart, resilient outcomes that help build healthy communities and sustainable outcomes throughout urban and regional Australia.

Combining the capability of our expert water specialists with access to more than 4000 multi-disciplinary specialists we can bring the best of Beca to our clients. With our purpose – to make everyday better, and our four values – partnership, tenacity, enjoyment and care – sitting at the heart of everything we do, we can truly realise our vision of ‘Creative people together transforming our world’.

The Opportunity

While water is the world’s most precious resource, at BecaHunterH2O, our people are our most precious resource. We are passionate about what we do and the culture we have developed. The more diverse we are, the better our ideas, strategies and client solutions will be. 

As our pipeline of work grows, we are seeking a Senior Associate / Principal Mechanical Engineer to join our multidisciplinary water team in Newcastle.

You will have extensive experience delivering complex engineering solutions in the water sector and a proven track record in mechanical design, commissioning and operations, and troubleshooting across large-scale water and wastewater infrastructure projects—including treatment plants and pump stations (>500L/s).

Bringing a deep technical expertise in all aspects of treatment plant and pumping station design: equipment selection and specification, process optimisation, construction support, and implementation of robust risk management practices aligned with WHS requirements and industry standards. Ideally, you will have experience leading teams through all project phases—from planning and options development through concept and detailed design, specification preparation, procurement, construction support, commissioning, and operational handover.

Our Senior Associates and Principal Engineers are trusted to:

• Provide technical leadership during project delivery—including oversight of mechanical design intent, equipment selection and installation practices.
• Collaborate with bid teams to ensure alignment of mechanical design during tender phases; review technical documentation; refine cost estimates; and develop competitive proposals.
• Work closely with procurement teams to define scopes, engage vendors (including RFQ processes), and coordinate equipment selection.
• Build strong relationships with clients and stakeholders—acting as a key technical liaison to present solutions confidently and ensure stakeholder satisfaction.
• Mentor junior staff; manage client relationships; evaluate tenders; develop contract documentation; and drive innovation on high-value projects.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives that enhance project outcomes.

Proven leadership in mechanical design for water or wastewater treatment projects is essential. Strong communication skills, stakeholder engagement experience, familiarity with digital engineering platforms (such as BIM/Revit), and the ability to deliver under pressure are highly regarded.

What we offer

A career with Beca will provide you with:

• Flexibility & Wellbeing:We recognise that achieving a work-life balance is unique to everyone. Enjoy flexible working options to manage your personal and family priorities, along with dedicated leave for wellbeing and community engagement.

• Belonging & Ownership:Join a diverse and inclusive team where collaboration and creativity thrive. Bring your whole self to work and take advantage of unique shareholder opportunities to share in our collective success.

• Parental Leave: Take time for what matters most with up to 14 weeks of fully paid parental leave, inclusive of all genders.

• Career Growth & Development: Your growth is our priority! Benefit from continuous learning through our training programs and support for professional accreditation, including pathways to Chartership with Engineers Australia. Work alongside industry leaders and gain hands-on experience to empower your career potential.

Beca prides itself on supporting a diverse and inclusive culture – open to inputs from creative people of all genders, ethnicity, identity, thought and experiences.

Who is Beca?

Beca is one of the Asia-Pacific region's largest employee-owned professional services consultancies. Our team of over 4000 professionals is diverse enough to bring a wide range of perspectives and expertise to every client and challenge, creating resourceful, smart solutions from our collective experience and insights.

‘Creative people together transforming our world’ is our vision. It reflects our culture, our aspirations and our purpose – to make everyday better. Our four values – partnership, tenacity, enjoyment and care – sit at the heart of everything we do, reflecting how we work every day with each other and our clients.

At Beca we make everyday better for our clients, our people and our community and your involvement makes it possible. Our size and agility mean you’re not just on the fringes; you’re making a visible difference, partnering to develop and deliver solutions from the ground up.

As a people-focused business, we understand that work-life balance means a lot of different things to different people and that it’s not always easy juggling work with everything else life throws at us. This is why we are happy to discuss flexible working arrangements for all opportunities in the Beca team.

Ready to Be involved. Be heard. Belong? / Apply now

If you want to be part of the Beca story, apply online today.

If you want to make every day better, apply online today! For further information please visit: www.beca.com/join-our-team/our-opportunities/water