Principal Engineer

The Role

Stellar Recruitment is partnered with a well-established environmental and engineering consultancy with a strong reputation across New Zealand's water infrastructure sector.

We are seeking a Principal Engineer to join the Auckland team and play a key role in leading the delivery of complex water, wastewater and stormwater projects.

In this role, you will support and grow capability across all aspects of delivery, including design quality, risk management, and client engagement. This is an opportunity for an influential changemaker to build and maintain enduring client relationships, contribute to new work, and help shape the strategic direction of the firm's three waters capability across New Zealand.

The Company

Our client is an established, purpose-driven environmental consultancy that has spent 26 years developing sustainable engineering solutions across New Zealand. Working at the intersection of water, land, and ecology, they tackle complex infrastructure challenges with a genuine commitment to restoring and protecting ecosystem health for future generations.

Driven by an obligation to achieve high-quality outcomes and innovation, they build connections, empower communities, and bring changemakers together to deliver pragmatic, sustainable solutions that co-create a better future for Aotearoa.

Key Responsibilities

• Providing high-level technical leadership and oversight across three waters projects
• Leading and managing project teams to deliver quality, sustainable outcomes
• Preparing, reviewing, and releasing technical deliverables and design documentation
• Growing and maintaining key client relationships across New Zealand
• Supporting the directors with engineering reviews and engineer-to-contract roles
• Contributing to the strategic development of the firm's engineering services and capability
• Promoting and integrating water-sensitive design, climate adaptation, and sustainability principles
• Mentoring and supporting engineers across experience levels in a collaborative, non-hierarchical environment
• Engaging meaningfully with iwi, hapū, and mātauranga Māori across relevant projects

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor of Engineering (Civil or Environmental)
• Chartered Professional Engineer status
• 15+ years professional experience in three waters engineering
• Deep understanding of three waters infrastructure design, assessment, and planning
• Established networks across NZ councils, consultants, and the broader water sector
• Experience working across environmental outcomes, ecology, GIS, or water-sensitive design
• Experience in contract management and site supervision
• A genuine interest in environmental outcomes and nature-focused engineering solutions
• An appreciation of and connection to tikanga Māori and mātauranga Māori

What's On Offer

• Competitive remuneration
• Equity participation
• Genuine strategic scope and autonomy within an established, purpose-driven consultancy
• A sustainable workload within a diverse and collaborative team environment
• The opportunity to contribute to innovative, nature-focused projects across New Zealand
• Work that delivers real environmental outcomes and leaves a lasting legacy for future generations
• A flat, collaborative structure where your voice carries weight from day one

If you're a senior three waters engineer motivated by genuine environmental impact, apply now or email jack.m@stellarrecruitment.co.nz for a confidential conversation.

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