Associate Principal Coastal Engineer

Summary

Leads coastal and maritime engineering projects in Australia, designing ports, breakwaters, and shoreline protection while mentoring junior engineers in a consulting environment.

What if you could do the kind of work the world needs?

At WSP, you can access our global scale, contribute to landmark projects and connect with the brightest minds in your field to do the best work of your life. You can embrace your curiosity in a culture that celebrates new ideas and diverse perspectives. You can experience a world of opportunity and the chance to shape a career as unique as you.

WSP in Australia is seeking passionate and driven coastal engineers to join our dynamic teams in Brisbane and Perth. As part of our Transport & Infrastructure business, you’ll play a key role in delivering innovative coastal and maritime projects across Australia.

About the Role
You’ll collaborate with industry-leading experts in a multi-disciplinary environment, applying your technical knowledge and subject matter expertise to achieve successful project outcomes. At WSP, we’re locally dedicated with international scale, future-focused, and always challenging the status quo. We foster collaboration in everything we do, value our people and our reputation, and have an empowering culture where accountability and growth are at the heart of our success.

This role offers the opportunity to contribute to a diverse range of coastal and maritime projects, including the planning and design of ports and marine facilities.

You’ll also play a key role in delivering maritime projects, developing coastal protection solutions such as breakwaters, seawalls, revetments, and other shoreline resilience measures. You’ll help create sustainable ports of the future through demand assessments, navigation design, dredging, beneficial reuse, and nature-based solutions. Your work will shaping positive and sustainable outcomes for Australia’s coastal environments while growing your career in a supportive, innovative, and globally connected environment.

What will you be doing?

  • Lead the coastal aspects of port planning, maritime masterplanning and FEED studies, including options assessment and concept development.
  • Support the development and delivery of the firm’s coastal engineering capability, actively mentoring and developing junior team members.
  • Deliver high‑quality engineering studies including designs, analysis, reporting, specifications and contract documentation.
  • Lead medium to large sized projects independently and manage defined work packages within larger, multi‑disciplinary projects. Implement robust quality control processes and ensure deliverables are completed in accordance with agreed scope, programme, budget and quality requirements.
  • Lead work winning efforts including developing compelling bids, proactive client engagement and project pricing.

What are the skills we’re looking for?

We would encourage you to apply if you are technically strong, intellectually curious and can demonstrate a working knowledge against the criteria below:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Civil or Coastal Engineering.
  • Approximately 8+ years’ experience in maritime / coastal engineering.
  • Demonstrated expertise in the strategic planning and design of coastal infrastructure within ports, harbours, and marine infrastructure projects.
  • A working knowledge of navigational planning and waterside operations is highly desirable but not essential.
  • Background in consulting and/or commercial engineering environments, delivering client‑focused outcomes.
  • Capable project manager with experience leading design workstreams on major projects, as well as managing smaller projects end‑to‑end.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to work independently and as part of a multi‑disciplinary team.
  • Positive, proactive attitude with a strong willingness to take ownership and deliver outcomes.
  • Experience and willingness to provide technical guidance, mentoring and day‑to‑day supervision to junior engineers.
  • Australian citizenship, with the ability to obtain and maintain an Australian Government security clearance, is essential.

What we'll offer you

At WSP, we're committed to helping you thrive both professionally and personally. You'll be part of a global team delivering projects that shape communities and support a more sustainable future, while enjoying the flexibility, development opportunities and support needed to build a rewarding career.

We offer a collaborative and inclusive workplace, flexible working arrangements, market-competitive remuneration, professional development opportunities and access to our global network of experts. Through our employee share plan, paid parental leave, wellbeing initiatives and recognition programs, we support our people to be their best at work and beyond.

Imagine a better future for you and a better future for us all.

We're committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. If you're excited about the opportunity to help shape Australia's coastal environments and grow your career with one of the world's leading professional services firms, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply now and let's shape the future together.