Location: Wellington, New Zealand

Company: Damwatch Engineering Ltd

Lead our CAD capability and help shape the future of engineering design at Damwatch

Damwatch Engineering Ltd is a specialist engineering consultancy focused on dams, hydraulic structures and associated civil infrastructure. We provide strategic engineering, design and dam safety services for projects across New Zealand and internationally.

We are seeking an experienced CAD Technical Lead to provide hands-on technical leadership across our CAD team and strengthen the systems, standards and workflows that support the delivery of high-quality engineering drawings and models.

This is a hands-on technical leadership role combining senior CAD expertise, mentoring, project delivery and capability development. You will work closely with our civil, structural and geotechnical engineers and project managers, while helping Damwatch continually improve the way we use CAD, 3D modelling, BIM and visualisation across our projects.

About the Role

As CAD Technical Lead, you will:

• Provide day-to-day technical leadership and guidance to the CAD team, including mentoring, coaching and review of complex work.
• Take a lead role in coordinating the CAD team's workflow, priorities, resourcing and distribution of work across multiple projects, working closely with project managers to meet delivery requirements.
• Build technical capability within the CAD team through mentoring, knowledge sharing, training and consistent application of good practice.
• Establish, maintain and continuously improve CAD standards, drawing controls, workflows, templates and best practices across Damwatch.
• Maintain appropriate quality assurance and quality control processes for engineering drawings and models.
• Work closely with engineers and project managers to ensure efficient delivery from design development through to construction documentation.
• Provide senior CAD input directly to projects, particularly where complex technical or modelling expertise is required.
• Lead the ongoing development of Damwatch's 3D modelling, BIM and visualisation capability.
• Identify opportunities to improve design workflows, automation and productivity through technology.
• Maintain oversight of CAD software, licences and associated hardware requirements, including input into procurement and future investment decisions.
• Monitor emerging CAD, BIM and digital design technologies and assess opportunities relevant to Damwatch.
• Promote consistent, efficient and collaborative working practices across the CAD team and wider engineering business.

What We're Looking For

Ideally, you will bring:

• Extensive experience in civil and/or structural CAD and design documentation, preferably associated with dams, hydraulic structures, canals, bridges or other heavy civil infrastructure.
• Demonstrated experience providing technical leadership, guidance or mentoring to CAD professionals.
• Strong technical leadership skills, with the ability to set expectations, review work, solve complex problems and support the development of others.
• Strong proficiency in AutoCAD, together with practical experience in 3D modelling and BIM environments.
• Experience with relevant platforms such as Civil 3D, Revit and ArcGIS.
• Strong understanding of engineering drawing production, document control and construction documentation.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain CAD standards, workflows and quality systems.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and coordinate technical CAD inputs across multiple projects.
• A practical understanding of project delivery from concept design through detailed design and construction.
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to work effectively with engineers, project managers and clients.
• A continuous-improvement mindset and an interest in emerging digital design technologies.
• Ability to combine strategic thinking with a willingness to remain hands-on and contribute directly to project delivery.

Preferred Qualifications

• A recognised technical qualification in civil engineering, drafting, design or an equivalent discipline.
• Relevant CAD, BIM or software certifications would be advantageous.
• Experience in steel and reinforcement detailing would also be beneficial.

Why Damwatch?

At Damwatch, you'll have the opportunity to:

• Lead an important technical capability within a specialist engineering consultancy.
• Work alongside highly experienced technical specialists.
• Contribute to challenging and interesting infrastructure projects in New Zealand and overseas.
• Help shape Damwatch's future approach to CAD, BIM, 3D modelling and digital engineering.
• Develop and mentor a capable CAD team.
• Continue your own professional and technical development.
• Benefit from competitive remuneration, health insurance, flexible working conditions and ongoing training and development.

Ready to lead our CAD technical capability?

If you are an experienced CAD professional who enjoys solving complex technical challenges, improving how work is delivered, mentoring others and remaining closely involved in project delivery, we would like to hear from you.

Please send your CV and covering letter to [email protected]

Damwatch Engineering Ltd has an opportunity for an Intermediate Structural Engineer interested in dams, hydraulic infrastructure and dam safety for a full-time role based in Wellington, New Zealand.

Damwatch is a specialist engineering consultancy focused on dams and associated structures, providing strategic engineering and dam safety services for maintaining and developing dam infrastructure in New Zealand and overseas. Due to continued workload, we are seeking an Intermediate Structural Engineer to support challenging dam, hydropower and water infrastructure projects.

The Role

We are looking for a structural or civil engineer with approximately 3 to 7 years of experience who is motivated to develop specialist capability in dam engineering. You will work with experienced engineers on structural assessment, analysis, design and construction support for dams, canals, hydraulic structures and associated civil infrastructure.

• Support structural assessment and design for concrete dams, spillways, intakes, outlet works, powerhouses, bridges, retaining walls and other hydraulic structures.
• Contribute to seismic assessment, upgrade design, feasibility studies, design reports, calculations and construction documentation.
• Use structural analysis and modelling tools to support engineering judgement, design development and technical review.
• Work closely with geotechnical, hydraulic, civil and mechanical design streams to develop practical, integrated solutions.
• Provide construction support, site observation, quality documentation and practical technical advice where required.
• Prepare clear technical notes, drawings inputs, reports and client-facing deliverables under the guidance of senior engineers.

Why this role

Damwatch offers the opportunity to develop specialist structural engineering capability in a highly focused dam engineering and dam safety environment. You will work with experienced technical specialists on meaningful water infrastructure projects, contribute to practical solutions for existing and new dam assets, and build expertise in an area where engineering judgement, collaboration and public safety matter.

Ideally you will have the following attributes

• A structural or civil engineering degree, or equivalent qualification.
• Approximately 3 to 7 years of structural or civil engineering experience, preferably including dams, hydropower, bridges, water infrastructure or heavy civil engineering.
• Demonstrated capability in analysis, problem solving, innovation and clear engineering judgement.
• Familiarity with structural analysis, finite element or frame-type modelling tools. Damwatch uses tools such as Mathcad, SAP2000, CADAM, MIDAS and ANSYS LS-Dyna.
• An interest in seismic design and assessment of existing structures, particularly in a dam engineering context.
• Ability to work collaboratively with geotechnical, hydraulic, civil, mechanical and construction delivery disciplines.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including an ability to explain technical issues clearly.
• A self-starting approach, willingness to learn, and interest in developing a recognised area of structural engineering expertise.
• Willingness to travel within New Zealand and overseas as required to meet client and project commitments.

Damwatch would offer you

• A great collegial environment with fellow engineers who love what they do.
• Training and mentoring in structural engineering analysis associated with dam engineering in a seismic environment.
• The prospect of working alongside world-class technical specialists.
• The opportunity to work on exciting projects in New Zealand and overseas.
• Personal, technical and professional development.
• A competitive remuneration package.

How to apply

If this opportunity appeals to you, please send a full CV and covering letter to [email protected]
Closing date for applications is 6th November 2026 at 5pm (NZT)

Damwatch has a unique opportunity for a senior technical leader in geotechnical and earthquake engineering for dams and hydraulic infrastructure.

This role is aimed at an experienced specialist who can provide high-level seismic and geotechnical leadership, support dam safety decision-making, facilitate risk and failure mode workshops, and advise clients on complex dam, reservoir and hydraulic structure projects in New Zealand and internationally. This is a permanent full-time role based in Wellington, New Zealand.

About Damwatch

• A world-class, high-performing engineering team passionate about dams.
• A specialist consultancy providing strategic engineering and dam safety services for maintaining and developing dam infrastructure in New Zealand and internationally.
• A privately owned, niche consultancy that values its people, technical excellence and practical client outcomes.
• Based in central Wellington, with opportunities to contribute to nationally significant and international dam safety work.

The Role

The Principal / Senior Principal Geotechnical & Earthquake Engineer will work alongside Damwatch's Geotechnical Team and our wider multi-disciplinary group of engineers and geologists. The role combines deep technical delivery, trusted client advisory, peer review, project leadership, workshop facilitation, mentoring and practical dam safety decision-making.

• Lead and review geotechnical, seepage and seismic assessments for dams, canals, stopbanks, reservoirs, power stations and other hydraulic structures.
• Provide specialist input to seismic performance assessments, including probabilistic seismic hazard analysis review, deterministic ground motion development, time-history selection, nonlinear deformation analysis, liquefaction assessment and seismic damage estimation.
• Lead or contribute to semi-quantitative risk assessment, failure modes and effects analysis, potential failure modes assessment and risk reduction studies for embankment, concrete gravity, arch, rockfill and concrete-faced rockfill dams.
• Facilitate multi-disciplinary workshops, identify credible failure modes, support risk quantification and communicate risk reduction options to asset owners and decision-makers.
• Provide peer review and client advisory services on dam safety reviews, design philosophy, investigations, hazard inputs, geotechnical interpretation and engineering analyses.
• Manage technical studies and modelling tasks, including scope definition, quality review, interpretation of results, reporting and presentation of recommendations.
• Mentor and develop engineers, support technical consistency across projects, and help grow Damwatch's earthquake engineering capability.

Why Join Damwatch?

You will work on distinctive, technically challenging dam and hydraulic infrastructure projects where earthquake engineering matters. You will help maintain and develop critical infrastructure, support sound dam safety decisions, and contribute to a specialist team that values technical depth, practical judgement, and collaborative culture.

Key Skills and Experience We Are Seeking

• Master's or Doctorate degree in geotechnical engineering, earthquake engineering or a closely related field.
• Principal-level experience in geotechnical and earthquake engineering, preferably with substantial dam, hydropower, water supply, irrigation, flood management, canal, stopbank or mining infrastructure experience.
• Recognised professional registration such as CPEng, Chartered Engineer, Professional Engineer, recognised dam safety practitioner status or eligibility for an equivalent New Zealand pathway.
• Advanced knowledge of soil mechanics, soil dynamics, critical state concepts, cyclic behaviour of soils, liquefaction, deformation assessment and seismic response of embankment and hydraulic structures.
• Demonstrated experience with PSHA inputs and reviews, national seismic hazard models, ANCOLD or equivalent earthquake guidelines, deterministic seismic scenarios, fault displacement considerations and time-history selection.
• Capability in analytical, empirical, semi-empirical and numerical modelling approaches, including nonlinear deformation analysis and interpretation of modelling outputs for design or dam safety decisions.
• Experience preparing, reviewing and interpreting geological and geotechnical information, including investigation scoping, ground condition logging, in-situ testing and laboratory testing programmes.
• Strong background in dam safety risk methods, including FMEA/FMECA, PFM/PFMA, SQRA, residual risk assessment, F-N plots, potential loss of life inputs and risk-based remedial option evaluation.
• Proven ability to write clear technical reports, present complex seismic and geotechnical issues to clients and regulators and facilitate multi-disciplinary technical workshops.
• Ability to work independently while contributing strongly to collaborative project teams, with effective interpersonal, mentoring and presentation skills.
• Practical competence with geotechnical analysis tools, numerical modelling workflows, general computing systems and the responsible use of AI to improve engineering processes.
• Experience delivering dam safety training or capacity-building assignments.
• Ability to qualify for a New Zealand work visa, or existing New Zealand permanent residence or citizenship.

Damwatch would offer you:

• A great collegial environment with fellow engineers who love what they do.
• The prospect of working alongside world-class technical specialists.
• The opportunity to work on exciting international projects, based in New Zealand.
• Personal, technical, and professional development.
• A competitive remuneration package.

How to Apply

If you have these attributes and are interested in Damwatch's Principal / Senior Principal Geotechnical & Earthquake Engineer position, please send your CV and a covering letter to [email protected]