04th August, 2026
Lead technical assurance for major water infrastructure projects
Mō mātou | About us
Waikato Waters is a brand-new, publicly owned water utility bringing together water and wastewater services across the Waikato region — built from the ground up to deliver for communities today and for generations to come.
Te tūranga | The role
Based in Hamilton and working across the Waikato region, the Design Assurance Engineer ensures externally delivered designs are technically robust, practical to construct, and aligned with Waikato Waters' engineering standards and operational requirements.
Working across Asset Management, Operations and Project Delivery, you'll scope design packages, manage consultant performance, provide technical assurance, and act as the design authority for water and wastewater infrastructure.
You'll be trusted to challenge designs, influence engineering decisions and ensure Waikato Waters receives the best long-term outcomes from every capital investment.
Ō mahi | What you'll do
This is not a traditional design role. If you're an experienced consulting engineer looking to step into an owner/operator environment where you'll influence design outcomes rather than produce every drawing yourself, this could be the opportunity you've been looking for.
- Act as design authority for water and wastewater and providing comment on developer submissions to standards such as RITs
- Scope design packages for delivery by external consultants
- Manage consultant design delivery and ensure Waikato Waters provides timely technical input
- Support capital delivery programmes, from treatment plant upgrades through to pipe renewals
- Facilitate Safety in Design with internal and external stakeholders
- Partner with Asset Management and Operations teams to ensure new designs are compatible with existing assets and required level of service
- Ensure design documentation supports efficient procurement and construction delivery
- Contribute to the development of Waikato Waters' technical standards, improvements to RITs and future adherence to National Network Engineering Design Standards (NEDS)
Ō pūkenga | What you'll bring You are an experienced infrastructure engineer with a strong track record in design review and technical assurance — confident challenging externally delivered designs and providing clear, evidence-based advice to project teams and governance forums.
- Relevant engineering qualification (degree or equivalent) in civil, environmental or related infrastructure discipline
- Demonstrated experience in infrastructure design review and technical assurance within water, utilities or other complex infrastructure environments. Experience in water and wastewater is highly regarded.
- Experience managing engineering consultants and reviewing consultant deliverables through all stages of design
- Strong knowledge of engineering standards, specifications and design practices relevant to water and wastewater infrastructure
- Proven ability to review and challenge externally delivered designs for technical quality, constructability, operability and value for money
- Experience supporting development servicing reviews and/or developer-funded infrastructure approvals
- Ability to interpret hydraulic modelling outputs, GIS information and engineering drawings to validate design solutions and inform engineering decisions
- CPEng (or working towards) and familiarity with hydraulic modelling and design tools is desirable
He aha ai mātou | Why join us This is an opportunity to influence how critical water infrastructure is designed across the Waikato. You'll provide the engineering leadership and technical assurance that ensures every solution is safe, practical, cost-effective and fit for purpose—shaping outcomes rather than simply reviewing drawings.
Waikato Waters is being built once — and you'd be part of that. He waka eke noa, we are all in this together. The work is real, the impact is visible, and the team we're assembling is genuinely exceptional. We offer competitive remuneration, health and life insurance, and hybrid working where the role allows. To learn more about us, visit www.waikatowaters.co.nz
Me pēhea te tono | How to apply Applications close Thursday, 3 September 2026 (unless filled sooner). For a full position description contact us at HR@waikatowaters.co.nz and we will respond as soon as possible.
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