Senior Designer

Put your civil design experience into projects you can see, use and be proud of. Join Mackay Regional Council as a Senior Designer and help shape the infrastructure that supports our growing region. Bring your experience, technical expertise and practical problem-solving skills to a varied portfolio of civil projects with the opportunity to influence designs from concept through to delivery.

About this opportunity

Are you an experienced civil designer looking for a role where your technical knowledge is valued and your work has a tangible impact?

As a Senior Designer with Mackay Regional Council, you will work across a diverse range of infrastructure projects, preparing practical designs and technical solutions that support the region's Capital Works Program. From roads and drainage, active transport, water and sewer infrastructure, and through to open spaces and the built environment, you will have the opportunity to work on projects that are delivered within the communities you live and work in.

This is a role for someone who enjoys more than just producing drawings. You will use your design experience and professional judgement to solve problems, develop options, coordinate with others and help deliver designs that are practical, innovative constructible and fit for purpose.

You will work closely with project managers, construction and maintenance teams, consultants, contractors and other stakeholders. You will also have the opportunity to share your knowledge and experience with other members of the design team, helping build capability and improve the way we deliver our work.

In this role, you will

• Develop civil designs, drawings, estimates and technical documentation for a diverse range of Council infrastructure projects.
• Use survey information, design standards and your technical judgement to develop practical and cost-effective solutions.
• Prepare and develop designs using 12D, AutoCAD and other relevant design tools.
• Work through design challenges, assess options and provide practical advice to achieve safe, compliant and constructible outcomes.
• Contribute to projects from early planning and concept development through to detailed design and delivery.
• Coordinate with project managers, construction and maintenance teams, consultants, contractors, service authorities and other stakeholders to resolve design issues and keep projects moving.
• Provide technical guidance and support to other designers, helping share knowledge and build capability across the team.
• Take ownership of your design work, managing priorities and delivering quality outputs within agreed timeframes.
• Contribute to a positive, collaborative and safety-focused team culture.

About you

You are an experienced civil designer who enjoys solving problems, working collaboratively and seeing your designs become reality.

You are confident working with limited direction and comfortable taking ownership of your work. You know when to work through a problem yourself and when to bring others into the conversation. You can communicate your ideas clearly, work through competing priorities and build effective relationships with people across different parts of a project.

You will bring strong practical design experience and a willingness to share your knowledge with others. Previous experience across a range of civil infrastructure projects will be desirable, particularly where you have developed practical design solutions and worked collaboratively with a range of stakeholders.

Most importantly, you will bring a practical mindset and take pride in producing designs that work not just on paper, but in the field.

What you will bring

• Qualifications and licences
  • Relevant tertiary qualifications, such as an Associate Degree in Civil Design, Associate Degree in Civil Engineering or Bachelor of Engineering, or a combination of lesser formal qualifications and extensive relevant experience.
  • Current Queensland "C" Class Driver Licence, or interstate equivalent, transferred to Queensland within three months of commencement.
  • General Construction Induction Training.
• Technical experience
  • Strong experience in civil design, drafting, estimating and technical documentation, preferably gained within an engineering or local government environment.
  • Strong working knowledge of 12D, AutoCAD, Microsoft Office and relevant project applications.
  • Sound understanding of civil engineering design principles, standards and construction practices, with the ability to apply them to practical infrastructure projects.
  • Experience developing designs from survey information through to construction-ready documentation.
  • The ability to review designs, identify issues and develop practical solutions.
• Communication and leadership
  • Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
  • Strong analytical and critical thinking skills, with the ability to assess options and make sound recommendations.
  • A collaborative approach and the confidence to share your technical knowledge and support the development of others.
  • The ability to manage your own workload, respond to changing priorities and deliver quality outcomes within agreed timeframes.

Why work for Mackay Regional Council?

At Mackay Regional Council, your work has a direct connection to the community.

Rather than working on projects that disappear into a large portfolio, you will have the opportunity to see the infrastructure you help design being delivered and used across the Mackay region. You will work across a broad range of projects, giving you the variety and technical challenges while providing the opportunity to take greater ownership of the outcomes.


You will also be joining a supportive design team where experience is valued, knowledge is shared and there is room to continue developing your career.

Based on the Central Queensland coast, Mackay offers an enviable lifestyle with easy access to beaches, rainforests and island escapes, together with strong community facilities and a diverse local economy.

You will also have access to a range of employee benefits, which may include:

• Stream A Level 6 base annual salary $113,123.72.
• Up to 18% superannuation, subject to conditions.
• Choice of 4 or 5 weeks' annual leave, with 17.5% leave loading.
• Flexible work arrangements, including a 9-day fortnight with a rostered day off (RDO).
• Salary sacrifice options, where eligible.
• Study assistance and development programs to support your career growth.
• Employee Assistance Program and health and wellbeing initiatives.
• Corporate discounts and lifestyle benefits.
• Active social clubs and a supportive team environment.
• Up to $10,000 relocation assistance, subject to conditions.

Want to knowmore?

For more information about the role, including the responsibilities and requirements, view the Position Description for the Senior Designer in the document attachments of this vacancy.

How to apply

If you are an experienced civil designer looking for your next challenge and want to use your skills on infrastructure projects that make a real difference to the Mackay region, we want to hear from you.

Prepare and submit your cover letter and resume, outlining your relevant experience and what you could bring to the role.

Having trouble submitting your application? Reach out to our friendly Talent and Onboarding team by phoning 1300 MACKAY (13•• ••• 529).

Applications Close:

Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity. This vacancy may close earlier than expected, so don't delay in submitting your application.

Important information for applicants:

To be considered for this position, all candidates must have the appropriate working rights for Australia. Your Australian work rights will be verified during the recruitment process.

Applicants who progress beyond the interview stage will be required to undergo pre-employment checks, including comprehensive pre-employment medical assessments and drug and alcohol testing.

We are an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. All applicants are treated fairly and respectfully and have equal access to available opportunities. At Mackay Regional Council, diversity is about creating a respectful and inclusive workplace that recognises employees' unique contributions and perspectives, working together to deliver extraordinary results.