Principal Water Resources Engineer - Hydrology & Hydraulics

"At AECOM, I enjoy free access to an extensive network of industry leading specialists, which has helped me grow and expand my knowledge. Mostly though, I love that I get to work with and mentor the brightest young minds our industry has to offer. " - Richard Corbett, Water Services Lead 

At AECOM, we are delivering a better world. Whether improving commutes, keeping the lights on, providing access to clean water, or transforming skylines, our work helps people and communities thrive.

We are the world’s trusted infrastructure consulting firm, partnering with clients to solve complex challenges and build legacies for future generations. With accelerating infrastructure investment worldwide, our services are in great demand.

Join our global team of over 50,000 planners, designers, engineers, scientists, digital innovators, program and construction managers and other professionals delivering projects that create positive, tangible impact. We are one global team driven by a common purpose to deliver a better world — and we invite you to bring bold ideas and big dreams to shape what’s next.

What you'll do

We are seeking an experienced Principal Water Resources Engineer (Flooding) to join our Sydney team in our busy CBD office.

In this senior technical role, you will provide expert leadership in the delivery of complex water resources and flood engineering projects across major infrastructure and development sectors. You will play a key role in shaping technical approaches, solving complex hydrologic and hydraulic challenges, and ensuring high-quality, defensible outcomes for our clients.

Your focus will be on leading the technical direction of projects, including the development and review of flood studies, hydrologic and hydraulic modelling, and water management strategies. You will work closely with multidisciplinary teams, providing specialist input and mentoring engineers, while remaining actively involved in detailed technical delivery.

• Leading the technical delivery of flood risk assessments, hydraulic modelling, and water resource management studies for major projects

• Providing expert input into hydrologic analysis, flood behaviour assessment, and model development using industry-standard tools

• Developing innovative and practical solutions to complex water management and flood risk challenges

• Reviewing and approving technical reports, models, and design outputs to ensure accuracy, quality, and compliance

• Supporting project teams with high-level technical advice and mentoring

• Engaging with clients, regulators, and stakeholders to provide trusted technical guidance

• Ensuring alignment with Australian standards and guidelines

• Contributing to technical excellence initiatives and staying current with emerging tools, methodologies, and regulatory changes

What you'll bring

• Proven professional experience (ideally 10+ years) in water resources engineering, flood management, or related civil engineering disciplines

• Proven experience leading technical teams and directing complex engineering projects

• Demonstrated experience with a combination of water resource modelling packages such as TUFLOW, MIKE, DRAINS, HEC-RAS, RORB etc.

• Strong knowledge of flood risk assessment methodologies, hydrologic and hydraulic modelling, catchment management, mine and CSG water management, and climate change adaptation strategies

• Comprehensive understanding of Australian Standards and water legislation, environmental regulations, and compliance requirements

• Demonstrated management skills, with the ability to lead multiple projects simultaneously

• Proven track record in winning and delivering work within a consultancy environment to a high technical standard

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills for both technical and non-technical audiences

• CPEng (Engineers Australia), highly advantageous

If you don’t meet every requirement listed, we still encourage you to apply. We value diverse experience and perspectives, and your application will be considered for this role as well as other opportunities across AECOM where your skills and experience may be a strong fit.

Why join AECOM?

AECOM is the global infrastructure leader, committed to delivering a better world. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to work on meaningful projects, collaborate with industry-leading professionals, and grow your career in a flexible and inclusive environment.

We offer:

• Flexible work arrangements and multiple career pathways in people management, technical discipline leadership or key client management ownership

• A collaborative, high-performing team environment with global reach

• Opportunities to work on complex and impactful projects across Australia and globally

• A strong focus on professional development and technical excellence