Job Description

Purpose‑led work. Real impact. Future‑ready careers.

At WSP, we’re shaping communities through complex, high‑impact infrastructure—and water is at the centre of it. As Australia accelerates major investment in water and wastewater treatment, we’re expanding our leadership capability to deliver the next generation of treatment solutions.

Big things are happening in water—and we want you to be part of it.

We are seeking a Principal Process Engineer / Technical Executive to provide technical leadership across Water Treatment Plants (WTPs) and Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs) on some of Australia’s most significant and technically complex programs.

This is a national role, working with a high‑performing, multidisciplinary team across QLD, NSW, VIC, TAS, WA and SA, and partnering closely with major utilities, operators, and project delivery teams.

The Opportunity

In this senior technical leadership role, you will lead, influence, and elevate process engineering capability across major water programs—driving innovation, quality, and risk‑informed decision‑making.

What You’ll Do

• Lead process engineering design for WTPs and WWTPs, including:
  • Design basis and mass balance development
  • Equipment sizing and selection
  • PFDs, P&IDs, and functional descriptions
• Provide technical leadership across:
  • Treatment process engineering
  • Odour treatment and ventilation design
  • Process modelling, optimisation, and performance improvement
• Deliver projects as part of a national multidisciplinary team, from concept through to detailed design and commissioning support
• Drive design excellence through technical review, verification, sign‑off, and risk management
• Apply process modelling tools (e.g. BioWin) and analytical methods to inform robust design decisions
• Collaborate with clients, operators, vendors, and internal teams to develop innovative, future‑ready solutions
• Prepare and review high‑quality technical reports, proposals, and bid submissions
• Mentor and develop graduate and early‑career engineers, contributing to long‑term capability uplift
• Support commissioning and troubleshooting of treatment processes
• Stay at the forefront of emerging water and wastewater technologies and embed innovation into design
• Represent WSP through industry bodies, technical forums, committees, and conferences
• Ensure compliance with state and federal legislation, regulatory frameworks, and industry standards
• Apply Safety‑in‑Design, including CHAIR, HAZOP, and risk‑based methodologies

About You

This role is strategically critical to WSP’s water growth agenda. You are a technically authoritative, commercially aware leader who can influence senior stakeholders and guide complex engineering outcomes.

You will bring:

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering (or equivalent)
• MIEAust / IChemE, CPEng and RPEQ (or eligibility)
• Significant experience in the Australian water industry, ideally across major utility or consulting projects
• Proven expertise in water and/or wastewater process engineering
• Strong experience in WTP and WWTP design, including treatment trains, optimisation, and modelling
• Experience with odour control, ventilation systems, and/or desalination (desirable)
• Ability to break down complex technical challenges and articulate clear, strategic pathways forward
• Demonstrated capability to challenge convention and drive innovation
• Strong understanding of environmental, sustainability, and social outcomes in treatment design
• Experience providing technical review, verification, and sign‑off on medium to large projects
• Commissioning experience (advantageous)
• A proactive approach to risk identification and mitigation

Why Choose WSP?

At WSP, you’ll build a career with purpose, flexibility, and scale. We offer:

• Competitive remuneration aligned to senior technical leadership
• Flexible working arrangements designed around your life
• Up to 16 weeks paid parental leave and additional purchased leave
• Clear, flexible career pathways shaped around your goals
• The opportunity to work on nationally significant water programs
• Global mobility and collaboration across WSP’s international water network
• Access to our Employee Share Purchase Plan, making you a vested partner in our success
• A genuinely inclusive culture where technical excellence and diverse thinking are valued

Make Your Mark

Make a real difference—on your terms, with your vision, and alongside a team that shares your ambition.
Because with WSP, you can.

Apply today.

📩 Questions? Let’s talk.
For a confidential discussion about this role—or other opportunities within our Water Group—please contact Carmina Navalta from our Talent Acquisition team.