Principal Transport Engineer

Hamilton City Council | Hamilton, Waikato

A growing city. A wider regional challenge. An opportunity to influence both.

Hamilton’s transport challenges extend well beyond its boundaries. Growth across Hamilton, Waikato and Waipā is increasing demand on river crossings, key intersections and connections between communities, employment centres and freight routes. Through the Future Proof partnership, councils, iwi and government agencies are planning how land use and transport can support the sub-region’s future.

In Hamilton, new communities at Peacocke and Rotokauri and major freight and industrial development at Ruakura bring varied transport planning and engineering challenges. The transport decisions made now will affect how people and freight move around Hamilton for years to come.

Keen to bring your expertise to those decisions?

Join the Strategy and Planning Specialists team within Council’s Infrastructure and Assets group and help shape Hamilton’s future transport networks and infrastructure. Apply your engineering judgement, lead complex work and influence outcomes for the city and wider sub-region.

The opportunity

Your work will span strategic network planning, land-use and transport integration, development assessment, corridor planning and infrastructure investment. Early priorities include leading transport input into major fast-track development proposals and corridor investigation and designation projects.

Key responsibilities include:

• Lead complex transport projects and investigations, directing consultants and multidisciplinary teams.
• Shape network plans and investment priorities, aligning transport infrastructure with land use and city growth.
• Review transport impact assessments, modelling outputs and business cases, providing clear technical advice and recommendations.
• Guide corridor investigations and designation processes, resolving technical issues and competing priorities.
• Negotiate infrastructure outcomes and represent Council with developers, partner agencies, mana whenua and elected members.
• Mentor colleagues and strengthen technical capability across the team.

What you’ll bring

You’re an established transport professional who combines engineering judgement with strategic thinking. You can take ownership of complex work, make sound decisions under pressure and translate technical evidence into clear advice.

You’ll bring:

• A relevant tertiary qualification ideally in Civil/Transport Engineering and 10+ years’ senior technical experience in transportation infrastructure.
• Strong programme and project leadership, including managing consultants, risks, dependencies and stakeholder expectations.
• Demonstrated technical leadership and the ability to build capability.
• Highly developed communication, influencing and negotiation skills.

Experience across network planning, land-use integration, development assessment and investment planning will be valuable, alongside familiarity with New Zealand’s statutory planning and transport funding environment. CPEng or equivalent recognition is preferred.

Your background may be in local government, a transport agency or consultancy, with the breadth and confidence to contribute independently from the outset.

Make Hamilton home

Hamilton combines the amenities of a growing city with easy access to the outdoors. Enjoy life beside the Waikato River, with beaches, lakes and some of New Zealand’s favourite holiday destinations within easy reach.

This is a permanent, full-time position with a starting salary in the range of $151,000 to $167,000. A contribution towards relocation expenses is available for candidates moving from elsewhere in New Zealand or overseas.

For a confidential discussion, contact Lisa Hulley on [027 688 8831](tel:027 688 8831), or apply with your CV and a brief covering letter.

Applications will be reviewed as they arrive, so we encourage you to apply early.

Hamilton City Council has engaged Peak Recruitment to manage the recruitment of this position. Please direct all enquiries and applications to Peak Recruitment.