Civil Engineer - Highways & Roads

PJA, the Client, requires the services of a Civil Engineer, at Associate or Principal level, to augment the highway design capability of the wider UK-based Engineering consulting business. This role will be focused on support to the UK business only.
The role of Engineer (Highways) comprises the provision of technically excellent highway and associated drainage design of local municipality streets, changes to existing public roads and junctions, active travel corridors and trunk roads.
The candidate must have extensive and strong design experience, with significant technical deliverable experience in the highway and road-design environment. The focus of the role is mainly on road design and technical experience, rather than the onsite experience.
PJA will engage the services of an independent Engineer on a contract basis (initially), in which the Engineer operates as an independent consultant to PJA. Following an initial period of review, PJA may progress the arrangement to full-time employment, subject to the company reviewing its Business Plan for 2027 – 2028.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Main Duties
Leading on process, procedure, Rapport Project Management Software and other protocols, working to build awareness of PJA business
Management of large projects, line management responsibility, providing consultancy services at a high level to external and internal clients
Ensuring technically excellent delivery of highway and associated drainage schemes
Staff Management and Development
Guides staff – will be providing technical oversight and guidance of people, proposals and projects
Influences team delivery
Technical oversight and guidance of people, proposals and projects
Influences team delivery and drive excellence
Lead a team with associated responsibilities including team finance and business development
Commercial
Strong commercial awareness and accountability
Takes commercial responsibility within their projects
Project Management and Technical Delivery
Successful project management of multiple larger, and/or more complex projects and tasks
Takes personal responsibility for delivery of technical outputs
Consistently produces quality technical outputs and solutions
Delivers tasks on time and within the hours allocated, complying with PJA’s business management procedures
Influences team delivery and drive excellence
Bid Preparation
Develop proposals for large sized projects following PJA’s business management procedures and utilising the Project Cost Sheet
Leads proposals for new work
Technical management, authorization and co-ordination of new proposals
Quality Management
Consistently ensure that we offer a high level of service, delivering work on time, to budget and to the required quality or better through robust review, constructive and developmental feedback
Overall responsibility of ensuring that all members of a team offer a high level of service, delivering work on time, to budget and to the required quality or better through robust review, constructive and developmental feedback
Provides robust technical direction
Client Management
Regular external client contact in connection with medium to large projects with increasing independence
Alerts to new business opportunities
Assists senior staff with marketing of PJA’s services and cross-selling through understanding of the business capabilities
Markets PJA’s services and undertakes cross-selling through the understanding of the wider company’s capabilities
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE:
8 - 12+ years’ experience
University Degree in Civil Engineering and registered as a Professional Engineer, or with appropriate experience, Professional Technologist, with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA)
SKILLS:
Commercial
Good to strong commercial awareness and accountability
Communication
Excellent written and verbal communication skills in the English language
Work in a transparent way, communicating at the right time, and involve the right people in making decisions
Engaging, approachable and visible to team members
Client Management
Proactively manages and develops new client relationships
Develops excellent relationships with internal and external clients
Actively seeks and achieves opportunities for marketing PJA’s services and cross-selling
PJA primarily uses the Autodesk suite of design software.
Experience using Civil 3D will be a significant benefit.
Any prior experience designing to UK design standards will be an added advantage.
Several of the aspects described below will be less relevant initially for this role, given the nature of the off-shore remote location of the Engineer, and the primarily design-led support the role will be providing. However, as the Engineer becomes more accustomed to the standards, output, team members, then opportunities will be made available for wider involvement and influence in the commercial aspects of the business.
PJA will provide appropriate onboarding, templates, software, and hardware compatible with its operating environment (Microsoft SharePoint). The Engineer will work as a team member of the Highway Civils team of the UK business, based in South Africa.
REMUNERATION:
A basic salary of R70,000 – R95,000-00 per month based on experience, expertise and ability.
All interested candidates must send their comprehensive CVs by Friday 25 September 2026.

Work arrangement
No