Principal Materials Engineer

About the role

The Principal Materials Engineer leads the materials engineering function for municipal transportation and storm‑water infrastructure projects, providing technical direction on material selection, testing, quality assurance and sustainability.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and implement materials engineering policies, standards and specifications for roads, bridges, drainage systems and related public‑realm works.
• Act as subject‑matter expert for pavement, concrete, asphalt, aggregates, geotechnical and storm‑water materials, reviewing designs, mix proposals and compliance documentation.
• Oversee QA/QC frameworks, laboratory testing programmes and material inspections, auditing contractors and suppliers to ensure conformity.
• Lead investigations of material failures, non‑conformances and pavement performance issues, recommending corrective actions.
• Support project delivery from planning through handover, including design reviews, value‑engineering assessments and procurement advice.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil, Materials or Construction Engineering (Master’s preferred).
• 12‑15 years of progressive materials engineering experience, including at least 5 years in a senior leadership role.
• Extensive background in municipal road, highway and storm‑water projects, with proven experience managing material approvals and quality systems.
• Professional Engineer (PE) or Chartered Engineer status preferred, along with relevant certifications (e.g., Certified Pavement Engineer).

Required skills

• Materials engineering expertise for asphalt, concrete, aggregates, geosynthetics and soil stabilisation.
• Pavement design and performance analysis.
• Storm‑water drainage material selection and mix design.
• QA/QC management, laboratory testing and failure analysis.
• Specification development, technical report writing and regulatory compliance.