Intermediate Civil Engineer - Christchurch

About us:

Fraser Thomas Ltd is a well-established, multi-disciplinary consulting firm with a strong reputation across engineering, surveying, and resource management. Our team brings together expertise in civil, environmental, geotechnical, and structural engineering, alongside land development, surveying, and contaminated land services.

We deliver integrated, end-to-end solutions-supporting projects from initial feasibility through to detailed design and construction. Our collaborative approach, combined with established relationships with national and international partners, enables us to deliver efficient, practical outcomes across a wide range of sectors.

With offices in Auckland, Tauranga, Hawke’s Bay, Blenheim, Nelson, and Christchurch, we offer both local insight and national capability.

For more information on us, please refer to our website www.fraserthomas.co.nz.

About the role:

This is a full-time position based in our Christchurch office in Riccarton.

We are seeking an experienced Intermediate Civil Engineer to join our Christchurch team. This role is suited to an engineer with 5+ years' civil engineering consultancy experience who can independently deliver civil design and documentation with limited day-to-day supervision.

The role involves taking ownership of defined civil engineering packages and delivering practical, technically sound and buildable solutions across land development and civil infrastructure projects. The successful candidate will have the confidence, experience and capability to work with a high degree of independence.

At Fraser Thomas, you will be involved across the full project lifecycle, from feasibility and due diligence through to detailed design, construction and project close-out. You will work in a collaborative team environment alongside experienced engineers and project teams while taking responsibility for your own design deliverables and contributing to wider project outcomes.

Your work will include the design and documentation of stormwater, wastewater, water supply, roading, and earthworks infrastructure.

You will work closely with experienced engineers, clients, contractors, and councils to develop practical engineering solutions and progress project delivery across all stages.

Key responsibilities will include

• Independently undertake civil engineering design and producing buildable engineering solutions
• Deliver civil engineering design work across all project stages from concept through to construction
• Applying relevant New Zealand standards, council requirements and engineering principles
• Preparing and checking engineering calculations, drawings, specifications, and other technical documentation
• Design stormwater, wastewater, water supply, earthworks, roading, and associated civil infrastructure
• Carry out construction observation and provide contract administration support
• Collaborate with clients, contractors, councils, and internal project teams
• Contribute to project programming, technical reviews, and coordination of engineering deliverables
• About you:
• Qualifications and experience required:
• Bachelor of Engineering (Civil or related discipline)
• Approximately 5–8 years’ experience in civil engineering consultancy within New Zealand
• Proficiency in Autodesk AutoCAD and Civil 3D (essential)
• Practical understanding of civil construction methodologies and relevant New Zealand engineering standards
• Proven ability to interpret and analyse technical information, including client requirements, plans, and designs
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Full New Zealand driver’s license
• New Zealand residency or citizenship

Personal attributes

• Adaptable and able to respond effectively to changing project priorities and workloads
• Collaborative team player with a positive and proactive approach
• Practical mindset with a strong willingness to learn and further develop technical capability
• Focused on delivering work to time, budget, and required quality standards
• Application process

Applications will include the following:

Resume

Cover letter (1 page) with responses to the following:

1. How many years of civil engineering consultancy experience do you have?

2. Which civil infrastructure have you independently designed?

3. Describe one civil engineering project where you were responsible for taking a design from concept through to detailed design/construction. Include your specific responsibilities.

4. What proportion of your previous role involved engineering design and engineering decision-making versus CAD/drafting and drawing production?

Preferred candidates may be asked to complete a technical assessment as part of the selection process.

Why Join Fraser Thomas

Real project involvement – You’ll be involved in project decisions, not just delivery

Structured mentoring – Direct support from senior engineers invested in your development

Flexible career pathway – Develop your role around your strengths and interests

Multi-disciplinary exposure – Work alongside surveyors and engineers from multiple disciplines across multiple offices

Strong pipeline of work – A varied range of projects across urban development and infrastructure sectors

Flexibility in working arrangements – Subject to project and team requirements