principal structural engineer – independent third-party review.

Are you a seasoned Structural Engineer looking to step back from the relentless grind of design deadlines, intense project management, and business development? Do you want to leverage your decades of technical expertise in a highly respected, low-stress, purely advisory capacity?

Our client is a premier compliance and building consultancy firm specialising in Building Code consultancy, Access compliance, and Building Certification across South Australia. Committed to technical excellence and robust risk management, they are seeking an industry veteran to step into a newly created, in-house role as a Principal Structural Verification Engineer.

This unique position involves zero design production. Instead, your sole focus will be providing independent, third-party engineering reviews, design verification, and structural compliance auditing for a diverse portfolio of residential and commercial projects.

Key Responsibilities

In this role, you will act as the peak technical authority within the business, responsible for:

• Independent Verification: Conducting rigorous, independent reviews of structural drawings, computations, and geotechnical reports for both residential (Class 1 & 10) and commercial (Class 2–9) developments.

• Statutory Certification: Acting as an Independent Technical Expert to issue relevant compliance certificates (e.g., Regulation 61 Certificates under the South Australian Planning, Development and Infrastructure Regulations) confirming designs satisfy the NCC.

• Reporting: Identifying structural design deficiencies or non-compliances, and compiling clear, constructive review reports for external engineering teams to rectify.

• Internal Advisory: Acting as the in-house Subject Matter Expert (SME), providing pragmatic, high-level structural advice to the firm’s building certifiers and code consultants.

What We Are Looking For

This role is ideally suited to a highly experienced professional looking for a lifestyle-friendly transition role. To be successful, you will bring:

• Deep Expertise: 15+ years of comprehensive experience in structural engineering design and review across both residential and commercial/industrial sectors.

• Qualifications: A Bachelor of Engineering (Civil/Structural) or equivalent recognised by Engineers Australia. Chartered Status (CPEng / NER) is highly desirable.

• SA Registration: Current registration (or immediate eligibility for registration) as a Professional/Structural Engineer with Consumer and Business Services (CBS) South Australia.

• Technical Authority: An authoritative knowledge of the National Construction Code (NCC) and Australian Structural Standards (including AS 1170, AS 3600, AS 4100, and AS 2870).

• Communication Skills: The ability to communicate complex technical compliance issues clearly and diplomatically to external engineers and architects.

What’s on Offer

Our client understands that the right candidate values flexibility, respect, and work-life balance over corporate ladders. They are offering:

• Pure Technical Focus: No client acquisition targets, no team management pressure, and no design delivery deadlines.

• True Hybrid Working: Enjoy the best of both worlds. Work comfortably from home for your deep-focus review work, with the flexibility to pop into the Adelaide office for team collaboration and face-to-face advisory sessions.

• A Respected Advisory Role: Put your hard-earned knowledge to excellent use helping a leading compliance team navigate complex structural challenges.

• Competitive Remuneration: A highly competitive package pro-rata, reflective of your premium industry experience.

To Apply

If you are ready to transition your career into a high-value, flexible auditing and advisory role, please submit your resume and a brief overview of your experience via the apply link. For a confidential discussion regarding this leadership opportunity, please contact Ezgi Erdogan-Frost at 0419 381 964.

At Randstad, we are passionate about providing equal employment opportunities and embracing diversity to the benefit of all. We actively encourage applications from any background.