Engineering Director - Development

About Inland Rail

Inland Rail Pty Ltd is delivering a 1,600km freight line that is transforming how goods are moved around Australia. When fully operational, Inland Rail will connect Melbourne to Brisbane via regional Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. As one of the largest infrastructure projects in Australia, Inland Rail is helping to address the nation’s future freight needs and meet the demands of our growing population.

Delivering Inland Rail will help shift more goods onto rail which means safer, less congested roads and fewer emissions and a more resilient and sustainable national freight network.

More information relating to the project can be found here: Inland Rail

About the opportunity

Inland Rail is seeking an accomplished Engineering Director to provide authoritative technical leadership across the Northern NSW and Queensland programs, guiding projects through development and into delivery readiness.

As Engineering Director – Development, you will be accountable for all engineering outcomes across the Approved Project Works (APW), ensuring designs are integrated, buildable, safe, compliant and cost‑certain. You will lead engineering strategy, decision‑making and assurance across design development, technical investigations, environmental approvals, design optimisation and early enablement activities, laying the groundwork for successful future delivery.

As part of the Development Leadership Team, you will act as the primary engineering interface between Development and enterprise Engineering, Integration and Program Performance functions. You will resolve complex technical and interface challenges, manage assurance and accreditation risks, and align diverse stakeholders around a single, integrated rail solution.

Key responsibilities included but are not limited to:

  • Lead the engineering function across development to deliver coordinated, compliant and buildable design outcomes
  • Provide decisive technical leadership to resolve complex engineering, integration and third‑party interface issues
  • Drive engineering governance, assurance and risk management to meet safety, regulatory and accreditation requirements
  • Lead and mentor a high‑performing engineering team and embed a strong safety‑first culture
  • Support investment decisions and delivery readiness through robust engineering strategies and documentation
  • Lead change as Inland Rail transitions to new operating models and ways of working

About you

You are a respected engineering leader with a strong track record guiding major infrastructure programs through the development phase and into delivery readiness. You bring the judgement and authority to make complex technical decisions, balance competing objectives and ensure engineering solutions are safe, integrated, compliant and buildable.

Additionally to be successful in this role, you will need to demonstrate:

  • Degree qualified engineer with CPEng / RPEQ / NER / equivalent accreditation
  • Extensive senior engineering leadership experience on major infrastructure or rail programs
  • Proven capability delivering engineering outcomes through the development phase to delivery readiness
  • Deep understanding of engineering assurance, systems integration, safety in design and regulatory requirements
  • Strong influencing, negotiation and stakeholder management capability across government, industry and delivery partners

What you’ll be joining

  • You will join one of the largest infrastructure programs in Australia.
  • This project will generate thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in local investment, boosting regional economies and communities right along the alignment.
  • Inland Rail is proud to have over 40% female representation and we would like to see these numbers grow.
  • Inland Rail is an Agile working environment in our State-of-the Art office embracing flexible working conditions.

Our Organisation and Culture

The values that drive us and the work we deliver in the program incorporate Collaboration, Accountability, Respect and Excellence.  We welcome like-minded individuals who value our culture.

At Inland Rail, we celebrate, support, and thrive on attracting people from all horizons and walks of life for the benefit of our employees, our program, and our community. Inland Rail is proud to be an equal opportunity and an affirmative action employer. We encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates to submit their details to us.

All employment is decided based on suitability to the role, cultural fit, merit, and business needs.

Apply Now

If this opportunity sounds like the challenge you have been looking for please apply online today.

As part of the application process, you will be required to undergo pre-employment criminal history, reference and medical checks, including drug and alcohol testing. Inland Rail is a drug and alcohol-free working environment.

Applications close: 15th April 2026 

Please note that applications are reviewed from point of advertising so don’t delay your application.

Date posted: April 1, 2026
Closing date: April 15, 2026

Brisbane Temporary - Full-time
Apply now