Principal Structures Maintenance Engineer

Company description:

Queensland Rail's purpose is to provide a customer-focused, safe, reliable, on-time, value for money rail service that benefits the community, supports industry and is integrated with the public transport system. The organisation's vision is connecting communities through a modern, world-class rail service.

Job description:

Drive the Future of Rail Infrastructure with Queensland Rail. You'll connect Queensland. We'll connect you to an amazing career.

Are you an experienced Principal Structures Maintenance Engineer looking for a role where you can make a real impact? Join Queensland Rail's SEQ Structures Assets Engineering team and play a key role in managing the long-term maintenance and renewal of critical railway structures—including bridges, culverts, tunnels and other structures.

This is a balanced office/field role where you'll combine strategic asset management with hands-on site inspections. You'll work closely with internal and external stakeholders to develop and implement whole-of-life asset management solutions that ensure safety, reliability, and efficiency.

What You'll Be Doing

• Prioritising structural defects and planning short- and long-term rectification works.
• Developing strategic asset maintenance and replacement plans for SEQ rail structures.
• Provide Engineering expertise when attending field inspections with Structures Inspectors and attending site for bridge strike incidents.
• Conduct engineering and technical investigations and prepare reports associated with asset safety, condition and reliability issues.
• Develop budget and scoping for maintenance and upgrade of structures assets.
• Reviewing and updating old structural drawings and asset records to maintain asset integrity.
• Engaging and managing consultants and contractors for maintenance and renewal works.
• Attending Safety in Design, site inspections and project meetings, providing expert structural advice for internal and external projects.
• Contributing to a culture of innovation and continuous improvement in asset management.

Benefits that Count

We offer a range of attractive benefits, all designed to help you bring your best.

• Full-time permanent role offers stability and opportunities for career growth within Queensland Rail.
• Base salary starts at $160,900 PLUS 12.75% Superannuation.

You'll also benefit from:

Flexibility and opportunities to boost your earnings:

• Optional overtime (OT) for extra income: Take advantage of optional night and weekend overtime (on average approximately one weekend per month) to increase your earnings, if it suits you.
• Flexible Time Off In Lieu (TOIL): Enjoy a healthy work-life balance, providing you with additional flexibility.

Whether you're looking to maximise your income or enjoy greater flexibility, this role offers the best of both worlds.

• Support for your career and continued professional development including RPEQ Continual Professional Development (CPD) and via internal and externally delivered courses.
• Options for flexible working.
• Four weeks annual leave with 17.5% annual leave loading.
• Long service leave entitlements on completion of 7 years continuous service.
• Full reimbursement for annual membership with two (2) relevant professional development associations applicable to your role.

And more Click here to see the full range of benefits available to Queensland Rail employees.

Who We're Looking For

You're a proactive problem-solver with strong technical expertise and leadership skills. You thrive in a dynamic environment and can build strong relationships across a range of stakeholders.

You'll bring:

• Bachelor Engineering Civil degree (or QR accepted equivalent).
• Registered Professional Engineer Queensland (RPEQ) or close to achieving this, within a 6 month timeframe.
• Un-restricted Drivers Licence.
• Minimum 8-10 years post graduate experience as Senior/Principal Engineer and experience managing less senior engineers.
• Advanced structural asset management experience across rail and road infrastructure - bridges, footbridges, tunnels, culverts and other structures.
• Strong knowledge of structural design, construction and project management in a transport infrastructure setting.
• Ability to lead and mentor Graduate/Student Engineers.
• A passion for working with aging assets and delivering practical engineering solutions.

Now is a great time to join us on our journey as we transform Southeast Queensland's extensive rail network, connecting communities and gearing up for the 2032 Olympic Games and beyond.

Position Description

Your journey matters. Make it with us.

There has never been a more exciting time to join Queensland Rail. We offer boundless opportunities to support your career today and for your future.

Join us in shaping Queensland's Rail future and apply to Principal Structures Maintenance Engineer via our website by clicking onto the "Apply" button by 11:59pm (GMT+10:00 Brisbane) Sunday 26th October 2025.

Supporting a Diverse Workforce

Queensland Rail acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Elders of the lands and waterways our network traverses.

Our teams are People who Count. We encourage diversity in our teams, including different genders, age, race, disability status, sexual orientation, religions, neurodiversity, education levels and many more aspects. No two journeys are the same, and it's because of our differences that as a collective, we achieve great things.

If you would like to discuss reasonable adjustments in the recruitment process, please contact please contact Cynthia Mackenzie via the email below.

Applicants for roles at Queensland Rail may undergo pre-employment alcohol and drug testing if they advance in the recruitment process. The selection process may also include psychometric assessments, pre-employment health checks and background screenings, which could involve criminal history and credit checks if this applies to the pre-employment requirements for this role.

For roles that have pre-employment qualifications, we will also be required to do formal qualification verification processes to ensure qualifications align to Queensland Rail's pre-employment frameworks.

To learn more about this Queensland Rail career opportunity please contact Cynthia Mackenzie with your specific enquiry via Please do not email your application. We can only accept applications received via our website.