Mechanical Engineer - Water

Job Description

Build your future while helping deliver critical water infrastructure

We're looking for a Mechanical Engineer to join our growing Water team in Christchurch.

Whether you're early in your career or approaching the next step in your professional journey, this is an exciting opportunity to develop your technical expertise while working alongside some of AECOM's leading water and dam specialists. You'll be exposed to a diverse range of projects across New Zealand and Australia, helping deliver the infrastructure that communities rely on every day.

From pump stations and pipelines to hydraulic systems and dam infrastructure, you'll gain hands-on experience solving real-world engineering challenges while being supported by local experts and AECOM's global technical network.

The Opportunity

• Deliver mechanical design solutions across a range of three-waters and dam infrastructure projects, working alongside experienced engineers in multidisciplinary project teams.
• Contribute to the design of pump stations, pipelines, valves and associated water infrastructure that supports communities across New Zealand and Australia.
• Prepare and review mechanical design calculations, technical reports, specifications and drawings in accordance with industry standards, client requirements and best practice.
• Undertake hydraulic assessments and analyses to support the performance, reliability and resilience of critical infrastructure assets.
• Identify engineering challenges, investigate solutions and contribute innovative approaches to complex technical problems.
• Support design reviews and quality assurance processes, helping identify technical discrepancies and drive continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with civil, structural, electrical and process engineers to deliver integrated infrastructure solutions.
• Provide guidance and technical support to graduate and early-career engineers, helping build capability across the team.
• Manage your work effectively to meet project budgets, schedules and quality expectations while continuing to grow your technical expertise.
• Participate in site visits, inspections and client interactions to broaden your practical experience and understanding of project delivery.

Qualifications

We'd love to hear from you if you have:

• A Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline.
• 2+ years' experience in mechanical engineering, ideally within water, wastewater, industrial or infrastructure environments.
• Experience or exposure to some of the following areas:
  • Pump station design
  • Process piping design
  • Pipe stress analysis
  • Mechanical equipment specification and selection
  • Steady-state hydraulic modelling and pump selection
  • Transient analysis of pipelines (surge analysis)
  • Finite Element Analysis (FEA)
  • Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
• Experience using engineering software such as Inventor, HAMMER, AutoCAD, Revit, AutoPIPE or similar design and modelling tools.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary teams.
• The ability to think critically, identify issues, investigate solutions and contribute to technical problem-solving.
• A genuine interest in developing a career within the water and infrastructure sector.
• An aspiration to work towards Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng) status.

Additional Information

At AECOM, you'll do more than support projects. You'll gain exposure to complex water and dam infrastructure challenges, work alongside recognised technical leaders, and contribute to projects that create lasting benefits for communities.

You'll be supported by local expertise, connected to AECOM's global network of specialists, and given the opportunity to develop technical skills that will accelerate your growth into a future Senior and Principal Engineer.

Bring your curiosity, technical mindset and ambition, and help us deliver a better world.

At AECOM, we are committed to maintaining a secure and trustworthy recruitment process and take any fraudulent hiring activity seriously. To support this commitment, all newly hired employees are required to attend an in-person Day 1 onboarding at an AECOM office location as a condition of employment.

About AECOM 

AECOM is proud to offer comprehensive benefits to meet the diverse needs of our employees. Depending on your employment status, AECOM benefits may include medical, dental, vision, life, AD&D, disability benefits, paid time off, leaves of absences, voluntary benefits, perks, flexible work options, well-being resources, employee assistance program, business travel insurance, service recognition awards, retirement savings plan, and employee stock purchase plan. 

AECOM is the global infrastructure leader, committed to delivering a better world. As a trusted professional services firm powered by deep technical abilities, we solve our clients’ complex challenges in water, environment, energy, transportation and buildings. Our teams partner with public- and private-sector clients to create innovative, sustainable and resilient solutions throughout the project lifecycle – from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm that had revenue of $16.1 billion in fiscal year 2025. Learn more at aecom.com. 

What makes AECOM a great place to work 

You will be part of a global team that champions your growth and career ambitions. Work on groundbreaking projects - both in your local community and on a global scale - that are transforming our industry and shaping the future. With cutting-edge technology and a network of experts, you’ll have the resources to make a real impact. Our award-winning training and development programs are designed to expand your technical expertise and leadership skills, helping you build the career you’ve always envisioned. Here, you’ll find a welcoming workplace built on respect, collaboration and community - where you have the freedom to grow in a world of opportunity. 

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in your potential and are here to help you achieve it. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.