Head of Engineering

Head of Engineering Project ARES
 
Overview

The Head of Engineering leads all engineering delivery for a confidential 1GW hyperscale energy and data centre development in the Northern Territory. This role oversees multi discipline engineering design, integration and assurance across power generation, transmission, civil works and data centre construction. It is responsible for establishing engineering governance from a blank page, coordinating EPC contractor interfaces and ensuring all engineering outputs meet project, regulatory and safety requirements. The role is Perth based during the establishment phase and transitions toward the Northern Territory site as the project mobilises.
 
Key Responsibilities

• Lead all engineering delivery across power generation, transmission, civil works and data centre construction
• Establish engineering governance, systems and ways of working from a blank page
• Oversee multi discipline design development and assurance across electrical, mechanical, civil and structural packages
• Coordinate EPC contractor engineering interfaces and ensure alignment with project requirements
• Review and approve engineering deliverables including design reports, drawings, specifications and technical submissions
• Ensure engineering compliance with NT regulatory frameworks, Australian Standards and project safety requirements
• Work closely with Project Controls to integrate engineering schedules, cost forecasts and progress reporting
• Support procurement by developing technical scopes, evaluation criteria and contractor capability requirements
• Provide engineering leadership during construction, commissioning and handover phases
• Report engineering progress, risks and design readiness to the Project Director on a regular cycle
• Build and mentor an engineering team, ensuring clear role descriptions, performance management and development planning

Required Experience

• Minimum 15 years engineering leadership experience on major energy, resources or data centre projects
• Proven experience leading multi discipline engineering teams on remote FIFO construction programs
• Strong background in electrical, mechanical or civil engineering with demonstrated design assurance capability
• Experience working with EPC contractors and managing complex technical interfaces
• Demonstrated ability to establish engineering systems, governance and processes from a greenfield start
• Degree in Engineering with Chartered status preferred

Skills and Attributes

• Strong leadership capability with the ability to build and mentor a team from the ground up
• High attention to detail with the ability to make timely decisions on the best available information
• Resilient and able to operate effectively under pressure, remote conditions and shifting scope
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills across EPC contractors, government and internal teams