Senior Civil Engineer

Joining Arup

Arup’s purpose, shared values and collaborative approach has set us apart for over 80 years, guiding how we shape a better world.

Civil engineers are stewards of the built environment, responsible for ensuring infrastructure remains safe, reliable, and resilient in a changing climate, and turning policy ambition and climate science into infrastructure that works in the real world.

Africa faces unprecedented population growth alongside increasing urbanisation and climate volatility. These pressures demand integrated, future-focused civil engineering solutions that balance technical rigour with environmental stewardship and social impact. In response, Arup are broadening our agile, digitally enabled Civil Engineering capability in South Africa, connected to Arup’s global expertise and grounded in local context.

We exist to shape a better world – and we do so by bringing together imagination, technical excellence, and a deep sense of responsibility to people and planet.

We are an independent firm of designers, planners, engineers, architects, consultants, and technical specialists, working across every aspect of the built environment. In South Africa and across the African continent, civil engineering sits at the heart of society’s most urgent challenges – from resilient infrastructure and sustainable water systems to climate adaptation, urban growth, and social equity.

With offices in Cape Town (est.1965), Durban (est.1958) and Johannesburg (est.1954), you will work alongside established multidisciplinary teams with diverse industry knowledge, united by a shared commitment to people, excellence, influence, digital innovation, and sustainability. We are excited about the energy, perspectives, skills, and leadership you could bring.

The Opportunity

The role involves inter-office collaboration, skills development and knowledge transfer between Arup colleagues across regions. It is well suited to someone who wants to progress their career in a consulting design environment, lead teams and project packages, contribute to work-winning opportunities, and develop as a future leader within Arup. You will also play a part in the continued digital transformation of our business, including delivery in BIM environments and the use of tools such as Civil 3D to improve design coordination and efficiency.

Is This Opportunity Right for You?

We would love to hear from you if you have:

• Registered Professional Engineer (Pr Eng) with ECSA and a Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering.
• Typically gained through approximately eight years of relevant consulting engineering design experience, or an equivalent combination of qualifications, training, and demonstrated competence.
• Strong technical judgement with the ability to resolve complex engineering challenges.
• Proficient in relevant design codes, BIM-enabled delivery and civil engineering software, including Civil 3D.
• Experience in infrastructure and site development projects, including bulk earthworks, water, wastewater, sewer, stormwater and drainage systems.
• Exposure to bulk water infrastructure, treatment works, wastewater treatment, flood risk, hydrology or dam-related projects.
• Data centre project experience is highly desirable.
• Strong commercial awareness and understanding of project delivery requirements.
• Demonstrates commitment to quality, innovation, professional excellence and Arup's values.
• Willingness to support projects across South Africa, Africa and Europe.

Not ready to apply just yet, or have some questions? Please email Carien Ferreira at ***email_hidden*** .

What we offer you

At Arup, we care about each member’s success, so we can grow together.

We are owned in trust on behalf of our members, giving us the freedom, with personal responsibility, to set our own direction and choose work that aligns with our purpose and adds to Arup’s legacy. Our members collaborate on ambitious projects to deliver remarkable outcomes for our clients and communities.

An environment that will give you freedom to design with a purpose, focus on your skills to deliver quality work to our clients, opportunity to learn and share knowledge openly. You will have the opportunity to utilise your technical expertise to improve the lives of the most vulnerable in the communities in which we live and work through Arup's community engagement programme.

You'll have access to lots of learning opportunities and ongoing training through Arup university and other learning programmes.

Beyond a competitive guaranteed annual salary package, core benefits include medical aid and hospital gap cover, as well as provident fund covering retirement savings, life insurance and income protection in the event of disability. Core benefits form part of your guaranteed annual package.

Different people, shared values:

At Arup, we believe when talented people collaborate, great things are possible. Arup hires people with proven skills and open minds. We are taking deliberate action to create an inclusive culture that is grounded in our purpose to shape a better world.

At Arup, we welcome candidates from all backgrounds, regardless of age (within legal limits), disability, neurotype or mental health, gender, gender identity, gender expression, race, ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, whether you’re pregnant or on family leave. We are an open environment that embraces diverse experiences, perspectives, and ideas – this drives our excellence.

Guided by our values and alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, we create and contribute to equitable spaces and systems, while cultivating a sense of belonging for all. Our internal employee networks support our inclusive culture: from race, ethnicity and cross-cultural working to gender equity and LGBTQ+ and disability inclusion – we aim to create a space for you to express yourself and make a positive difference. Discover more about life at Arup at

We are committed to making our recruitment process and workplaces accessible to all candidates. Please contact Carien Ferreira at ***email_hidden*** to let us know if you need any assistance or reasonable adjustments throughout your application or interview process, and/or to perform the essential functions of the role. We will do everything we can to support you.

Our Application Process

To understand what to expect next, please visit:

Stay safe online – Arup will never ask for your bank details as part of our recruitment process.

Recruitment Agencies – We have a Preferred Supplier List of trusted partners to assist us when required and do not acknowledge any speculative CVs or unsolicited candidate introductions from agencies not on the list.

We may close the role earlier than the advertised date should we receive a large number of applications, so please ensure you apply early.