About Portatech
Portatech is a Western Australian designer and manufacturer of modular, portable and demountable building solutions. Over the past eight years we have grown into an established supplier of engineered transportable structures for commercial, industrial, resources and remote-site applications across Australia and, increasingly, into export markets.
Position purpose
The Site Technical Advisor provides the professional civil engineering expertise that underpins the design, transport, siting, foundation and installation of Portatech's modular and demountable structures. The role owns the engineering interface between our factory-manufactured product and the physical site — planning and designing footings and foundation systems, analysing structural and geotechnical loads, determining construction methods and quality standards, and directing site activities so that every installation is structurally sound, compliant and durable. It is a hands-on professional engineering role that combines design, analysis, documentation and on-site technical leadership.
Key responsibilities
- Plan and design foundation, footing, tie-down and structural support systems for modular and demountable buildings, tailored to each site's ground conditions, wind region and loading requirements.
- Analyse structural systems and components for static and dynamic loads — including wind, live, dead and transport-induced loads — and verify that structures and their foundations perform safely across the range of siting conditions encountered.
- Obtain and interpret soil and rock data at project sites, arranging or reviewing sampling and testing to determine bearing capacity, compressibility and other geotechnical factors, and determine safe loadings for foundation design.
- Determine construction methods, materials and quality standards, and draft and interpret specifications, drawings, plans and installation procedures for site works.
- Prepare project engineering documentation including technical proposals, cost estimates, design calculations, method statements, compliance documentation and reports.
- Organise and direct site labour and the delivery of materials, plant and equipment, and establish detailed programs for the coordination and sequencing of site activities.
- Provide on-site technical direction and supervision during transport, craneage, siting, levelling, connection and commissioning, resolving engineering issues as they arise.
- Ensure all works comply with the National Construction Code, relevant Australian Standards, WHS legislation and project-specific engineering requirements, and liaise with certifiers, building surveyors and regulatory authorities as required.
- Advise the design, manufacturing and sales teams on engineering feasibility, buildability and site constraints during the quoting and design phases, and support continuous improvement of Portatech's standard engineering details.
- Support export projects by adapting foundation and installation engineering to the standards and site conditions of destination markets.
Required qualifications and experience
- A Bachelor degree (four years) or higher qualification in Civil Engineering, assessed as comparable to the Australian standard (Washington Accord accredited or equivalent).
- A positive skills assessment for Civil Engineer (ANZSCO 233211) from Engineers Australia, or eligibility to obtain one.
- Demonstrated post-qualification experience in civil, structural or geotechnical engineering, including foundation design and on-site technical delivery.
- Working knowledge of the National Construction Code and relevant Australian Standards (or a demonstrated ability to rapidly become proficient in them), including standards relevant to structural loading, wind actions, footings and foundations.
- Proficiency with structural analysis and design, engineering documentation, and standard engineering software.
- Competent English language ability sufficient to meet the requirements of the nominated visa.
Skills and competencies
- Strong applied knowledge of structural and geotechnical engineering principles.
- Ability to translate design intent into practical, compliant and cost-effective site solutions.
- Clear technical communication with crews, subcontractors, certifiers and clients.
- Sound judgement and problem-solving on site, often in remote or constrained conditions.
- Organised, safety-focused and able to manage competing priorities across multiple projects.
Conditions
- Full-time, ongoing position based in Perth, Western Australia, with travel to project sites as required (including remote and interstate sites, and potentially international project sites).
- Remuneration will be at or above the market salary rate for the role and will meet the minimum income threshold applicable to the nominated visa.
- A current driver's licence is required. A construction white card and relevant site inductions will be required or provided.
This position is a genuine, ongoing skilled role within Portatech and corresponds to the occupation of Civil Engineer (ANZSCO 233211). The duties above reflect the core tasks of that occupation as they apply to Portatech's modular and demountable building operations.
Pay: From $79,978.19 per year
Work Location: In person
