Company Description
AECOM is seeking a Structural Engineer - HV Transmission Lines to be based in South Africa's Enterprise Capabilities office in Cape Town. This position will support a team locally based in South Africa and Global Teams. As a part of AECOM's culture, it offers a flexible hybrid work arrangement which accommodates both office and out-of-office work schedules.
About Enterprise Capabilities
Fundamental to our Think and Act Globally strategy and digital adoption, Enterprise Capabilities (EC) is AECOM’s primary vehicle for workshare. Operating across geographic boundaries and time-zones, EC partners with regional and Global Business Line project teams to provide technical expertise, accelerate delivery and keep AECOM competitive in the industry.
With a team of over 3000 technical professionals located across nine countries and remote technical anchors, EC teams are trusted to deliver high-quality, specialist services that help to fill capability gaps, resourcing needs and technical constraints on projects of all scopes and sizes.
Start here. Grow here.
Job Description
The Structural Engineer provides senior technical leadership and delivery capability across a broad range of transmission line projects from 132kV to 765kV. This includes greenfield projects, asset upgrades, reconductoring, thermal uprating, foundation and structure strengthening, line cut-ins, and asset renewal schemes. The role involves hands-on design, technical review, and interdisciplinary collaboration across project stages from concept to construction.
Experience relating to OHL design:
- Model towers or poles using PLS-TOWER or PLS-POLE, including strength, stability, and member capacity checks.
- Support or lead foundation assessments and designs (pad, pile, raft, grillage) in collaboration with geotechnical engineers.
- Prepare or review general arrangement drawings, connection details, fabrication drawings, and part lists.
- Assess the structural adequacy of towers/poles for reconductoring, uprating, or retrofit purposes.
- Contribute to constructability assessments including cranage, access, erection sequencing, and outage constraints.
Key Responsibilities:
- Planning, scheduling, and execution of HV transmission line projects including:
- Prepare cost estimates, project budgets, and resource allocation plans.
- Coordinate with project managers, clients and other stakeholders to ensure project requirements are met.
- Coordination and technical leadership in the delivery of HV transmission line engineering and design projects/packages.
- Developing transmission line alignments, profiles, and structure spotting using PLS-CADD.
- Performing sag-tension analysis and validating clearances in accordance with relevant standards (e.g. EN 50341, NG TS 2.04).
- Preparing and reviewing design deliverables including plan/profile drawings, stringing charts, structure schedules, and loading reports.
- Assessing tower and pole structure loading and coordinating foundation designs with geotechnical inputs.
- Leading and/or contributing to the following project types:
- New transmission line designs (greenfield)
- Reconductoring and sag-tension recalculations
- Uprating and clearance improvement studies
- Structure/pole strength assessments and retrofits
- Foundation strengthening (e.g., pile extensions, grillage upgrades)
- Line cut-ins, tee-offs, and route deviations
- Tower/pole replacements and asset renewal
- OPGW or earthwire replacement and shielding reviews
- Participating in design reviews, QA/verification processes, and constructability assessments.
- Supporting delivery of construction-ready drawings and material schedules.
- Coordinating with drafting, structural, civil, electrical, and geotechnical teams for integrated design outputs.
- Providing guidance and mentoring to junior engineers and contributing to continuous improvement through lessons learned and design innovation.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering (Structural Engineering) is essential.
- A minimum of 8–10 years of relevant experience in HV (132kV+) overhead line transmission design and delivery.
- Chartered or Professional Engineer status (or working towards it) is preferred.
- Demonstrated experience delivering a range of HV OHL projects including new builds, reconductoring, uprating, and asset renewals.
- Proven ability to coordinate across disciplines and review detailed technical outputs to a high standard.
- Software's that are essential: PLS-CADD, PLS-TOWER / PLS-POLE, Microsoft Excel / Office
Additional Information
At AECOM, you will have freedom to grow in a world of opportunity
At AECOM, our Freedom to Grow philosophy supports flexibility and balance to help our people thrive. As part of this approach, we ask all hybrid employees to work from an AECOM office at least three days per week.
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 2024. 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.
