Smart Stormwater Systems Project Leader

Based in the College of Engineering and Information Technology, Adelaide City Campus East

Full time fixed term position available for 33 months

Salary range: $81,293 - $109,307 per annum (plus 17% superannuation)

At Adelaide University, we create the opportunities you need to achieve your ambitions – because when you thrive, we thrive.

We are transforming education for contemporary learners and global citizens. Building on a proud legacy and shaped by bold ambition, it’s a place of excellence and equity, where our vibrant community of staff are united by our purpose to inspire Australia’s future change-makers and create a better tomorrow.

Work that matters

In this role, you will lead the next stage of Adelaide University’s Smart Stormwater Systems journey. You will help deliver a real-world demonstration site that turns award-recognised research into practice. The site will show how distributed storages, smart design and real-time control can reduce urban flood peaks, adapt to climate change and avoid costly and disruptive pipe upgrades. It can also unlock co-benefits like water harvesting for greener, cooler suburbs and improved water quality. Working with an interdisciplinary team including committed local government funding partners, you’ll shape the vision, coordinate design and delivery, and translate data, models and on-ground monitoring into practical outcomes. The aim is to demonstrate this can be scaled and adopted across cities—helping communities adapt to climate change while creating infrastructure that is smarter and more resilient.

The team

The Smart Stormwater Systems team is led by Associate Professor Mark Thyer and Professor Holger Maier (Adelaide University), who bring complementary strengths across modern civil and environmental engineering. Mark Thyer is an international recognised expert in hydrology and water resources with 20+ years’ experience in flood and drought risk, climate variability and forecasting/uncertainty. Holger Maier is internationally recognised for developing and applying AI/machine learning, optimisation (notably evolutionary algorithms), and decision-support methods for complex water and infrastructure systems operating under uncertainty, and he has received major recognition for both research excellence and engineering education leadership, including international modelling and simulation awards and senior editorial/service roles in the field. Together, they lead an interdisciplinary group with a strong track record of funded, high-impact research and close collaboration with industry and government partners.

Mark and Holger are part of the School of Civil Engineering and Construction Management, which is ranked in Top 100 worldwide for Civil and Structural Engineering, while Adelaide University has a lifetime ranking of #1 in Australia for Water Resources, and #8 Globally. The School sits within the College of Engineering and Information Technology, which brings together expertise across aviation, computer science, construction management, and the full spectrum of 21st-century engineering disciplines including civil, mechanical, electrical, chemical, environmental, and biomedical engineering.

Our people

Our people are guided by purpose, curiosity and a commitment to lifelong learning. We embrace authenticity, innovation and collaboration, and harness diverse thinking in our pursuit of excellence.

This role suits someone who enjoys working in a dynamic environment with a variety of tasks to complete and enjoys working in multidisciplinary teams to maximise our collective achievements. You’ll engage with colleagues, students, and industry partners, receiving and delivering research contributions across teams.

Learn more about our people, what we stand for and what we offer at Careers at AU.

Experience

To join our community and thrive in this role, you will likely have the following skills and experience:

Qualifications:

• Hold a PhD in the discipline of civil/environmental/mechanical engineering or computer science or a related discipline; final-stage PhD candidates may be considered if they have received a positive thesis examination outcome

Essential:

• Demonstrated organisational and project management skills, including the ability to plan and prioritise tasks, manage competing deadlines, and deliver to milestones in applied research and/or industry-linked projects.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with demonstrated ability to work effectively in an interdisciplinary team and to liaise with a diverse range of stakeholders (e.g., local government, industry partners, community and end users) to translate technical concepts into practical outcomes.
• Demonstrated experience in quantitative analysis and modelling, such as hydrology/hydraulics, water systems, environmental modelling, optimisation, and/or data science (including ability to work with real-world datasets).
• Demonstrated research track record relative to opportunity, including publication in high quality international journals
• Demonstrated ability to produce high-quality written and verbal outputs for a wide range for range of audiences (e.g., scientific papers, presentations, technical reports, and/or guidance for both researchers and industry/practitioners)

Desirable:

• Experience with stormwater or water resources tools and methods (e.g., SWMM, MIKE, InfoWorks, TUFLOW, HEC-HMS/HEC-RAS, Australian Rainfall-Runoff guidance), or equivalent demonstrated capability in hydrologic/hydraulic analysis.
• Experience developing and/or deploying data-driven or control systems (e.g., optimisation or machine learning workflows, sensors/telemetry, control systems, field trials, software prototypes, dashboards), ideally in a water, environmental, or infrastructure context.
• Demonstrated capability (or strong aptitude) to contribute to smart stormwater solutions that integrate infrastructure and data, such as real-time monitoring and control, sensing/IoT, control logic, decision support tools, or evaluation of co-benefits (e.g., flood mitigation, water reuse, urban greening, water quality).

Our commitment to inclusion and diversity

We are committed to fostering a culture of inclusion where diversity is celebrated and everyone feels respected and valued. Adelaide University is an equal opportunity employer, committed to creating a safe, inclusive, and equitable workplace where everyone can thrive. We strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability, and people of all ages, genders, cultural backgrounds, sexual orientations, and gender identities. We are committed to supporting flexible working arrangements and providing reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.

Launch your future with Adelaide University now.

Applying is simple. Simply click on the Apply Now button and upload:

• your current CV
• a cover letter that tells us why you’re excited about the role

The online application form will list the specific selection criteria that you need to address.

Submit your application by 11:30pm Friday 15 May 2026

Please note that the role description is not attached to this advertisement as it is currently being finalised.

For further information about this opportunity, please contact (quoting reference number 492768):

Jessica Maslen
Team Lead – Talent Acquisition
People and Culture
+61 8 8302 1700 | careers.adelaideuniversity@adelaide.edu.au

Appointment is subject to a satisfactory National Police Check (NPC) being obtained and maintained.