Asia-Pacific Engineering Recruitment

Last reviewed: November 2026.

In short: JustEng helps employers in Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand hire Western-trained engineers for projects in the region. We recruit chartered structural, civil, MEP, geotechnical, fire, facade, BIM and quantity surveying professionals from the UK and other Western engineering markets, and support each hire from shortlist through to relocation.

Why Asia-Pacific Employers Hire UK-Trained Engineers

Much of the region already works in a way UK engineers recognise. Singapore designs structures to Eurocodes, Hong Kong’s design practice grew out of British Standards and NEC contracts are widely used on its public works, and Australia and New Zealand share a common-law contracting environment and similar professional structures. UK chartered status (CEng, MIStructE, CIBSE or RICS membership) is widely recognised by clients and can shorten the route to local registration.

“Western-trained” describes training, codes and professional standards, not nationality. We consider every candidate on their qualifications and experience.

Where the Demand Is in 2026

Australia

Infrastructure Australia’s 2025 Market Capacity Report put the five-year major public infrastructure pipeline at around A$242 billion and identified labour as the most critical risk to delivering it. Industry bodies point to a particular shortage of senior, experienced engineers able to lead complex projects, which is where overseas hires make the biggest difference.

Singapore

The Building and Construction Authority forecasts construction demand of S$47 billion to S$53 billion in 2026 and expects demand to stay well above its long-term average over the medium term, supported by public infrastructure and institutional projects.

Hong Kong

The Northern Metropolis and major transport infrastructure are creating new opportunities for engineers across many disciplines, and industry forecasts have long pointed to a shortage of engineers to deliver them.

New Zealand

We also recruit for employers in New Zealand on infrastructure, buildings and seismic strengthening projects.

Engineers We Recruit for the Region

• Structural engineers for high-rise, transport and infrastructure projects
• Civil and infrastructure engineers for rail, roads, ports and utilities
• MEP and building services engineers, including data centre and healthcare specialists
• Geotechnical and tunnelling engineers
• Fire engineers
• Facade engineers
• BIM managers and digital delivery leads
• Quantity surveyors and commercial managers
• Forensic engineers, quantum and delay experts and expert witnesses
• Directors and heads of department through executive search

What Employers Should Plan For

Registration and visa rules differ across the region and change often. These are the points we raise with clients at the start of a search:

• Singapore: professional engineering work that must be certified, such as structural plans submitted for approval, has to be signed off by a Professional Engineer registered with the Professional Engineers Board. Employment Pass applications need a minimum qualifying salary, starting at S$5,600 a month for general roles and rising with age, and at least 40 points under the COMPASS framework.
• Hong Kong: statutory roles such as Registered Structural Engineer under the Buildings Ordinance require local registration, usually built on corporate membership of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers, which UK chartered engineers can often obtain through reciprocal agreements.
• Australia: Queensland requires engineers providing professional engineering services in or for the state to be registered as an RPEQ or work under the direct supervision of one, and Victoria and New South Wales require registration for certain types of work. Employers usually sponsor overseas engineers on the Skills in Demand visa, which replaced the Temporary Skill Shortage (482) visa in December 2024, and some routes need a skills assessment from Engineers Australia.
• Everywhere: qualification and employment documents usually need to be verified before a visa application, so we ask shortlisted candidates to prepare them early.

We flag these requirements at shortlist stage, but a registered migration agent or immigration adviser should always confirm the current rules for each hire.

What a Typical Package Includes

Salaries are benchmarked against local markets rather than the UK. Singapore and Hong Kong have relatively low personal income tax, and Australian packages add compulsory superannuation on top of salary. Relocation support for senior hires commonly includes flights, temporary accommodation, shipping and help with schooling, and Hong Kong packages may include a housing allowance. We help employers set offers that are strong enough to persuade engineers to relocate.

How We Run an Asia-Pacific Search

1. Brief: we agree the role, project, location, codes, registration needs, package and start date.
2. Search: we approach Western-trained engineers already in the region as well as UK candidates open to relocation.
3. Shortlist: each candidate is screened for technical fit, chartership, eligibility for local registration and readiness to relocate.
4. Interviews and offer: we manage interviews across time zones and help negotiate the package.
5. Relocation: we keep candidates on track through documents, visa steps and the move until they start.

For a wider view of how we recruit internationally, see our global engineering recruitment page and our Middle East recruitment page. You can also browse live roles, including current positions in Singapore, Hong Kong and Australia.

Hiring in Asia-Pacific?

Tell us about the role and we will come back to you within one working day. Register a vacancy or contact us. Engineers interested in roles in the region can submit a CV.

Related: Global engineering recruitment | Middle East engineering recruitment | Executive search | About JustEng