Senior Dam Engineer

Schnabel is an employee-owned, professional engineering and consulting firm that focuses on solving problems related to the earth and environment through specialization in geotechnical, geostructural, tunnel, and dam engineering. Schnabel’s high standards for quality, business ethics, and concern for the communities in which we live are a vital part of who we are. Schnabel is an ENR Top 500 Design Firm with 600 employees in 27 offices throughout the United States.

Recognized by CE News as one of the Best Engineering Firms to Work for, Schnabel provides employees with a competitive benefits package including maternity leave, tuition reimbursement for continuing education, health, dental, life and disability insurance and a wellness program. As an employee-owned company, through the Employee Stock Ownership Plan, Schnabel employees directly benefit from the success of our growing firm.

Benefit options include:

• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Flexible spending accounts
• Employee life & ADD insurance (100% company-paid)
• Short-term disability (100% company-paid)
• Long-term disability
• Supplemental life insurance
• 401(k) and profit-sharing plan
• Employee stock ownership plan (ESOP)
• Bonus program
• Paid time off
• 9 Paid Holidays
• Wellness program
• Professional development and tuition reimbursement

Job Description:

Are you looking for interesting and meaningful work, a fun atmosphere, and opportunities to learn, grow, and excel? If so, then welcome to Schnabel! We approach problems with creativity and innovation. The Denver (Lakewood), Colorado office is seeking a Senior Dam Engineer with civil and structural engineering expertise related to dams, water resources projects, civil works projects, and the application of risk informed decision-making procedures.  The successful candidate will support our growing Denver office and projects throughout the U.S., working with collaborative multi-disciplinary teams. Externally, this role may be referred to as an Associate or Senior Associate Engineer.

The Denver office of Schnabel focuses on the evaluation and design of dams, water resource studies, hydraulic structures, and advancing our practice of risk informed decision making within our dam engineering group. Example projects include the inspection, evaluation and design of new and rehabilitated embankment and concrete dams, spillways, outlet works, and related structures for dam owners located across the U.S.   Schnabel provides technically viable and cost-effective dam and levee solutions that address the unique characteristics and purpose of each project. We base our services on a close understanding of each client’s needs and budget, site characteristics, impact on project facilities, and potential positive and negative environmental and social consequences resulting from project development. Our structural engineering services span steel, concrete, masonry, and wood design. Example projects include the design of fish hatcheries, surface water intakes, pump stations, dams, pipelines, and fabricated gates and valves.

Job Responsibilities:

Perform the following structural engineering tasks:

• Perform engineering activities throughout all phases of a project lifecycle, including inspection, investigation, evaluation, analysis, design, and engineering services during construction. 
• Work as a team member within the Denver office and across other Schnabel offices and various technical disciplines to achieve project goals.  Other disciplines may include geotechnical, civil, hydraulic, and mechanical engineers, and geologists, environmental scientists, and construction personnel.
• Provide structural engineering expertise, services, technical oversight, and overall management of dam engineering projects. 
• Perform and/or review stability analyses, reinforced concrete design, and steel design for water and earth retaining structures associated with dams, spillways, and other hydraulic structures.
• Prepare and review design calculations, engineering reports, construction drawings and technical specifications.
• Perform project management activities including planning and delegating work, managing project budgets, invoicing, communicating resource needs and reporting backlog.
• Manage client relationships.
• Proactively market and develop dam engineering business opportunities.
• Develop engineering proposals and qualification statements.
• Supervise and mentor junior engineers.
• Willingness and ability to perform field work and travel.    
• Serve as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) and/or senior reviewer by providing structural and dam engineering expertise and technical oversight related to structural aspects of projects with varying size and complexity.
• Participate in Comprehensive Safety Reviews and FERC Part12D Inspections, for existing dam and hydropower facilities.
• Conduct potential failure mode analyses and risk analyses for dam and levee projects, including identifying and developing potential structural failure modes, and serving as a technical expert in risk analysis workshops.

Required Skills/Experience:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Civil Engineering with 10 to 15 years of professional experience.
• Licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.) or Professional Structural Engineer (S.E.).
• Experience/proficiency with common computer-aided analysis and finite element modeling programs applicable to structural engineering, such as AutoCAD, Revit, SAP2000, LSDYNA, and ANSYS.
• Proficient in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other Office suite software.
• Experience preparing and reviewing construction drawings and technical specifications.
• Experience working with owners and contractors during the construction phases of a project.
• Ability to work collaboratively and meet established deadlines.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills. A strong work ethic and the desire to perform professionally at a high level.
• Experience and knowledge of applicable state and federal dam safety design methodologies, policies and regulations, including USACE design standards, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation design standards, FERC guidelines, etc.
• Attention to detail and well-organized.

Preferred Qualifications/Skills:

• Active participation in relevant professional societies (USSD, ASDSO, SEI, etc.)
• Experience with Risk Analyses (PFMA, Screening, SQRA, QRA, etc.)
• Knowledge/understanding of FERC, USACE, USBR, FEMA, etc. guidelines/regulations.

Other Requirements:

• Ability to pass a background check which may include criminal history, motor vehicle record and credit check.
• Ability to pass a pre-employment screening.

The compensation range for an Associate Engineer is between $100,300 to $160,700. The compensation range for a Senior Associate Engineer is between $115,850 to $200,000. Compensation for this position may vary based on geographic location and other factors. We remain committed to providing competitive and equitable compensation to all employees, regardless of their location.

Salary : $100,300 - $160,700