Senior Hydraulic Structures Engineer

GFT • Denver, CO

8h • $160,000 - $208,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

GFT is seeking a Senior Hydraulic Structures Engineer to join its Geotechnical, Dams and Hydraulics team. The role is based in Greenwood Village, a suburb of Denver, Colorado, and may be performed fully remotely or in a hybrid work model, with the position reporting to the Greenwood Village office.

The Dams and Hydraulics team works on the design, evaluation, and rehabilitation of dams, levees, spillways, and other hydraulic structures. Its work supports dam safety, infrastructure resilience, flood-risk management, and extending the service life of aging facilities. The multidisciplinary team includes civil, structural, geotechnical, mechanical, and hydraulic engineering expertise and performs condition assessments, rehabilitation design, hydrologic and hydraulic analysis, and risk-informed decision making.

This senior role focuses on engineering analysis, design, and computer modeling, along with mentoring junior engineers. The successful candidate will visit project sites for inspections and construction or design oversight; perform and review engineering analyses; guide design methods; provide technical assistance to staff and clients; and contribute to client management. The position may serve as Engineer of Record, technical reviewer, or senior technical advisor on dam and hydraulic structure projects.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in structural, civil, or mechanical engineering.
• At least 15 years of relevant experience in evaluation, analysis, design, and rehabilitation of dams and hydraulic structures.
• Registered Professional Engineer (PE) in at least one U.S. state.
• Experience serving as Engineer of Record, technical reviewer, or technical lead for dam and hydraulic structure projects.
• Experience serving as structural technical lead for dam and hydraulic structure projects.
• Demonstrated engineering judgment in the evaluation, design, and rehabilitation of dams and hydraulic structures.
• Strong technical writing and communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex engineering concepts to clients, regulators, and project teams.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor and develop junior engineers and technical staff.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree with emphasis in structural, civil, or mechanical engineering.
• Experience with finite element analysis software such as ANSYS, ABAQUS, SAP2000, or STAAD.
• Experience participating in dam safety risk analyses and risk-informed decision making.
• Experience performing seismic analysis of dams and hydraulic structures.
• Experience serving as Project Manager for multidisciplinary dam and hydraulic structure projects.
• Experience developing proposals, scopes of work, cost estimates, staffing plans, and project schedules.
• Experience building and maintaining client relationships and supporting business development activities.

Responsibilities

• Lead the evaluation, analysis, rehabilitation, and design of concrete dams and reinforced concrete and steel hydraulic structures, including spillways, outlet works, stilling basins, gates, and appurtenant structures.
• Develop and direct engineering analyses, design criteria, hand calculations, and finite element models to evaluate new and existing hydraulic structures.
• Serve as Engineer of Record, technical reviewer, and/or senior technical advisor for dam and hydraulic structure projects, as appropriate.
• Mentor and provide technical leadership to engineers and other project staff, supporting their professional development and strengthening the team’s technical capabilities.
• Lead and participate in field inspections, condition assessments, investigations, and construction support activities for existing dams and hydraulic structures.
• Prepare and review engineering calculations, reports, drawings, specifications, and other technical deliverables.
• Communicate findings and recommendations to clients and stakeholders.
• Visit project sites to review site conditions for inspections and construction or design oversight.
• Provide technical assistance to staff and clients and contribute to client management responsibilities.

Benefits

• Hybrid (in-person and remote) work environment.
• Comprehensive benefits package including wellness programs, parental leave, and pet insurance, in addition to medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance.
• Tax-deferred 401(k) savings plan.
• Competitive paid-time-off (PTO) accrual.
• Tuition reimbursement for continued education.
• Professional development, access to internal and external training programs, and support for active participation in professional organizations.
• Incentive compensation for eligible positions.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior