Senior Hydraulic Structures Engineer

Joining the Dams & Hydraulics team at GFT means helping protect communities and critical infrastructure through the design, evaluation, and rehabilitation of dams, levees, spillways, and other hydraulic structures. Our engineers work on some of the nation's most important water infrastructure projects, applying innovative solutions to improve dam safety, enhance resilience, manage flood risks, and extend the service life of aging facilities.

Our multidisciplinary team brings together expertise in civil, structural, geotechnical, mechanical, and hydraulic engineering to solve complex challenges for dam owners across the country. From condition assessments and rehabilitation design to hydrologic and hydraulic analysis and risk-informed decision making, every project offers an opportunity to make a lasting impact. Explore some of our signature water resources and environmental projects here.  

This is an excellent career opportunity for someone who is driven, motivated, and passionate about engineering analysis, design, and computer modeling, as well as mentoring junior engineers in these areas. You will visit projects to review site conditions for inspections and construction/design oversight, perform and review engineering analysis, guide design methods, and provide technical assistance to staff and clients for a wide variety of dam and reservoir projects. You will also help the group with client management 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 other appurtenant structures.
• Develop and direct engineering analyses, design criteria, hand calculations, and finite element models to evaluate the performance of 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, and communicate findings and recommendations to clients and stakeholders.

• • Bachelor's Degree in structural, civil, or mechanical engineering.
  • 15+ years of relevant experience in the 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, with the ability to effectively communicate complex engineering concepts to clients, regulators, and project teams.
  • Demonstrated ability to mentor and develop junior engineers and technical staff.

• Master's degree with emphasis in structural, civil, or mechanical engineering.
• Experience with finite element analysis software (e.g., ANSYS, ABAQUS, SAP2000, 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 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. 

At GFT, a privately held AEC firm, we innovate where transportation, water, power, and buildings converge. We call this the Infrastructure of Life. We measure our success by the strength of our relationships – that’s why we’re the employer of choice for 5,000+ of the industry’s brightest engineers, planners, architects, inspectors, designers, and more.

Our clients choose us for our expertise and prefer us for our nimble approach, creativity, and personal touch. Backed by over a century’s experience, together we’re building a lasting legacy for future generations: stronger communities, a healthier planet, and better lives.GFT: Ingenuity That Shapes Lives™ is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veterans’ status or other characteristics protected by law.

Unsolicited resumes from third party agencies will be considered the property GFT.

GFT does require the successful completion of a criminal background check for all advertised positions.