Intermediate Hydrotechnical Engineer – Tailings

GHD; Fredericton; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

GHD is seeking an Intermediate Hydrotechnical Engineer to join its Canada East mine waste team in Atlantic Canada. The role focuses on hydrology, hydraulics, and water management for tailings facilities and mine waste projects, with collaboration across multi-disciplinary teams.

The candidate will lead analyses, design reviews, and field inspections, and mentor junior staff, supporting mine-water infrastructure from planning through closure. Willingness to travel to remote mine sites is required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in civil, geological, environmental, or water resources engineering; a graduate degree or specialized training is an asset
• Membership or eligibility for membership with a Canadian professional engineering association
• At least 3 years of relevant hydrotechnical engineering experience, preferably on tailings, mine waste, dam safety, or mine water projects
• Understanding of environmental, regulatory, and dam-safety requirements for tailings, mine waste facilities, and mine water management
• Strong knowledge of hydrological and hydraulic methods for mine-site water balances, flood routing, and inundation mapping
• Proficiency with modelling tools such as HEC-RAS, HEC-HMS, ArcGIS, and Civil 3D; two-dimensional modelling experience is an asset
• Experience coordinating scopes, schedules, budgets, and deliverables for mine waste and tailings assignments
• Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgement, and provide practical solutions
• Strong communication and teamwork skills with regulators, designers, and construction teams
• Availability for short-term travel to operating and remote mine sites for investigations and field reviews

Responsibilities

• Hydrology, hydraulics, and design for tailings storage facilities and related mine-water infrastructure
• Lead technical reviews, dam-breach and inundation studies, water balances, flood routing, and mapping
• Provide technical leadership, mentorship, and quality reviews for junior staff
• Conduct site visits and inspections of tailings dams, water management structures, and drainage
• Prepare inspection reports, design reports, memos, drawings, specs, and construction documentation
• Collaborate with geotechnical, geological, environmental, civil, process, and construction teams
• Communicate hydrotechnical risks and practical water-management solutions to mine operators and clients

Skills

Hydrology

Hydraulics

Tailings

Dam Safety

Mine Water Management

Hydrological Modelling

GIS Tools

ArcGIS

Civil 3D

Education

Bachelor’s degree in civil, geological, environmental, or water resources engineering

Tools

HEC-RAS

HEC-HMS

Job description

Job Description

GHD is a global professional services company that leads through engineering, architecture, and construction expertise. We are an employee-owned company with over 12,000 diverse and skilled individuals, across more than 200 offices spanning five continents.

Job Description

GHD is a global professional services company that leads through engineering, architecture, and construction expertise. We are an employee-owned company with over 12,000 diverse and skilled individuals, across more than 200 offices spanning five continents.

At GHD, we don’t just believe in the power of commitment. We live it every day.

That’s why we pledge to support and empower all of our people to make a positive impact. We’ll help you accelerate your career and support you with access to cutting-edge technology as you take on complex problems posed by community‑shaping projects.
Together with teammates, clients, and partners, your impact will last for generations. See where your commitment could take you.

Lead the safe, responsible stewardship of tailings storage facilities throughout their full lifecycle.

GHD is committed to advancing the safe and sustainable management of active, inactive, closed, and legacy tailings sites. In this leadership role, you will help clients manage risk, strengthen governance, and make sound technical decisions from planning and design through operations, closure, and post-closure stewardship.
Join a global community of tailings specialists and help shape the next generation of technical leadership in the mining industry.

Who are we looking for?

GHD is looking for an Intermediate Hydrotechnical Engineer to join its Canada East mine waste team. The ideal candidate would possess experience in hydrology and hydraulics relevant to mine waste installations. This position would be located at one of our offices in Atlantic Canada. A background involving tailings dams and mine water management infrastructure is an important asset, and experience working with mining clients is highly desirable.

In collaboration with an energetic and high-performing team, the selected candidate will support mine waste and tailings projects through the following activities:

• Hydrology, hydraulics, and design: Perform hydrological and hydraulic analyses for tailings storage facilities, mine waste rock facilities, water management ponds, spillways, diversion channels, culverts, and associated mine water infrastructure. Support design reviews, dam-breach and inundation studies, water balances, flood-routing assessments, and flood-hazard mapping.
• Technical leadership and mentorship: Collaborate with and supervise junior engineers and technical staff completing hydrological, hydraulic, and mine water management assessments for tailings and mine waste projects. Provide technical guidance, quality reviews, training, and mentorship.
• Site investigations and deliverables: Conduct site visits and inspections of tailings dams, mine waste facilities, water management structures, and associated drainage infrastructure. Contribute to inspection reports, design reports, technical memoranda, drawings, specifications, and construction documentation for new facilities, expansions, rehabilitation, and closure works.
• Multidisciplinary collaboration: Work closely with geotechnical, geological, environmental, civil, process, and construction teams to integrate surface water, seepage, and operational water management considerations into mine waste and tailings facility designs.
• Client and business support: Support internal teams and mining clients by communicating hydrotechnical risks, design requirements, and practical water management solutions for tailings and mine waste facilities.

What you’ll bring to the team:

• Bachelor’s degree in civil, geological, environmental, or water resources engineering; a graduate degree or specialized training in hydrology, hydraulics, geotechnical engineering, or mine waste management is an asset
• Membership, or eligibility for membership, with a Canadian professional engineering association
• At least 3 years of relevant experience in hydrotechnical engineering, preferably on tailings, mine waste, dam safety, or mine water management projects
• Understanding of environmental, regulatory, and dam-safety requirements applicable to tailings storage facilities, mine waste facilities, and mine water management
• Strong knowledge of hydrological and hydraulic methods used for mine-site water balances, design floods, flood routing, open-channel flow, spillway and diversion design, dam-breach assessments, and inundation mapping
• Proficiency with hydrologic, hydraulic, and geospatial modelling tools such as HEC-RAS, HEC-HMS, ArcGIS, and Civil 3D; experience with two-dimensional hydraulic modelling and mine water balance software is an asset
• Experience coordinating technical scopes, schedules, budgets, and deliverables for mine waste, tailings, dam safety, or mine water management assignments
• Ability to work independently, exercise sound technical judgement, and identify practical solutions to mine water and tailings management challenges
• Strong communication and multidisciplinary teamwork skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with mine operators, designers, regulators, and construction teams
• Availability for short-term travel to operating and remote mine sites for investigations, inspections, construction support, and field reviews

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in recruiting is just getting started and may be used during the process to improve efficiency and fairness. Your application may be reviewed by both AI and our hiring team. While AI supports some steps through the process, all final hiring decisions are made by humans
As a diverse and inclusive organization, we encourage individual achievement and recognize the strength of a diverse workforce. GHD is an equal opportunity employer. Upon request, GHD will provide reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment and selection process.