Assistant Vice President, Plumbing Engineer - Buildings

WSP in the U.S.; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 144,000 - 213,000; Full time

Job summary

WSP in the U.S. seeks an Assistant Vice President, Plumbing Engineer for the San Francisco, CA office. The role leads plumbing design for diverse, high-profile building projects, mentoring staff and guiding technical delivery across California and beyond.

You will coordinate with architects, engineers and owners, drive quality, manage budgets and schedules, and contribute to business development and client relations while staying current with codes and sustainable design practices.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical or closely related engineering discipline.
• 10+ years of plumbing engineering and building systems experience.
• Strong knowledge of plumbing engineering principles and building codes.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary project teams and managing budgets/schedules.
• Proficiency with Revit, AutoCAD, Bluebeam.
• Knowledge of CPC and CBC codes.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a technical lead for plumbing system design on large, complex projects.
• Lead planning, design and specification of plumbing systems and piping.
• Oversee project delivery including quality, schedule, budget, and client satisfaction.
• Develop construction documents, calculations, reports and studies.
• Mentor junior staff and lead technical teams.

Skills

Plumbing engineering leadership

Project management

Engineering communication

Mentoring staff

Client management

Revit

AutoCAD

Bluebeam

Code compliance

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Revit

AutoCAD

Bluebeam

Job description

Job Description

This Opportunity

WSP is currently initiating a search for an Assistant Vice President, Plumbing Engineer for our San Francisco, CA office. This leadership role serves as a key technical and project delivery resource within our Property & Buildings practice, supporting the planning, design, and execution of complex building projects across multiple market sectors including commercial, healthcare, higher education, science & technology, civic, and mixed-use developments. The selected candidate will be responsible for providing technical leadership, mentoring engineering staff, managing project delivery, and contributing to business development efforts. This position offers the opportunity to work with multidisciplinary teams on high-profile projects throughout California and across the United States while helping grow WSP's Plumbing Engineering practice. Be involved in projects with our Property & Buildings Team and be a part of a growing organization that meets our clients' objectives and solves their challenges.

Your Impact

• Serve as a technical lead for plumbing system design on large, complex building projects.
• Lead the planning, design, and specification of plumbing systems and piping, including storm drainage, domestic water, sanitary waste and vent, natural gas, medical gases, and specialty systems.
• Oversee project delivery efforts, including technical quality, schedule, budget, and client satisfaction.
• Develop construction documents, engineering calculations, reports, specifications, and studies.
• Perform and oversee plumbing engineering analyses, hydraulic calculations, water demand calculations, and code compliance reviews.
• Coordinate with architects, structural engineers, mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, fire protection engineers, contractors, and owners throughout all project phases.
• Lead multidisciplinary project teams and provide technical guidance to engineers, designers, and BIM staff.
• Participate in QA/QC reviews and ensure compliance with WSP quality standards.
• Support project pursuits, proposal preparation, fee development, and client presentations.
• Build and maintain strong client relationships while identifying opportunities for additional services.
• Collaborate with local and national Property & Buildings leadership to support strategic growth initiatives.
• Mentor and develop junior and mid-level plumbing engineers.
• Remain current with emerging technologies, sustainability initiatives, and evolving plumbing codes and design practices.
• Exercise responsible and ethical decision-making regarding company funds, resources, and conduct and adhere to WSP’s Code of Conduct and related policies and procedures.

Who You Are

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical or closely related engineering discipline.
• 10+ years of relevant post-education experience in plumbing engineering and building systems design.
• Strong knowledge of plumbing engineering principles, building codes, regulations, and industry best practices.
• Significant experience designing plumbing systems for large commercial, healthcare, higher education, laboratory, mission‑critical, or mixed‑use facilities.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary project teams and managing project budgets and schedules.
• Proficiency with Revit, AutoCAD, Bluebeam, and related engineering design tools.
• Strong understanding of California Plumbing Code (CPC), California Building Code (CBC), and applicable federal regulations.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and client management skills.
• Ability to mentor staff and effectively lead technical teams.
• Proven experience delivering projects through all phases from concept through construction administration.

Preferred Qualifications

• Registered PE in California or ability to obtain California licensure through reciprocity.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license.
• LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP)
• Experience with sustainable design, water conservation strategies, and decarbonization initiatives.
• Experience serving healthcare, higher education, science & technology, and commercial building clients.
• Demonstrated business development and client relationship management experience.
• Prior experience managing discipline‑specific project revenue and contributing to practice growth.

WSP Benefits

WSP provides a comprehensive suite of benefits focused on a providing health and financial stability throughout the employee’s career. These benefits include coverage related to medical, dental, vision, disability, and life; retirement savings; paid sick leave; paid vacation (or other personal time); paid parental leave; and paid time off for purposes of bereavement, voting, and/or attendance at naturalization proceedings.

Compensation

Expected Salary (all locations): $143,600 - $213,200

About WSP

WSP USA is the U.S. operating company of WSP, one of the world's leading engineering and professional services firms. Dedicated to serving local communities, we are engineers, planners, technical experts, strategic advisors and construction management professionals. WSP USA designs lasting solutions in the buildings, transportation, energy, water and environment markets. With more than 15,000 employees in over 300 offices across the U.S., we partner with our clients to help communities prosper.

www.wsp.com

WSP provides a flexible and agile workplace model while meeting client needs. Employees are also afforded a comprehensive suite of benefits including medical, dental, vision, disability, life, and retirement savings focused on providing health and financial stability throughout the employee’s career.

At WSP, we want to give our employees the challenges they seek to grow their careers and knowledge base. Your daily contributions to your team will be essential in meeting client objectives, goals and challenges. Are you ready to get started?

ABOUT US

WSP USA is the U.S. operating company of WSP, one of the world's leading engineering and professional services firms. Dedicated to serving local communities, we are engineers, planners, technical experts, strategic advisors and construction management professionals. WSP USA designs lasting solutions in the buildings, transportation, energy, water and environment markets. With more than 15,000 employees in over 300 offices across the U.S., we partner with our clients to help communities prosper.

www.wsp.com

WSP provides a flexible and agile workplace model while meeting client needs. Employees are also afforded a comprehensive suite of benefits including medical, dental, vision, disability, life, and retirement savings focused on providing health and financial stability throughout the employee’s career.

At WSP, we want to give our employees the challenges they seek to grow their careers and knowledge base. Your daily contributions to your team will be essential in meeting client objectives, goals and challenges. Are you ready to get started?

WSP USA (and all of its U.S. companies) is an Equal Opportunity Employer Race/Age/Color/Religion/Sex/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/National Origin/Disability or Protected Veteran Status.

The selected candidate must be authorized to work in the United States.

Notice To Third Party Agencies

WSP does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters, employment agencies, or other staffing services. Unsolicited resumes include any resume or hiring document sent to WSP in the absence of a signed Service Agreement where WSP has expressly requested recruitment/staffing services specific to the position at hand. Any unsolicited resumes, including those submitted to hiring managers or other business leaders, will become the property of WSP and WSP will have the right to hire that candidate without reservation – no fee or other compensation will be owed or paid to the recruiter, employment agency, or other staffing service.