Engineer I - Water

Freese and Nichols, Inc.; Denver (CO); Hybrid; USD 67,000 - 84,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible schedule

Licensing test-prep platform

Bonuses for exams

Mentorship program

Job summary

Freese and Nichols, Inc. in Denver, CO, invites recent graduates to start their engineering career as an Engineer I. You\'ll work with seasoned engineers, receive regular feedback, and build skills on real projects that shape communities\' water infrastructure.

You\'ll learn design, hydraulics, modeling, and site visits, with opportunities to advance toward EIT/EI and PE. The firm supports a flexible schedule, test-prep for licensing, bonuses, and a pathway to project leadership.

Qualifications

• BS or MS in Civil/Environmental/Water Resource Engineering or related field.
• Internship experience in engineering projects.
• Student organizations with leadership roles preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop design plans and support hydraulic analyses and drainage studies.
• Build and review models using industry‑standard software.
• Learn from experienced engineers and understand the reasoning behind tasks.
• Visit project sites to see plans become reality.
• Gradually take ownership of portions of project deliverables.

Skills

Internship Experience

Student organization involvement

Education

BS or MS in Civil/Environmental/Water Resource Engineering

Job description

Start your engineering career by doing engineering. We know you have the knowledge. We will show you how you can use it. As an Engineer I at Freese and Nichols, you’ll work alongside experienced engineers, get regular feedback, and have mentors and teammates you can turn to as you build your skills on real projects that shape how communities move, grow and manage water. With their guidance, you will build your technical skills, see your work in the field, and work towards your EIT/EI and PE. We have a great opportunity for December 2026, May 2027, and August 2027 new grads to launch their careers! You will work in Water Transmission and Utilities, Stormwater, and Water/Wastewater Master Planning. This opportunity is available in Denver, CO.

What you will do

• Develop design plans, support hydraulic calculations and drainage studies, analyze data, build models, and help prepare technical reports and construction documents
• Build and review models using industry-standard engineering software
• Work with experienced engineers who will explain the “why”, not just give you a task
• Visit project sites and see how designs move from plans to reality
• Gradually take ownership of portions of real project deliverables

What we will do for you

We're all about flexibility, growth, and community here. We offer a flexible work schedule and you can work from home up to two days a week. We will help you obtain your EIT/EI and PE with a test prep platform, paid day off for test days, and bonuses for passing the exams. As you build experience and progress toward your PE, you'll have opportunities to take on greater technical responsibility, work directly with clients and grow into project leadership. You will receive training in engineering software, technical communication, project delivery and professional skills, with opportunities to learn from engineers across the firm. Plus, you can join Rise and Thrive, our Young Professionals group, to grow your network, level up your career, and hang out at fun social events.

Majors we hire

• Civil/Environmental/Water Resource Engineering
• Biological and Agricultural/Biosystems Engineering
• And similar programs

Qualifications

• BS or MS in degree program listed above

Preferred Qualifications

• Internship Experience
• Student organization involvement, especially leadership roles #universityjobs

The annual salary range for this position is $ 66,550 - $ 83,815 and is dependent on candidate's qualifications as compared to minimum and preferred requirements.

Exempt employees are eligible for overtime pay at a straight-time hourly rate for any hours over forty (40) hours per week. Employees are eligible for annual bonuses and amounts are determined by company profitability and growth, and for employees at higher compensation grades, group and personal performance are also considered.

About Freese and Nichols

At the heart of our culture is our LEADS values (Learn continuously, Engage as family, Act with integrity, Deliver quality, and Serve always). Each year, our employee engagement survey confirms that our leaders and our employees live our values. We strive to be the firm of choice for clients and employees through innovative approaches, practical results, and outstanding service. For more than 130 years, we have been planning and designing the infrastructure our communities need: developing water supplies, designing roadways and bridges, preparing for natural disasters, and much more. Our unique benefits include paid overtime for salaried employees, an annual bonus, and access to company cabins in Red River, New Mexico and Banner Elk, North Carolina.

Benefits

• paid overtime for salaried employees
• an annual bonus
• access to company cabins in Red River, New Mexico and Banner Elk, North Carolina
• medical insurance
• prescription drug coverage
• dental insurance
• vision insurance
• healthcare advisory services
• flexible spending accounts
• health savings account
• health reimbursement account
• family and medical leave
• short-term medical leave/short-term disability
• long-term disability
• 401(k) matching
• life insurance
• critical illness insurance
• accident insurance
• legal/ID shield
• tuition reimbursement program
• employee assistance program
• paid parental leave
• paid holidays
• paid time off
• travel assistance
• pet insurance
• access to company cabins and partner discounts

Join our team of 1,400+ employees as we grow from Virginia to Colorado.

Freese and Nichols is firmly committed to Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and prohibits employment discrimination for employees and applicants based upon race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected category under applicable federal, state, and local laws.

Freese and Nichols is a professional planning, consulting and engineering firm serving clients across the United States. With client service and continuous improvement in mind, we plan, design and manage sustainable water and infrastructure projects.