Field Engineer (Entry-level) – Water Infrastructure

Simpson Gumpertz & Heger (SGH); Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 80,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) with company contributions

Paid time off and holidays

Sign-on bonus

Job summary

Simpson Gumpertz & Heger (SGH) is seeking a Field Engineer to begin a career in civil infrastructure, focusing on buried water systems and rehabilitation projects. You will work with experienced engineers on field investigations, data collection, and construction support to extend the life of critical pipelines.

This early-career role emphasizes field exposure, condition assessment, CFRP repairs, and collaboration with contractors to ensure long-term performance and reliability.

Qualifications

• B.Sc. or M.Sc. in Civil Engineering required or preferred.
• Engineer-in-training (EIT) registration or ability to obtain within 1 year.
• 0-2 years of professional experience; field or lab internship is a plus.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills for formal reports and presentations.

Responsibilities

• Conduct field investigations and inspections of water infrastructure.
• Observe contractor work for compliance with drawings and specs.
• Provide construction-phase support and document field conditions.
• Assist with submittals review, inspections coordination, and issue resolution.
• Support senior engineers with engineering calculations, drawings, and post-repair activities.

Skills

EIT registration

Willingness to travel

Strong communication

Driver's license

Confined spaces safety

Education

B.Sc./M.Sc. in Civil Engineering

Job description

Do you want to help engineer what’s next?

Simpson Gumpertz & Heger (SGH) is a national engineering firm committed to delivering holistic advice for our clients’ most complex challenges. We leverage our collective and diverse experience, technical expertise, and industry knowledge of structures and building enclosures, advanced analysis, performance & code consulting, and applied science & research to deliver unrivaled, comprehensive solutions that drive superior performance. With 800 employees in offices nationwide, SGH’s industry-leading teams constantly seek to advance the meaning of what’s possible.

What makes careers at SGH so special?

The only way to advance is to question and explore. Every member of the SGH team is both a learner and an educator, committed to advancing ourselves, our teams, and our industry. Together we are creating a community that never settles for what is but always seeks what could be.

There Are Many Reasons To Love SGH:

• Our Work: Our clients trust us to bring clarity and deliver outstanding solutions for their most complex projects.
• Our People: We are bold thinkers and compassionate teammates, committed to lifelong learning and professional growth.
• Our Commitment: We live with integrity and embrace an obligation to give back to our professions and communities.
• Our Contribution: We offer a comprehensive and rich compensation and benefits package with company-paid and voluntary programs to help build healthy lifestyles, strong relationships, and future prosperity.

We want someone passionate about buried infrastructure, water systems, and infrastructure reliability, and problem solving.

The Water and Industrial Infrastructure Division of SGH’s Engineering Mechanics and Infrastructure (EMI) group provides structural and pipeline engineering and integrity management services with emphasis on investigation, analysis, repair, and rehabilitation of hydraulic infrastructure. Our work includes structural analysis considering soil‑structure interaction, design, and preparation of drawings and specifications for buried and other infrastructure including pipelines, tanks, nuclear facilities, dams and hydroelectric facilities, culverts, and other specialty structures and components. We also conduct field work to investigate structural failures, to monitor construction conformance to contract specifications, culvert installations, and for industry and government research projects. Our engineering work is supported by our in‑house testing laboratory.

This position is ideal for civil engineering graduates who want to build a strong foundation in field engineering, structural behavior of buried infrastructure, and construction‑phase problem solving. This position provides early career engineers with practical experience in how condition assessment and rehabilitation strategies are implemented in the field and how engineering decisions made during construction influence the long‑term performance and reliability of buried infrastructure. As a Field Engineer, you will work side‑by‑side with experienced engineers and specialty contractors to extend the life of critical pipelines and other structures through investigation, construction support, and rehabilitation using advanced technologies such as carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) repairs. This role offers a pathway from entry‑level field engineer to design, analysis, and project leadership roles within SGH.

Location: This position can be based in our Houston, TX, Waltham, MA, or Washington, DC, offices.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Conduct field investigations and inspections of existing water and similar infrastructure and monitor construction activities for rehabilitation projects under the supervision/direction of senior engineers.
• Observe and document contractor compliance with drawings, specifications, approved submittals, and installation procedures.
• Provide construction‑phase engineering support by assisting with interpretation of contract documents and documenting field conditions, deviations, and constructability issues.
• Assist with review of contractor submittals, coordination of inspections or testing, and resolution of field issues.
• Support field engineering efforts through field inspections and monitoring of contractor compliance with drawings, specifications, and installation procedures, particularly for underground construction activities.
• Prepare inspection reports, field documentation, and technical memoranda summarizing observations, construction activities, and engineering considerations.
• Support senior engineers with development calculations, drawings, and post‑repair activities, and participate in project coordination and client communications as appropriate.

REQUIREMENTS:

• B.Sc. or M.Sc. in Civil Engineering.
• Engineer‑in‑training (EIT) registration or the ability to obtain within 1 year.
• 0-2 years of professional experience; field or laboratory hands‑on internship or other experience is a plus.
• Effective oral and written communication skills including the ability to effectively summarize key observations in formal reports, presentations, e‑mails, and verbally.
• Willingness to travel and spend approximately 50% or more of time conducting field inspections throughout the US.
• Must be able to work in confined spaces including underground pipes. Safety training is provided.
• Must be able to travel by plane and car. Must have a valid US driver’s license and an acceptable Motor Vehicle report.
• Concrete & Steel design coursework (civil‑structural focus) is highly preferred.

Benefits Overview:

SGH provides the following benefits to eligible employees:

• Paid Time Off (Vacation time, Sick leave, Holidays)
• Paid Parental Leave
• Profit Sharing and 401(k) plan with a discretionary company contribution
• Health Insurance (Medical, Dental & Vision)
• Short and Long-Term Disability (company paid)
• Employee Basic Life and AD&D insurance (company paid)
• Optional Life Insurance
• Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
• Fertility, Family Forming, and Hormonal Health benefit
• Employee Assistance Program
• Empathy Bereavement Support
• Pre‑tax Commuter Benefit
• AFLAC Accident & Cancer Insurance
• Legal & Identity Theft plans
• Tuition Reimbursement

Compensation:

This compensation range is a good faith estimate pursuant to applicable equal pay and pay transparency laws. The pay range below is effective for 2026 and based on highest degree achieved. The actual salary offered will be based on several factors including the candidate’s experience, qualifications, and work location.

• Bachelor’s Degree: $79,560 - $81,640
• Master’s Degree: $83,200 - $85,280

Base salary is a part of SGH’s industry leading Total Compensation package. Our Total Compensation package includes base salary, pay for extra hours worked, an annual discretionary bonus program, generous paid time off, and health and wellness benefits with a special emphasis on substantial SGH contributions to medical insurance premiums and SGH’s Profit Sharing & 401(k) Plan.

This position is eligible for a $5,000 sign‑on bonus.

Associate Project Consultant:

$79,560—$85,280 USD

SGH is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing equal opportunities to all job applicants and employees. We consider all qualified applicants and encourage individuals with disabilities and protected veterans to apply. If the application system is not accessible to you, or you need a reasonable accommodation to apply due to a disability, please email [e-mail] or call 781‑907‑9000 and ask for Human Resources.