Lead Civil Engineer-San Francisco

WSP USA; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 98,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

Disability insurance

Life insurance

Retirement savings

Flexible workplace model

Job summary

WSP USA, a leading engineering consultancy, seeks a Lead Civil Engineer to drive multidisciplinary design across geotechnical and civil domains for dam and levee projects. You will integrate disciplines, ensure regulatory compliance, and deliver cohesive design products including plans and basis of design reports.

You will provide technical leadership for multi-site projects, manage scopes, budgets, and teams, and coordinate with regulators to ensure dam safety and project success.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Civil or Environmental Engineering.
• 6–10 years of post-education experience in water resources engineering.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license required.
• Proficient knowledge of civil and geotechnical engineering principles for dams, levees, hydropower facilities, and large-scale civil works.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate with federal, state, and local regulatory agencies.
• Strong written communication, QA/QC, and technical reporting abilities.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical oversight for multidisciplinary design efforts across civil and geotechnical disciplines.
• Lead and coordinate dam/levee related civil works projects including planning, design, and rehabilitation.
• Perform analyses and evaluations of foundation behavior, seepage, stability, and constructability.
• Coordinate with regulatory agencies and clients; manage scopes, schedules, budgets, and deliverables.
• Prepare technical reports, memos, and presentations documenting investigations and design concepts.
• Review plans and deliverables for data integrity and compliance with dam safety guidelines.
• Collaborate with diverse teams to deliver future-ready solutions for clients.
• Ensure safety and compliance in HASPs and project execution.

Skills

PE license

Bachelor’s degree in Civil/Env Eng

6–10 years experience

Geotechnical/civil engineering design

Regulatory & dam safety knowledge

Technical leadership/team coordination

Coordination with regulators and stake

Technical writing & reports

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Civil or Environmental Engineering

Master’s Degree (preferred)

Job description

This Opportunity

In this role, you will take a leadership position in managing and coordinating multidisciplinary design efforts, working closely with structural, mechanical, electrical, instrumentation and controls, hydrology and hydraulics, and geotechnical disciplines to deliver integrated, high-quality solutions. As the Lead Civil Engineer on projects, you will be responsible for integrating the work of multiple disciplines into cohesive design products, including plans, specifications, and basis of design reports that meet client requirements and regulatory standards. You will ensure technical consistency, resolve interface issues, and maintain quality across all deliverables.

Provides technical leadership and guidance for multi-site and multi-phase civil works projects involving dams, embankments, levees, hydropower facilities, and related infrastructure. Leads and supports due diligence, site investigation, risk assessment, remediation, impact evaluation, and environmental permitting activities with a primary focus on geotechnical, structural, and civil engineering considerations.

Responsibilities include the planning, design, evaluation, and rehabilitation of earth and concrete dams, levee systems, spillways, outlet works, powerhouses, foundations, slopes, retaining structures, seepage control systems, and auxiliary civil works. Applies geotechnical engineering principles such as subsurface characterization, foundation assessment, slope stability, seepage and filtration analysis, material properties, settlement, and seismic performance to assess infrastructure reliability, dam and levee safety, and constructability.

Supports civil design of associated infrastructure including access roads, drainage systems, stormwater controls, and flood protection features, with hydrology and hydraulics applied as supporting inputs to inform loading conditions, freeboard requirements, and operational constraints. Contributes to rehabilitation and modernization initiatives, including cutoff walls, buttressing, ground improvement, erosion protection, and upgrades to aging civil works infrastructure.

Prepares and substantiates technical reports and documentation evaluating site conditions, foundation behavior, materials performance, construction risks, and potential failure modes affecting public safety, asset integrity, and environmental resources. Assists project leadership with environmental site assessments, geotechnical risk mitigation strategies, classification and management of contaminated materials, and development of civil and geotechnical solutions to prevent degradation of water resources and adjacent lands.

Ensures all responsibilities are performed in accordance with dam safety guidelines, geotechnical engineering standards, regulatory requirements, and industry best practices, delivering work products that meet or exceed established quality, safety, and performance expectations for large-scale civil works projects.

Your Impact

• Provide technical oversight and guidance for field data collection programs supporting civil and geotechnical investigations, including sampling and characterization of soil, rock, groundwater, seepage, sediment, construction materials, and associated matrices relevant to dams, levees, foundations, and related civil works infrastructure.

• Perform civil and geotechnical engineering analyses, investigations, and inspections associated with dams, embankments, levees, canals, spillways, outlet works, hydropower facilities, culverts, and other heavy civil infrastructure to evaluate foundation conditions, structural performance, seepage, stability, constructability, and regulatory compliance.

• Support planning and management of water control and conveyance infrastructure to ensure safe, reliable, and compliant operation of reservoirs, impoundments, diversion systems, and flood management facilities for public safety, industrial, power generation, and operational uses.

• Lead and oversee multidisciplinary project teams executing mid- to large-scale civil works projects, including management of scopes, schedules, budgets, labor and cost tracking, technical deliverables, regulatory submittals, and preparation of engineering and compliance documentation.

• Coordinate, review, and approve civil and geotechnical design plans and technical deliverables, ensuring data integrity and conformance with dam safety guidelines, geotechnical engineering standards, construction codes, and applicable federal, state, and local regulations.

• Conduct and support environmental and geotechnical site assessments (including Phase I and Phase II activities) with an emphasis on subsurface conditions, material suitability, contamination considerations, and implications for civil works design, rehabilitation, and construction.

• Prepare and review technical analyses, calculations, drawings, cross-sections, figures, and visualizations to communicate subsurface conditions, foundation behavior, stability assessments, seepage analyses, and design concepts to technical and non-technical stakeholders.

• Author comprehensive technical reports, memoranda, and presentations documenting investigations, analyses, risk assessments, and recommended corrective actions related to dam and levee safety, foundation performance, remediation, and infrastructure rehabilitation.

• Analyze and interpret geotechnical, environmental, and monitoring data obtained from field investigations and instrumentation, providing engineering judgment and recommendations to support development of corrective action plans and risk mitigation strategies for moderate- to high-consequence infrastructure issues.

• Perform concept-level and preliminary design for civil and geotechnical elements of dams and related infrastructure, including embankment modifications, cutoff walls, seepage control measures, slope stabilization, foundation improvements, erosion protection, and drainage systems, with hydrologic and hydraulic analyses used to establish design loading conditions.

• Support design and evaluation of stormwater and drainage infrastructure, treatment systems, and sediment control measures associated with civil works projects, emphasizing constructability, long-term performance, and protection of foundation and structural elements.

• Prepare and implement site Health and Safety Plans (HASPs).

• Interact with regulatory agencies, subcontractors, and clients in a confident and professional manner.

• Oversee and monitor cross-functional teams in executing mid-level projects including project budgets, tracking hours and expenses, and task completion.

• Collaborate with professionals from a variety of disciplines to provide future ready solutions for clients.

• Remain current in latest water resources engineering techniques.

• 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.

• Perform additional responsibilities as required by business needs.

Who You Are

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Civil or Environmental Engineering, with a focus in Water Resources or Civil Engineering or closely related discipline.

• 6 to 10 years of relevant post education experience in water resources engineering.

• Professional Engineer (PE) license required.

• Proficient knowledge of civil and geotechnical engineering principles, practices, and delivery methods as applied to dams, levees, embankments, hydropower facilities, and other large-scale civil works, including integration with environmental permitting and regulatory requirements.

• Demonstrated ability to coordinate effectively with federal, state, and local regulatory agencies, with a strong understanding of dam safety, environmental compliance, construction permitting, and inspection requirements.

• Well-defined and working knowledge of applicable environmental laws, dam safety regulations, geotechnical standards, compliance practices, and documentation and record-keeping requirements associated with dams, levees, and other regulated infrastructure.

• Well-developed ability to perform and review technical calculations and engineering analyses involving geotechnical and civil engineering principles, interpret plans and specifications, and evaluate compliance with applicable codes, design criteria, and regulatory standards.

• Ability to plan, conduct, and document inspections and investigations of civil works and geotechnical features during design and construction, applying applicable policies, regulations, and engineering judgment to evaluate performance and identify risks.

• Highly effective interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to clearly and professionally convey complex civil and geotechnical concepts, analyses, and recommendations to multidisciplinary engineering teams, project leadership, regulators, and non-technical stakeholders.

• Demonstrated high-level of self-leadership with attention to detail, multi-tasking, and prioritization of responsibilities in a dynamic work environment.

• Works independently with minimal oversight and provides guidance and leadership to junior team or project members, with strict adherence to QA/QC.

• Highly proficient with technical writing, office automation, software, technology, math principles, predictive models, spreadsheets, and tools.

• Adept at coordinating technical matters with public and private groups.

• Demonstrated effectiveness at coordinating and assertively directing subcontractors and others to consistently complete tasks safely and efficiently.

• Proven track record of upholding workplace safety and ability to abide by WSP’s health, safety and drug/alcohol and harassment policies.

• Ability to work schedules conducive to project-specific requirements that may extend beyond the typical workweek.

• Occasional travel may be required depending on project-specific requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in related field of Engineering.

• 40-Hour OSHA Health & Safety Training (HAZWOPER) (29 CFR 1910.120) preferred.

• Basic First Aid and Adult CPR training desired.

Compensation

Expected Salary (all locations): $98,300- $175,230

WSP USA is providing the compensation range that the company in good faith believes it might pay and offer for this position, based on the successful applicant’s education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities in addition to internal equity and specific geographic location. WSP USA reserves the right to ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and offer additional benefits and other compensation, depending on circumstances not related to an applicant’s sex or other status protected by local, state, and/or federal law.

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?

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.