Leading Construction Engineer, for COWI in North America

COWI; Oakland (CA); On-site; USD 121,600 - 193,800; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working arrangement

Top‑up parental leave

Annual fitness subsidy

401K contribution matching

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Paid sick leave

Job summary

COWI is seeking a Leading Construction Engineer to join our Oakland team. This role focuses on delivering complex marine and port infrastructure projects, from analysis to construction support. You will lead the design of temporary works, ensuring compliance and constructability while mentoring junior staff.

Ideal candidates will have a Bachelor's degree in Engineering and at least 12 years of construction engineering experience. The compensation ranges from $121,600 to $193,800 based on qualifications and experience.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 12 years in construction engineering, focusing on temporary works.
• Ability to obtain a PE license in California.
• Demonstrated ability to lead technical work and collaborate with teams.
• Background in business development and team leadership.

Responsibilities

• Lead design of complex temporary works and construction engineering solutions.
• Perform and review structural analyses and ensure stability during temporary conditions.
• Serve as a technical authority maintaining design quality in complex environments.
• Provide technical leadership and project support contributing to client relationships.

Skills

Structural analysis

Load path behavior

Engineering design tools (AutoCAD, Bluebeam)

Effective communication

Project leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil or Structural Engineering

Tools

AutoCAD

Bluebeam

MathCAD

RISA-3D

Job description

Leading Construction Engineer

Oakland

Regular, Full‑Time

Hybrid

Do you bring technical expertise to construction engineering, especially in complex temporary works and marine settings? Do you enjoy solving high‑risk, non‑standard engineering challenges while contributing to meaningful infrastructure projects? Are you motivated by applying deep technical knowledge to deliver practical, constructible solutions in the field? Then this is your opportunity to create the solutions the world needs today to enable a better tomorrow.

Create the solutions that will enable a better tomorrow.

We are seeking a Leading Construction Engineer to join our Oakland team, known for delivering complex marine and port infrastructure projects across the full lifecycle – from technical analysis through construction support and implementation. Building on our solid foundation in temporary works, particularly in marine environments, this role will serve as a technical leader in construction engineering, focused on constructability and practical solutions. You will play a key role in advancing complex marine and heavy civil projects while building client relationships and supporting the continued growth of our presence in California and the U.S.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design of complex temporary works and construction engineering solutions, with a focus on marine structures (e.g., cofferdams, trestles) and lifting and erection methodologies.
• Perform and review structural analyses, calculations, and drawings to ensure stability and constructability during temporary and staged conditions (e.g., falsework, shoring, excavation support).
• Assess existing and in‑progress structures for construction, demolition, and marine loading, ensuring compliance with applicable codes and project requirements.
• Serve as a technical authority in temporary works, maintaining design quality, overseeing QA/QC, and identifying and mitigating risks in complex, high‑consequence environments.
• Provide technical leadership and project support, including client coordination, site involvement, and mentorship, contributing to effective delivery and long‑term client relationships.

Qualifications

On top of that, you will have:

• A Bachelor's degree in Civil or Structural Engineering (Master's preferred) with a minimum of 12 years in construction engineering, with a focus on temporary works and complex structural systems.
• A Professional Engineer (PE) license (or ability to obtain in California), with demonstrated technical credibility and delivery expertise.
• Demonstrated technical foundation in structural analysis, load path behavior, and constructability, with proficiency in engineering design and analysis tools (e.g., AutoCAD, Bluebeam, MathCAD, RISA-3D).
• Demonstrated ability to lead technical work and collaborate effectively within multidisciplinary project teams.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage across clients, field teams, and internal stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to balance multiple priorities in dynamic environments, with flexibility to travel to project locations and work safely in active construction settings.
• Background in business development and team leadership, including pursuing proposals, expanding markets on the West Coast, and mentoring and building effective teams.

Benefits

What we also offer:

Being part of the COWI community offers more than just a competitive salary. We take care of our people both professionally and personally.

• Flexible working arrangement
• Top‑up parental and childbirth recovery leave
• Fantastic close‑knit team with a wealth of knowledge to share
• Full time hires get minimum 3 weeks vacation to start
• Floating holiday to celebrate employee diversity
• Paid sick leave
• Annual fitness subsidy – you can use it for a ski pass, yoga, or gym membership
• 401K contribution matching with generous company match
• Personal and professional development fund
• Parking or public transit allowance
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance – 80% employer‑paid premiums
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• STD, LTD, AD&D, and Life Insurance
• Referral incentive program
• Frequent social events

Base compensation: $121,600 to $193,800 for Oakland only. Actual compensation is subject to variations due to education, experience, skill set, and location.

Equal Opportunity Employer

COWI provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, COWI complies with applicable state and local laws governing non‑discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.