Leading Construction Engineer, for COWI in North America

COWI; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 122,000 - 194,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working arrangement

3 weeks vacation to start

401K matching

Professional development fund

Parking or public transit allowance

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Job summary

COWI seeks a Lead Construction Engineer to join our Oakland team, delivering complex marine and port projects from analysis to construction support and implementation. You will lead temporary works design and ensure constructability with practical field solutions.

With 12+ years in civil/structural construction engineering and a PE license (California-friendly), you will guide multidisciplinary teams, manage client relationships, and mentor staff while expanding our West Coast presence and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil or Structural Engineering with 12+ years in construction engineering.
• PE license or ability to obtain in California; proven delivery expertise.
• Strong foundation in structural analysis, load paths and constructability; proficient in design tools listed.
• Ability to lead technical work and collaborate across multidisciplinary teams.
• Excellent communication; capable of engaging clients, field teams and stakeholders.
• Willingness to travel to project locations and work safely in active construction sites.
• Experience in business development and mentoring teams, expanding West Coast markets.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design of complex temporary works and construction solutions for marine structures and lifting/erection methods.
• Perform and review structural analyses, calculations and drawings for stability during temporary and staged conditions.
• Assess existing structures for construction, demolition and marine loading per codes and project needs.
• Act as technical authority on temporary works; oversee QA/QC and risk mitigation in high-consequence environments.
• Provide technical leadership, client coordination, site involvement, and mentorship for project teams.

Skills

Leadership

Team collaboration

Communication

Travel flexibility

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil/Structural Engineering

Master's degree preferred

Professional Engineer (PE) license

Tools

AutoCAD

Bluebeam

MathCAD

RISA-3D

Job description

Create the solutions that will enable a better tomorrow

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.

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.

Your key responsibilities will be to:

• 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.

Your skills. Our team. Together we design the future

The first step to growth in this role is that you are willing to collaborate with the people around you, whether they are colleagues, partners, or customers. Developing ties with others is something you do by acting respectfully and delivering on your promises. And you never get set in your ways but keep exploring new insights and ways to improve.

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.

A place to work and so much more

At COWI, we work together with our customers to shape a sustainable and livable world. We do it by applying our knowledge and curiosity – and sometimes even our courage – to create the solutions the world needs today to enable a better tomorrow. We support our customers’ transition towards increased sustainability. We strive to lead by example by embedding environmental management, social responsibility and good governance into our business practices and the options we provide to our customers.

We value differences and development and cultivate an environment of belonging and having fun. Because that is what brings out the best in you, at work and at home.

With offices primarily located in the Nordic region, the UK, North America and India, we are currently 7,500 people who bring their skills in engineering, architecture, energy and environment into play.

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 - yes, you can use this 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.

Get to know us even better at our website,www.cowi.com, where you can learn more about our projects, our strategy, what we want to achieve and what life is like at COWI.

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.