Leading Construction Engineer, for COWI in North America

COWI; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 122,000 - 194,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working arrangement

Parental and childbirth recovery leave

401K contribution match

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Paid sick leave

Vacation time (minimum 3 weeks)

Job summary

COWI seeks a Leading Construction Engineer to join our Oakland team to lead temporary works and complex marine construction engineering. You will drive constructability, perform analyses, and coordinate with clients and field teams to deliver high-consequence projects across California and the U.S.

Requirements include a Civil/Structural Engineering degree (Master's preferred), 12+ years’ experience, and a PE license (or ability to obtain in California).

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil or Structural Engineering; Master’s preferred.
• PE license or ability to obtain in California.
• 12+ years in construction engineering with emphasis on temporary works and complex systems.
• Strong design/analysis capability in structural analysis and constructability.

Responsibilities

• Lead design of complex temporary works and marine structures; lifting and erection methods.
• Perform/ review structural analyses, calculations and drawings for temp and staged conditions.
• Assess existing/new structures for construction, demolition, and marine loading; ensure code compliance.
• Serve as technical authority in temporary works, QA/QC, and risk mitigation.
• Provide technical leadership, client coordination, site involvement and mentoring.

Skills

Leadership

Collaboration

Communication

Mentorship

Construction engineering

Education

Bachelor's in Civil/Structural Engineering

Master's 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.