Principal Water Resources Engineer

AECOM; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 160,000 - 220,000; Full time

Job summary

AECOM is seeking a Principal Water Resources Engineer located in Portland or Seattle to lead high-quality project delivery and grow the Pacific Northwest water resources practice. This senior role focuses on stream restoration, floodplain management, coastal resiliency and stormwater, combining technical leadership with business development across Oregon, Washington and the broader Pacific Northwest.

You will mentor staff, guide proposals, and collaborate with regional and global water experts

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering and 10+ years of experience or equivalent.
• PE license in Oregon and/or Washington or ability to obtain within 6 months.
• MS/PhD in a relevant subject preferred.
• Strong water resources experience including restoration, hydrology and hydraulics.

Responsibilities

• Lead high-quality project delivery and grow the Pacific Northwest water resources practice.
• Develop regional growth plans and manage client relationships.
• Identify opportunities, lead pursuits, and manage project portfolios across OR/WA.
• Coordinate with cross-region teams and manage scope, schedule, and budget.
• Mentor and develop staff in the Pacific Northwest and collaborate with national experts.
• Ensure compliance with contract terms and monitor subcontractors.

Skills

Project management

Client relationship development

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering

MS or PhD in a relevant subject

Tools

AutoCAD/Civil 3D

Microstation

ArcGIS

Job description

• Legal Entity: AECOM Technical Services Inc
• Business Line: Water
• Work Location Model: Hybrid
• Primary Location: US - Portland, OR - 888 SW 5th Avenu
• Compensation: USD 160000 - USD 220000 - yearly

Company Description

Work with Us. Change the World.

At AECOM, we're delivering a better world. Whether improving your commute, keeping the lights on, providing access to clean water, or transforming skylines, our work helps people and communities thrive. We are the world's trusted infrastructure consulting firm, partnering with clients to solve the world’s most complex challenges and build legacies for future generations.

There has never been a better time to be at AECOM. With accelerating infrastructure investment worldwide, our services are in great demand. We invite you to bring your bold ideas and big dreams and become part of a global team of over 50,000 planners, designers, engineers, scientists, digital innovators, program and construction managers and other professionals delivering projects that create a positive and tangible impact around the world.

We're one global team driven by our common purpose to deliver a better world. Join us.

Job Description

AECOM is seeking a Principal Water Resources Engineer located in Portland or Seattle to lead high-quality project delivery and support the continued growth of our Pacific Northwest water resources practice. This Principal will work closely with the existing management team and technical staff in Portland, Seattle and Northern California to enhance ongoing project and client management, as well as develop a regional strategic growth plan. This role focuses on stream and river restoration, fish passage design, floodplain management, coastal resiliency and stormwater management, while combining technical leadership, project management, and practice growth responsibilities. The successful candidate will bring deep water resources expertise, strong client relationships, and a proven ability to develop opportunities, lead pursuits, and grow a project portfolio across Oregon, Washington, and the broader Pacific Northwest.

As a senior member of the team, they will provide technical leadership and mentorship, help solve complex business and engineering challenges, and play a key role in expanding AECOM's regional presence while leveraging the resources, technical depth, and global reach of one of the world's leading infrastructure consulting firms. This opportunity is ideally suited for a seller-doer who wants to help build a leading Pacific Northwest water resources practice while leveraging the technical depth, brand recognition, and resources of AECOM's global water business.

Responsibilities may include

• Proven experience in water resources engineering (e,g, restoration, hydrology/hydraulics, dams, levees, stormwater, flood control, drainage, culverts, bridges, bank stabilization) from planning to modeling to detailed design and construction supervision. The ideal candidate will have the technical credibility to lead complex water resources projects and the market presence to help win similar work.
• Identifies new business opportunities for AECOM, coordinates and participates in project presentations to clients and other external groups, and promotes AECOM’s capabilities, marketing its services among existing and prospective clients. A key expectation of this role is active business development, including maintaining and expanding relationships with public- sector, transportation, municipal, environmental, and infrastructure clients in the Pacific Northwest.
• Participates in project opportunity evaluation, consultant selection, and the preparation of AECOM's qualification/experience statements. This includes helping identify the right opportunities for AECOM, shaping capture strategies, contributing to go/no-go decisions, and developing winning proposal approaches.
• Coordinates and participates in contract negotiations with clients and subcontractors and drafts complex professional service agreements and addenda for review by senior management. The candidate should be comfortable moving projects from early client conversations through scope development, contracting, delivery, and follow‑on work.
• Directs project team and client compliance with contract terms and monitors subcontractors' compliance with contractual commitments.
• Prepares project work plan, scope, schedule, and budget, and communicates these to project team members; monitors/manages project production for compliance with schedule, budget, and quality objectives. The role requires strong project management discipline, including proactive communication with clients, technical staff, teaming partners, and AECOM leadership.
• May supervise technical professionals, associate project managers, and design staff including workload and staffing management. The candidate will also help mentor and grow staff in the Pacific Northwest, with support from AECOM’s broader regional and national water resources teams.
• Monitors and reports financial status of projects to technical managers.
• Performs such other duties as the supervisor may from time to time deem necessary.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering and 10+ years of relevant experience or demonstrated equivalency of experience and/or education
• Professional Engineer in Oregon and/or Washington (or ability to obtain PE license within 6 months of hire)

Preferred Qualifications

• 20+ years of relevant Water Resources experience and 10+ years of Project Management experience
• Professional Engineer in Oregon and/or Washington (or ability to obtain PE license within 6 months of hire)
• Strong relations and work history with clients in the Pacific Northwest and ability to leverage existing relationships to grow the business.
• Demonstrated “seller-doer” experience, including both successful project delivery and measurable contributions to client development, proposal wins, revenue growth, or strategic market positioning.
• Experience building or strengthening a regional practice, service line, client account, or technical team.
• Ability to work collaboratively with AECOM’s national and global technical experts while developing a stronger local water resources presence in the Pacific Northwest.
• Experience in preparing site civil design plans and grading. Experience in construction management or engineering support during construction.
• Demonstrated proficiency in AutoCAD/Civil 3D, Microstation, ArcGIS.
• Experience with hydrologic, hydraulic, and geomorphic concepts, principles, and models (e.g., SRH-2D/SMS, HEC-HMS, HEC-RAS, HydroCAD, SWMM).
• Experience and familiarity with geomorphic field data collection techniques including pebble counts, channel and floodplain morphology measurements, and stream stability assessment.
• Understanding of federal, state and local regulatory and permitting processes for water resources engineering projects.
• Demonstrated experience in floodplain modeling/mapping and knowledge of FEMA requirements.
• Experience with hydrology and hydraulics associated with dams, reservoirs, levees (e.g., precipitation frequency analysis, dam breach inundation analysis, spillway capacity analysis/design).
• An MS or PhD in a relevant subject.
• Membership in an appropriate professional organization (River Restoration Northwest, Northwest Regional Floodplain Management Association (NORFMA), etc).
• Certified in WSDOT Fish Passage and Stream Restoration Training.
• Coding experience (e.g. Python) and experience in using/developing digital tools for hydrology and hydraulics.

Additional Information

• Sponsorship is not available for this position

To support this commitment, all newly hired employees are required to attend an in-person Day 1 onboarding at an AECOM office location as a condition of employment.

About AECOM

AECOM is proud to offer comprehensive benefits to meet the diverse needs of our employees. Depending on your employment status, AECOM benefits may include medical, dental, vision, life, AD&D, disability benefits, paid time off, leaves of absences, voluntary benefits, perks, flexible work options, well-being resources, employee assistance program, business travel insurance, service recognition awards, retirement savings plan, and employee stock purchase plan.

AECOM is the global infrastructure leader, committed to delivering a better world. As a trusted professional services firm powered by deep technical abilities, we solve our clients’ complex challenges in water, environment, energy, transportation and buildings. Our teams partner with public- and private-sector clients to create innovative, sustainable and resilient solutions throughout the project lifecycle – from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm that had revenue of $16.1 billion in fiscal year 2025. Learn more at aecom.com.

What makes AECOM a great place to work

You will be part of a global team that champions your growth and career ambitions. Work on groundbreaking projects - both in your local community and on a global scale - that are transforming our industry and shaping the future. With cutting-edge technology and a network of experts, you’ll have the resources to make a real impact. Our award‑winning training and development programs are designed to expand your technical expertise and leadership skills, helping you build the career you’ve always envisioned. Here, you’ll find a welcoming workplace built on respect, collaboration and community—where you have the freedom to grow in a world of opportunity.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in your potential and are here to help you achieve it. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.