Senior Mechanical Project Manager – Hydropower

Webuildidaho; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 131,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

401(k) and match

Generous PTO

Wellness reimbursement

Job summary

McMillen, Inc. is seeking a Senior Mechanical Project Manager – Hydropower in Denver, Colorado. The ideal candidate will have over 10 years of mechanical engineering experience and at least 5 years in project management, focusing on hydropower and water resource projects. Responsibilities include managing client relationships, proposal preparation, and overseeing project execution. The role offers a competitive salary ranging from $131,000 to $230,000, along with a comprehensive benefits package including 401(k), generous PTO, and wellness reimbursement.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in mechanical engineering.
• 5+ years of experience as a Project Manager preferred.
• Professional Engineering registration is required; California PE registration strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop, manage, and maintain client relationships.
• Identify project opportunities and prepare proposals.
• Manage changes to project scope, schedule, and costs.
• Ensure a common understanding by setting expectations.
• Measure project performance using appropriate tools.

Skills

Strong communication skills

Technical skills

Analytical skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering

Master’s degree preferred

Job description

Senior Mechanical Project Manager – Hydropower

McMillen, Inc. is looking for a Senior Mechanical Project Manager – Hydropower with 10+ years of experience focused on hydropower and water resource–related work. The Senior PM will work in a variety of water‑related projects in fields including but not limited to hydropower, pump stations, dams, flood control, hydraulic modeling, and fish passage.

Responsibilities

• Develop, manage, and maintain client relationships. Actively participate in developing relationships with key clients, professional service organizations, and conferences/events, conducting or participating in workshops and meetings with clients.
• Identify project opportunities, actively pursue them, and prepare proposals. Consult with clients to plan and develop strategies for their water resource needs and collaborate with Market Leads, Discipline Leads, and Operations Managers on local and national marketing efforts.
• Conduct a kick‑off meeting with all key stakeholders to announce the project start, review the overall project plan, and gain consensus.
• Document high‑level risks, assumptions, and constraints using historical data and expert judgment to understand project limitations.
• Manage changes to project scope, schedule, and costs using appropriate verification techniques, keeping the plan accurate and facilitating customer acceptance.
• Ensure a common understanding by setting expectations in accordance with the Project Plan to align stakeholders and team members.
• Effectively manage multidisciplinary teams for a wide range of water resources projects and tasks.
• Measure project performance using appropriate tools and techniques to monitor progress, identify variances, perform corrective actions, and communicate to stakeholders.
• Execute tasks as defined in the project plan to achieve project goals.
• Identify key project team members by defining roles and responsibilities, creating a project organization structure, and developing the communication plan.
• Implement approved actions and workarounds to mitigate project risk events, minimizing their impact.
• Record detailed customer requirements, constraints, and assumptions with stakeholders to establish project deliverables, using requirement‑gathering techniques such as planning sessions, brainstorming, and focus groups, and the project charter.
• Improve team performance by building cohesiveness, leading, mentoring, training, and motivating to facilitate cooperation, ensure efficiency, and boost morale.
• Develop and maintain relationships with operations managers company‑wide to facilitate work sharing.
• Evaluate and design water resource projects and other mechanical engineering support tasks. Experience should include familiarity with hydropower generating units, penstocks, turbine shut‑off valves, mechanical balance of plant systems, cranes, hoists, machine design, pump stations, and process piping systems.
• Develop detailed designs, plans, and specifications for hydropower, dams, or fisheries related projects, including hydropower unit rehabilitations, powerhouse crane rehabilitation or replacement projects, intake gate hoisting systems, trash rakes, spillway gate hoists, pump station design, fish hatchery or fish passage facilities.
• Conduct analysis and condition assessments of hydropower, pumping, or other water‑resource mechanical systems, including uprate studies and coordination with equipment suppliers/vendors to develop recommendations for rehabilitation or replacement projects.
• Prepare or oversee preparation of planning reports, plans and specifications, and cost estimates for various hydropower, pumping, or other water‑resource infrastructure projects.
• Manage planning, design and construction support services for hydropower and other water‑resource infrastructure projects (Design Project Manager).
• Collect and analyze field data, as‑built plans and engineering reports to establish existing conditions and identify critical areas for design criteria.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from an ABET‑accredited university.
• Master’s degree preferred.
• 10+ years of experience in mechanical engineering.
• 5+ years of experience as a Project Manager preferred.
• Professional Engineering registration is required; California PE registration strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience with water resource infrastructure including fishery related projects, water conveyance, stormwater networks, heavy grading, water treatment, wastewater treatment, and pump stations.
• Strong communication, technical and analytical skills.
• Familiarity with Federal Agency codes and requirements, including FERC, USACE, USBR.

Compensation Package

• Pay Range: $131,000 – $230,000 (DOE)
• Benefits: McMillen provides a full benefits program comprising medical, dental, vision, life, disability, FSA, EAP, 401(k) and match, 9 paid holidays, generous PTO, opportunity for stock ownership, and wellness reimbursement.

Who we are

McMillen, Inc. designs and builds solutions that shape the future of water resources. As an employee‑owned firm, we take pride in every project because we know our work truly matters. We thrive on solving complex challenges, pushing boundaries, and refining our craft. We seek problem solvers, innovators, and experts who strive to be better and support continuous learning, cutting‑edge technology, and a balanced work‑life environment.

We are focused in the dams, energy, fisheries, natural resources, and infrastructure markets. With staff across the United States, Canada, Europe, and beyond, we bring global best practices to our clients. Our people integrate engineering, environmental, and construction expertise to deliver practical, results‑driven outcomes from concept to completion, guided through feasibility studies, permitting, design, construction, and commissioning.

EEO Statement

McMillen, Inc. is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer and will make all employment‑related decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.

Visa sponsorship, including renewal during employment, will not be provided for this position.

No recruiters, please.

Equal Opportunity Employer, including disabled and veterans.