Senior Water Resources Engineer

Spencer Ogden; San Luis Obispo (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Spencer Ogden seeks an experienced Senior Water Resources Engineer to join our San Luis Obispo team, leading municipal water and wastewater projects from planning through construction.

The role blends technical delivery with project management, client development, and mentoring of junior staff, with a leadership-track path. California PE strongly preferred and extensive modeling experience are valued.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering or related discipline.
• 10+ years of relevant civil/water resources engineering experience.
• California PE registration strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead delivery of complex water resources and civil projects from planning through construction.
• Manage project scope, budgets, schedules, and client relationships.
• Mentor junior engineers and lead multidisciplinary teams.
• Coordinate with municipalities, utilities, and water districts.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Client development

Mentoring

Municipal water/wastewater

Hydraulic modeling

AutoCAD

Civil 3D

WaterCAD/InfoSWMM/Aquapacity

GIS (ArcGIS Pro)

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering

Tools

AutoCAD

Civil 3D

WaterCAD

InfoSWMM

Aquanuity

ArcGIS Pro

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Senior Water Resources Engineer to join a growing civil and water resources team in San Luis Obispo, California.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced engineer looking to take on a leadership-track position combining technical delivery, project management, client development, and mentoring. You will lead a diverse portfolio of municipal water, wastewater, recycled water, and utility infrastructure projects from initial planning through design and construction.

The Role

You will be responsible for managing and delivering complex water resources and civil engineering projects, including:

• Water and wastewater master planning
• Water distribution and sewer collection system design
• Hydraulic modeling of water and wastewater infrastructure
• Pump station and lift station design
• Water supply planning and engineering
• Recycled water feasibility studies and system design
• Water and wastewater treatment projects
• Stormwater and municipal infrastructure improvements
• Preparation of engineering reports, plans, specifications, and estimates
• Regulatory coordination and permitting
• Utility infrastructure planning and GIS-related projects

Alongside technical delivery, you will take ownership of project scope, budgets, schedules, client relationships, and multidisciplinary project teams.

Leadership & Business Development

This position offers the opportunity to play a meaningful role in the continued growth of the water resources practice. Responsibilities will include:

• Managing projects from planning through construction
• Developing and maintaining relationships with municipalities, utilities, and water districts
• Identifying and pursuing new project opportunities
• Leading and contributing to proposals and SOQs
• Supporting client presentations and interviews
• Mentoring and developing junior engineers
• Representing the business within the California water resources market

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering or related discipline
• 10+ years of relevant civil/water resources engineering experience
• Professional Engineer registration; California PE strongly preferred
• Strong municipal water and/or wastewater infrastructure experience
• Experience managing engineering projects and client relationships
• Background working with public agencies, water districts, or municipal utilities
• Experience with AutoCAD and Civil 3D
• Hydraulic modeling experience using platforms such as WaterCAD, InfoSWMM, Aquanuity, or similar
• Strong understanding of California engineering standards and regulatory requirements

Additional experience with ArcGIS Pro, GIS utility databases, utility master planning, and preparation of utility atlas mapping would be advantageous.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

This is a strong opportunity for an experienced engineer who wants to remain technically involved while progressing further into project leadership, client management, business development, and team leadership.

You will join an established engineering group delivering a broad variety of water infrastructure projects while having significant opportunity to influence the continued development of the practice.