Senior Water Resources Engineer

VHB; Winooski (VT); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible hybrid schedule

Professional development

Hybrid work environment

Job summary

VHB in Vermont seeks a Senior Water Resources Engineer to lead hydraulic and hydrology projects across New England. You’ll manage multi-disciplinary teams, guide riverine design, flood resilience, and watershed planning, collaborating with clients and regulators to deliver impactful outcomes.

The role blends independent work with mentorship, requires 8–11 years of experience, a BS in Civil/Environmental Engineering, and a PE license.

Qualifications

• Minimum 8–11 years’ experience in water resource engineering and analysis.
• BS in Civil/Environmental Engineering (master’s degree may substitute 2 years of experience).
• PE license is required.

Responsibilities

• Supports multi-disciplinary projects and interacts with staff and clients.
• Conducts hydrologic, hydraulic and scour studies using modeling software (HEC-HMS, HEC-RAS, HydroCAD).
• Identifies and designs flood, scour, and resiliency improvements; includes nature-based solutions.
• Performs FEMA no-rise analyses and assists with FEMA map revisions.
• Develops technical reports, design plans, construction documents, and specifications.
• Leads construction administration for water resource projects.
• Supports permit evaluation and applications with the integrated team.
• Aids in development of proposals, scopes of work and fee estimates.
• Mentors and grows the technical resources of staff.

Skills

Hydraulics & Hydrology

Project leadership

Communication

Mentoring

Permitting knowledge

Education

BS in Civil/Environmental Engineering

Tools

HEC-HMS

HEC-RAS

HydroCAD

Job description

Senior Water Resources Engineer | Vermont

Step into a role where your Hydraulics & Hydrology expertise can truly shape the future of New England's rivers, communities, and landscapes—backed by the full support of an award‑winning, multidisciplinary firm.

VHB’s Water Resources group is growing across New England, and we’re looking for a Senior level Engineer who’s ready to lead, innovate, and make a visible impact locally and regionally. If you’re a seasoned water resource engineer who values both the quality of life that Vermont offers and the opportunity to work on complex, high‑profile projects, this is an ideal moment to start a conversation with us.

In this role, you’ll help clients tackle some of the most pressing water resources challenges of our time—driven by climate change, aging infrastructure, and evolving regulatory expectations. You’ll develop strategic, cost‑effective, and forward‑thinking solutions for riverine systems, ecological restoration, and resilient infrastructure. Your work will range from detailed site‑scale designs to watershed‑level planning, with a mix of public and private sector clients that keeps your portfolio diverse and engaging.

You’ll be at the center of projects such as:

• Riverine and coastal resiliency planning and design
• Bridge hydraulics and scour analysis that directly influence community safety and connectivity
• Stream restoration and culvert replacement that restore habitat and improve flood resilience
• Dam rehabilitation and removal projects that balance safety, ecology, and community interests
• Flood mitigation and floodplain management that help communities adapt to changing conditions

What makes this especially compelling is the blend of autonomy and workload, which provides the satisfaction of working locally—close to the resources, landscapes, and communities you’re helping to protect—while also being involved in greater regional projects of a recognized New England leader in water resources.

Responsibilities

• Supports multi-disciplinary projects including interaction with staff and clients
• Conducting hydrologic, hydraulic and scour studies for riverine and coastal environments using current modeling software including HEC-HMS, HEC-RAS, HydroCAD and others
• Using analysis to identify and design flood, scour and resiliency improvements including both hardened features and nature-based solutions and living shorelines
• Performing FEMA “no‑rise” analyses and assisting clients with FEMA map revisions
• Developing technical reports, design plans, construction documents, and specifications for water resources related projects
• Leading the construction administration for water resource projects
• Work with VHB’s integrated team to evaluate permit requirements and support the development of permit applications
• Aid and support the development of project proposals, scopes of work and fee estimates
• Mentoring and expanding the technical resources of our staff

Skills And Abilities

• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills
• Team-oriented with strong capability to motivate others
• Must demonstrate superior ability in collaborative problem solving with stakeholders, clients, and teammates
• Experience and interest in mentoring of junior staff
• Understanding of local, state, and federal permitting

Qualifications

• Minimum 8-11 years’ experience in related water resource engineering and analysis required
• BS in Civil/Environmental Engineering (a master’s degree may be substituted for 2 years of experience)
• PE license

Our best estimate of the salary range for this position located in Vermont, is $110,000-125,000. The final compensation will be based on a variety of factors such as individual qualifications, education, and experience.

Building What’s Next, Together.

Our people make the difference. We foster a technology-empowered, people‑driven, future‑ready culture where agility, innovation, and collaboration shape how we work every day.

When You Join VHB, You’ll Find

• Meaningful work on complex projects with real community impact
• A collaborative, inclusive culture that values curiosity and shared success
• Support to grow your skills and lead through change
• Learning and development supported by evolving tools and technologies, including AI
• Best-in-class benefits and a flexible, hybrid work environment

VHB is a proud Equal Opportunity Employer. Since our founding, we have intentionally fostered a culture of inclusion and belonging, supported by deep-rooted core values, one of which is diversity. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law.