Water Resources Dams & Canals Engineer (Relocation Eligible)

Montana Historical Society; Helena (MT); On-site; USD 95,000 - 103,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid leave

Health & dental insurance

Telehealth

Longevity pay

Job summary

The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) is seeking a licensed Professional Engineer to join the State Water Projects Bureau as a Dams & Canals Engineer in Helena. You will lead rehabilitation, repair, inspection, design, and construction projects involving state‑owned dams, canals, and water conveyance infrastructure.

This role offers opportunities from early feasibility through design, contracting, construction oversight, and closeout, ensuring safe, reliable

Qualifications

• ABET‑accredited civil engineering degree or closely related ABET‑accredited engineering degree such as environmental or geotechnical engineering.
• Current Professional Engineer licensure; Montana PE licensure required within six months of hire.
• At least two years of applicable professional engineering experience after PE licensure.
• Specialized education or experience in civil‑engineering discipline relevant to irrigation or water‑conveyance systems.

Responsibilities

• Developing scopes of work, schedules, budgets, feasibility analyses, designs, specifications, and bid packages.
• Managing engineering consultants through feasibility, design, and construction administration.
• Reviewing technical work involving geotechnical, hydrologic, hydraulic, structural, mechanical, environmental, and economic analyses.
• Managing construction contracts ranging from small repair projects to multimillion‑dollar rehabilitation efforts.
• Providing construction oversight and reviewing schedules, payment requests, change orders, claims, inspections, and closeout documentation.
• Preparing field reports, technical reports, correspondence, presentations, and other project documentation.
• Building productive working relationships with water users’ associations, contractors, regulatory agencies, and public partners.
• Inspecting dams and related structures, including annual and regulatory five‑year inspections.
• Identifying operational, maintenance, and repair needs; prioritizing solutions; and coordinating implementation.

Job description

The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) is seeking a licensed Professional Engineer to join the State Water Projects Bureau as a Dams & Canals Engineer in Helena. You will lead rehabilitation, repair, inspection, design, and construction projects involving state‑owned dams, canals, and water conveyance infrastructure.

This role offers opportunities from early feasibility through design, contracting, construction oversight, and closeout, ensuring safe, reliable