Job Description

Senior Dam Safety Engineer
Salary: $150,000 - $190,000
Locations: Vancouver, Surrey, Chilliwack, Kelowna, or Toronto
(Hybrid flexibility available depending on location)
 
We are partnering with a well-established, multidisciplinary engineering consultancy to support the continued growth of their Dam Safety & Hydrotechnical practice. Our client is seeking an experienced Senior Dam Safety Engineer to take a technical leadership role delivering dam safety and water-retaining structure projects across Canada.
 
This is a senior-level position offering strong compensation, long-term career progression, and the opportunity to work on complex, high-profile infrastructure projects.
 
The Role
 
In this role, you will lead the assessment, design, and implementation of dam safety projects from inception through to construction and regulatory approval. You will act as a senior technical authority, working closely with clients, regulators, and internal multidisciplinary teams while mentoring junior staff and contributing to business development.
 
Key Responsibilities

• Lead dam safety reviews, inspections, risk and consequence assessments, emergency preparedness planning, and rehabilitation design
• Deliver projects across embankment, concrete, and tailings dams
• Perform advanced analyses related to dam stability, seepage, hydrology, hydraulics, flood routing, and seismic performance
• Plan and carry out dam safety inspections and site investigations, including instrumentation reviews and performance assessments
• Prepare dam safety reports, design memoranda, technical specifications, EPPs, and regulatory submissions
• Provide construction-phase engineering support and resolve dam safety-related field issues
• Act as the primary technical liaison with clients, regulators, and dam owners
• Lead and mentor junior engineers, EITs, and technologists
• Manage project scope, budgets, schedules, and resources
• Ensure compliance with CDA guidelines, provincial dam safety regulations, and ICOLD standards
• Review, approve, and seal engineering deliverables
• Support proposal preparation, fee development, and client engagement initiatives

Technical Focus

• Dam safety evaluations and rehabilitation
• Seepage, slope stability, and deformation analysis
• Hydrology, hydraulics, and flood routing
• Instrumentation interpretation (piezometers, inclinometers, seepage monitoring systems)
• Risk-informed dam safety and regulatory compliance

Software & Tools
 
Experience with dam safety and water resources modeling tools such as:
GeoStudio (SEEP/W, SLOPE/W), HEC-RAS, HEC-HMS, PLAXIS, and similar platforms.
 
Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil, Geotechnical, Geological, or Water Resources Engineering (Master's preferred)
• Registered Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) in BC, Ontario, or eligible for immediate registration
• 10+ years of experience in dam safety or water-retaining structures, ideally in consulting
• Strong understanding of embankment and concrete dam design and dam safety principles
• Proven ability to lead dam safety projects end-to-end
• Strong knowledge of Canadian dam safety regulations and international best practices
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Demonstrated leadership, mentoring, and project management experience
• Client-focused with business development exposure
• Valid driver's license and willingness to travel to project sites as required

What's on Offer

• $150K - $190K base salary, depending on experience
• Multiple office locations across BC and Ontario
• Senior technical leadership role with real influence
• Diverse project portfolio across municipal, hydroelectric, mining, and industrial sectors
• Long-term career growth within a respected technical team