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Dam Engineering Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Senior Dam Engineer

Seattle, WA ยท On-site

$118K - $163K/yr

Schnabel is an employee-owned, professional engineering and consulting firm that focuses on solving ... The Seattle office is seeking a Senior Dam Engineer with expertise and practical experience in ...

Senior Dam Engineer

Portland, OR ยท On-site

$110K - $152K/yr

Schnabel is an employee-owned, professional engineering and consulting firm that focuses on solving ... The Seattle office is seeking a Senior Dam Engineer with expertise and practical experience in ...

Senior Dam Engineer

Seattle, WA ยท On-site

$118K - $163K/yr

Schnabel is an employee-owned, professional engineering and consulting firm that focuses on solving ... The Seattle office is seeking a Senior Dam Engineer with expertise and practical experience in ...

Senior Dam Engineer

Portland, OR

$110K - $152K/yr

Schnabel is an employee-owned, professional engineering and consulting firm that focuses on solving ... The Seattle office is seeking a Senior Dam Engineer with expertise and practical experience in ...

Senior Dam Safety Engineer

Austin, TX ยท On-site

$103K - $142K/yr

Schnabel is an employee-owned, professional engineering and consulting firm that focuses on solving ... Schnabel Engineering is seeking a Senior Dam Safety Engineer with expertise in one or more ...

Senior Dam Engineer

Seattle, WA

$118K - $163K/yr

Schnabel is an employee-owned, professional engineering and consulting firm that focuses on solving ... The Seattle office is seeking a Senior Dam Engineer with expertise and practical experience in ...

Senior Dam Safety Engineer

Austin, TX

$103K - $142K/yr

Schnabel is an employee-owned, professional engineering and consulting firm that focuses on solving ... Schnabel Engineering is seeking a Senior Dam Safety Engineer with expertise in one or more ...

Senior Dam Safety Engineer

Dallas, TX

$96K - $132K/yr

Schnabel is an employee-owned, professional engineering and consulting firm that focuses on solving ... Schnabel Engineering is seeking a Senior Dam Safety Engineer with expertise in one or more ...

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Dam Engineering information

See salary details

$46.5K

$146.9K

$174K

How much do dam engineering jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 13, 2026, the average yearly pay for dam engineering in the United States is $146,868.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $116,500.00 and $173,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Dam Engineering vs Structural Engineering?

AspectDam EngineeringStructural Engineering
Required CredentialsEngineering degree, often civil or geotechnical, with specialization in dam designEngineering degree, civil or structural, with focus on building structures
Work EnvironmentHydropower plants, dam sites, consulting firmsBuildings, bridges, infrastructure projects
Industry UsageWater resources, hydroelectric projects, flood controlConstruction, transportation, commercial and residential buildings

Dam Engineering focuses on designing and maintaining dams, primarily in water resource and hydroelectric projects, requiring specialized knowledge in geotechnical and hydraulic engineering. Structural Engineering covers a broader range of structures, including buildings and bridges, emphasizing load analysis and material strength. While both roles require civil engineering credentials, Dam Engineers specialize in water-related infrastructure, making their work environment and industry usage distinct from Structural Engineers.

Can you make $500,000 as a civil engineer?

Dam engineers, a specialized civil engineering role, can potentially earn $500,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, advanced certifications, and leadership positions on large projects. Such high salaries are typically found in senior roles, consulting, or in regions with high demand for infrastructure development. Entry-level or mid-career dam engineers usually earn significantly less.

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

Senior dam engineers with extensive experience, advanced certifications, and leadership roles can earn salaries approaching or exceeding $300,000 annually, especially in large infrastructure projects or consulting firms. High compensation often reflects specialized skills, project complexity, and geographic location, with some engineers in executive or managerial positions reaching this level.

What engineers make $500,000?

Senior engineers in specialized fields such as petroleum, aerospace, or software engineering can earn $500,000 or more annually, especially with experience, advanced skills, and leadership roles. High-level positions often require advanced degrees, certifications, and extensive industry experience.

What do engineers that work on dams do?

Dam engineers design, construct, and maintain dam structures to ensure safety, stability, and proper water management. They analyze geological data, develop plans using engineering software, and oversee construction and inspection processes to prevent failures and optimize dam performance.
What cities are hiring for Dam Engineering jobs? Cities with the most Dam Engineering job openings:
Senior Dam Engineer

Senior Dam Engineer

Schnabel Engineering

Seattle, WA โ€ข On-site

$118K - $163K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 8 days ago


Job description

Schnabel is an employee-owned, professional engineering and consulting firm that focuses on solving problems related to the earth and environment through specialization in geotechnical, geostructural, tunnel, and dam engineering. Schnabel's high standards for quality, business ethics, and concern for the communities in which we live are a vital part of who we are. Schnabel is an ENR Top 500 Design Firm with 700+ employees in 31 offices throughout the United States.
Recognized by CE News as one of the Best Engineering Firms to Work for, Schnabel provides employees with a competitive benefits package including maternity leave, tuition reimbursement for continuing education, health, dental, life and disability insurance and a wellness program. As an employee-owned company, through the Employee Stock Ownership Plan, Schnabel employees directly benefit from the success of our growing firm.
Benefit options include:
  • Medical insurance
  • Dental insurance
  • Flexible spending accounts
  • Employee life & ADD insurance (100% company-paid)
  • Short-term disability (100% company-paid)
  • Long-term disability
  • Supplemental life insurance
  • 401(k) and profit-sharing plan
  • Employee stock ownership plan (ESOP)
  • Bonus program
  • Paid time off
  • 9 Paid Holidays
  • Wellness program
  • Professional development and tuition reimbursement

Job Description:
Are you looking for interesting and meaningful work, a fun atmosphere, and opportunities to learn, grow, and excel? If so, then welcome to Schnabel! We approach problems with creativity and innovation. The Seattle office is seeking a Senior Dam Engineer with expertise and practical experience in geotechnical engineering to support our growing office and region. We are looking for experienced, motivated candidates with attention to detail, a passion to continue to develop as a professional, and a desire to be part of a strong multi-disciplinary team.
The Seattle office of Schnabel focuses on the evaluation and design of dams, structures, and facilities as well as advancing our practice of risk informed decision making within our dam engineering group. Example projects include the inspection, evaluation and design of embankment and concrete dams, spillways, outlet works, tunnels and instrumentation, and performing risk assessments for dam owners for sites located across the United States.
Job Responsibilities:
Perform the following dam engineering tasks:
  • Provide engineering expertise, technical oversight and overall management of dam engineering projects. Engineering services may include inspection, investigation, evaluation, analysis, design and construction of existing and new dams, reservoirs, and hydraulic structures.
  • Develop engineering proposals and qualification statements.
  • Prepare and review of design calculations, engineering reports, construction drawings, and technical specifications.
  • Manage client relationships.
  • Perform project management activities including planning and delegating work, managing project budgets, invoicing, communicating resource needs and reporting backlog.
  • Work as a team member within the Seattle office, and across Schnabel to effectively balance workload among available resources.
  • Train and mentor junior engineers.

Required Skills/Experience:
  • A Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering or other related engineering discipline from an ABET-accredited program
  • 10+ years of relevant work experience in civil engineering; work may consist of geotechnical analysis and design, geologic engineering, engineering geology, or hydrologic/hydraulic analyses, structural engineering, or other related field with specific emphasis in dam design or dam safety
  • Licensed Professional Engineer or Engineering Geologist and the ability to obtain reciprocity
  • Experience and knowledge of applicable state and federal dam safety design methodologies, policies, and regulations
  • Experience/proficiency with common computer-aided analysis and modeling programs applicable to dam engineering
  • Experience preparing and reviewing construction drawings and technical specifications
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills
  • Strong communication and client forward personality
  • A strong work ethic and the desire to perform professionally at a high level
  • Ability to work independently or as part of a team
  • Attention to detail and well-organized
  • Willingness to travel and oversee field work when needed
  • Experience in proposal development and contract execution
  • Experience with project and contract management

Desired Skills/Experience:
  • Master's degree in Geotechnical Engineering or engineering Geology
  • Experience in construction/project scheduling
  • Experience in cost estimating
  • Previous FERC approval as IC, SME or field engineer on FERC regulated dams

Other Requirements:
  • Ability to pass a background check which may include criminal history, motor vehicle record, and credit check
  • Ability to pass a pre-employment drug screening

The compensation range for this position is between $120,000 to $160,000. Compensation for this position may vary based on geographic location and other factors. We remain committed to providing competitive and equitable compensation to all employees, regardless of their location.
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.