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Disaster Engineering Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Azure Cloud Engineer

Glen Allen, VA ยท On-site

$100K - $130K/yr

Schnabel is an employee-owned, professional engineering and consulting firm that focuses on solving ... Architect and support Azure Disaster Recovery (DR) solutions, including Azure Arc-enabled servers ...

Performing tasks required in combat and disaster preparedness or recovery operations WORK ENVIRONMENT * As an Engineering Aide, you'll construct and repair a variety of structures in just about every ...

Performing tasks required in combat and disaster preparedness or recovery operations WORK ENVIRONMENT * As an Engineering Aide, you'll construct and repair a variety of structures in just about every ...

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Showing results 1-20

Disaster Engineering information

See Virginia salary details

$46.1K

$145.6K

$172.5K

How much do disaster engineering jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 15, 2026, the average yearly pay for disaster engineering in Virginia is $145,608.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $115,500.00 and $171,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

Is disaster engineering a good career?

Disaster engineering is a specialized field focused on designing systems and infrastructure to withstand natural and man-made disasters. It requires knowledge of structural analysis, risk assessment, and often involves working with emergency response agencies, making it a valuable and impactful career for those interested in safety and resilience. Job prospects depend on industry demand, geographic location, and relevant certifications such as FEMA or structural engineering licenses.

What are some common challenges disaster engineers face in their day-to-day work?

Disaster Engineers often encounter rapidly changing situations that require quick decision-making, such as analyzing the structural integrity of buildings after an earthquake or coordinating mitigation plans amid unpredictable weather. Balancing technical solutions with available resources and timelines adds complexity to their work, as does the need to communicate findings to both technical experts and non-technical stakeholders. Collaboration with emergency response teams, government agencies, and community members is frequent, requiring flexibility and strong interpersonal skills. These challenges make the role dynamic and impactful, offering opportunities to develop innovative solutions that safeguard communities.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in disaster engineering, and why are they important?

Thriving as a Disaster Engineer requires expertise in civil or structural engineering, risk assessment, and disaster mitigation, typically backed by a bachelor's or master's degree in engineering or a related field. Familiarity with GIS software, modeling tools like HAZUS, and certifications such as Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) are often expected. Strong problem-solving, communication, and teamwork abilities are vital for collaborating with emergency management professionals and conveying complex information to diverse audiences. These skills are crucial for designing resilient infrastructure, planning effective disaster responses, and ensuring public safety under pressure.

What is disaster engineering?

A Disaster Engineering job involves assessing, mitigating, and responding to natural and man-made disasters to minimize damage and protect lives. Professionals in this field work on designing resilient infrastructure, conducting risk assessments, and developing emergency response plans. They collaborate with government agencies, private organizations, and communities to enhance disaster preparedness and recovery efforts. Disaster engineers apply principles from civil, structural, and environmental engineering to improve safety and resilience in vulnerable areas.

What are the most commonly searched types of Disaster Engineering jobs in Virginia?

The most popular types of Disaster Engineering jobs in Virginia are:

What are popular job titles related to Disaster Engineering jobs in Virginia?

For Disaster Engineering jobs in Virginia, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Disaster Engineering job openings in Virginia as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 91% Full Time, 5% Part Time, 3% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 86% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $145,608 per year, or $70 per hour.

FEMA-Disaster Recovery Specialists (Mechanical Engineers)

Dewberry Engineers Incorporated

Fairfax, VA โ€ข On-site

Other

Re-posted 24 days ago


Job description


FEMA-Disaster Recovery Specialists (Mechanical Engineers)
Job ID
15223
# of Openings
25
Job Location
US
Category
Disaster Support
Relocation Assistance
No
Service Line
MCS
Job Description

Join the Dewberry Team! Are you looking for a rewarding opportunity to help our country with disaster recovery work? Dewberry maintains a cadre of skilled professional and technical staff in an on-call capacity to support disaster recovery work across the United States. We are currently searching for highly qualified Mechanical Engineers to support these projects. As one of our Disaster Specialists, you will collaborate with some of the best and brightest in the industry and use your expertise to support critical recovery efforts in disaster-impacted communities.This is an excellent opportunity for those who want to use their knowledge, skills and abilities to help disaster survivors at disaster recovery operation work sites throughout the United States and its territories.

*Please note, remote work is not permitted for this role. This is a nonfulltime, deploymentbased on-call position supporting disaster relief efforts across the United States. Team members are deployed to impacted sites as needed and may travel frequently on short notice. While the role requires physical presence at various disaster locations, it is not tied to a single office or fixed worksite.

Dewberry is a leading, market-facing professional services firm with more than 60 locations and 2,500 professionals nationwide. What sets us apart from our competitors is our people. At Dewberry, we seek out exceptional talent and strive to deliver the highest quality of services to our clients. Whether you're an experienced professional or a new graduate, you'll have the chance to collaborate with the best and brightest and work on innovative and complex projects at the forefront of the industry. Our commitment to excellence stems from our personal integrity and from other defining attributes, which we call "Dewberry at Work," that have inspired our employees to be successful for more than a half-century.

Responsibilities

In this role, you will deploy to disaster sites to support FEMA or other government entities in the delivery of disaster recovery programs such as the Public Assistance (PA) program or the FEMA Individual Assistance (IA) Direct Housing program. Mechanical Engineers may perform field inspections of damaged facilities to gain an understanding of the project scope of work, including means and methods of construction. They also may assist FEMA, local government agencies and other entities with understanding the technical requirements for projects in their field of expertise. The work includes but is not limited to assessments of disaster-damaged infrastructure, documenting detailed damage descriptions, developing new or restoration scopes of work, formulating detailed cost estimates, and assisting with hazard mitigation planning.

This posting is anticipated to close on December 31st 2026.

Required Skills & Required Experience
    Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or related field from an accredited university
  • Minimum of 5 years of full-time professional experiencein field of study working with public infrastructure
  • Knowledge of modern construction practices and experience conducting facility assessments, performing construction inspection, and developing project scope and cost estimates
  • Working knowledge of International Building Code (IBC), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and other governmental regulatory compliance
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills
  • Must be computer literate and proficient with MS Office Suite applications
  • Must be able to work both independently and in a team environment under stressful conditions
  • The ability to work up to 12 hours per day, 7 days a week while deployed to a disaster recovery operation for up to 12 months
  • Must have a valid driver's license and clean driving record
  • Be a U.S. citizen capable of passing a federal background investigation to obtain a Public Trust clearance

Preferred Skills and Experience:

  • Licensed Professional Engineer
  • Five years of experience working as a mechanical engineer
  • Working knowledge of the FEMA PA Program law, regulation and policy
  • Prior FEMA PA experience as: Program Delivery Manager, Site Inspector, Policy Advisor, Cost Estimator, or Hazard Mitigation Specialist
  • Working knowledge of FEMA's Grants Manager or Grants Portal
  • Proficiency using cost estimating software such as RS Means and Xactimate

*At this time, Dewberry will not sponsor a new applicant for work authorization.

*This position is covered by the McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act of 1965 (SCA).

*Dewberry is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, gender identity or sexual orientation.

#LI-Onsite

Salary Range

The projected range for this position is $55 to $70 hourly. Depending upon other factors, i.e., skills, experience, location, market conditions, the range may vary slightly.

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