Entry Level Dam Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Join a team of experienced and diverse geotechnical engineers, where you will provide high quality design and consulting services as part of multi-disciplined project teams for challenging domestic and international, power and industrial projects. These engineering services include but are not limited to the geotechnical aspects of foundation design (shallow & deep), earth retention systems, dam stability analyses/inspections, institute instrumentation/monitoring programs, subsurface exploration, seismic stability, liquefaction analyses, ground improvement, groundwater supply wells, and field oversight of exploration and construction activities.  The ideal candidate will have at a firm date of expected graduation from an ABET accredited civil engineering program and a focus on geotechnical course work.  

Typical responsibilities may include:

• Prepare detailed calculations to:
  • Develop soil parameters for both static and dynamic conditions
  • Determine drilled and driven pile capacity
  • Evaluate shallow foundation capacity and settlement
  • Analyze slope stability
• Work with Designers to accurately portray technical information on drawings
• Prepare specifications for subsurface investigations, deep foundations, ground improvement, earth retaining systems, monitoring wells, water production wells, and general earthwork
• Prepare bid tabulations and technical recommendations for bids received in response to specifications prepared
• Provide designs and work closely with all design disciplines and business groups within S&L
• Conduct on-site quality surveillance of subsurface exploration programs and provide periodic onsite representation during construction activities.
• Domestic travel will likely range from 25 to 50 percent
• Establish laboratory testing programs
• Review vendor documents for conformity with specifications
• Participate in dam and dike examinations
• Regular domestic and occasional international travel

Dependent upon your location, this opportunity offers a generous relocation package.

We do not sponsor employees for work authorization in the U.S. for this position.

Essential skills and experience:

• BSCE (MSCE preferred) with a strong background and coursework emphasis in Geotechnical Engineering.
• Understanding of the collection of field data using soil borings, CPTs, shear wave profiles, etc.
• Soil Mechanics, Shallow Foundation, Deep Foundation and Slope Stability Coursework.
• Familiarity with design tools and software, such as LPILE, Slope/W, and proficient with Excel, and Word.
• Ability to work in a team environment.
• US Citizenship required to support nuclear power projects.
• Ability to maintain professional presence in settings ranging from the client offices to construction “trenches”.
• Excellent English verbal communication skills and effective writing skills.
• Ability and willingness to travel (both domestic and international).

Valued but not required skills and experience:

• A Bachelor’s or Master’s of Science degree from an ABET Engineering Accreditation Commission-approved program.
• Passed the FE exam.
• Experience in geotechnical design of power plant and transmission facilities is desirable but not required.

In this role, we expect people to be willing or able to solve problems using modern tools:

• You are expected to take engineering problems from issue to solution using data and modern tools such as automation and AI to improve workflows, reduce rework, and deliver cost-effective designs.
• Many engineers in these roles build or use automation to create calculations, summarize technical documents, or draft design documentation, including appropriate use of agentic AI tools, with strong engineering judgment and verification of results.
• Programming or scripting (e.g., Python, MATLAB, advanced Excel) to automate calculations, design checks, reporting, or data transformation is valued but not required.
• We also value additional learning, such as a minor, certificate, or other training in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Software Engineering, or related fields that helps you apply automation or agentic AI to real engineering problems.

At Sargent & Lundy, we care about the health and well-being of our employees. Our commitment extends beyond the workplace, offering comprehensive healthcare plans and generous paid time off to support our team members in every aspect of their lives. We understand the importance of work-life balance, which is why we are proud to provide competitive, award-winning benefits. Our dedication to employee satisfaction has earned us the prestigious Top Workplaces Culture Excellence Award for compensation and benefits in 2022, 2023, and 2024.

• Health Plans: Medical, Dental, Vision
• Life & Accident Insurance
• Disability Coverage
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Back-Up Daycare
• FSA & HSA

• 401(k)
• Pre-Tax Commuter Account
• Merit Scholarship Program
• Employee Discount Program
• Corporate Charitable Giving Program
• Tuition Assistance
• First Professional Licensure Bonus
• Employee Referral Bonus

• Paid Annual Personal/Sick Time (PST)
• Paid Vacation
• Paid Holidays
• Paid Parental Leave
• Paid Bereavement Leave
• Flexible Work Arrangements

The Energy & Industrial Group (EIG) specializes in delivering advanced engineering solutions across various sectors, including power generation, environmental compliance, oil & gas, and industrial projects, from new plant design to plant betterment and upgrade services for operating facilities. We have designed nearly 900 conventional power plants, yielding over 100,000 megawatts (MW) of generation capacity. Our expertise includes numerous recent and ongoing combined cycle projects that leverage the latest advanced machinery, including combustion turbines, steam turbines, and heat recovery steam generators from all leading suppliers. EIG is recognized for its commitment to decarbonization through innovative technologies in renewable energy, carbon capture, and hydrogen power. We excel in detailed engineering services for photovoltaic (PV) solar projects and energy storage integration, and lead the industry in carbon capture technologies, managing projects from conceptual studies, pilot demonstrations and through commercial scale implementation for utilities and industrial plants.

Sargent & Lundy is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any protected status as defined by applicable law.