Associate Technical Director, for COWI in North America 1 Seattle, WA Application Deadline 28 November 2026

Associate Technical Director

Seattle

Full-time, Permanent

Hybrid

Do you want to join one of the leading consulting companies, creating value for customers, people, and societies worldwide? Can you be a major Seller-Doer for the Company—positioning COWI as technical experts and leaders in the industry? Are you a demonstrated and recognized technical leader with robust strengths in complex structural engineering? If so, join us, and we can be great together.

Create the solutions that will enable a better tomorrow

We are looking for an Associate Technical Director to join our team in North America. You will work closely with a team of experts,on some of North America's most significant projects, especially focusing on detailed design work for complex bridge types such as cable‑stayed, suspension, truss, and arch bridges.

Your key responsibilities as Associate Technical Director will be:

Leadership:

• Perform tasks on projects requiring a broad and/or deep knowledge in a field of expertise.
• Develop and implement design best practices in areas of expertise while maintaining a focus on technical excellence.
• Lead and manage teams effectively, facilitating their growth and success in project delivery.
• Identify and pursue business opportunities, ensuring the long‑term success of project initiatives.
• Promote strategic initiatives as delegated by the VP.
• Develop technical talent, including the implementation of specialist training programs, identification of staff for advanced training, and mentoring key staff in specialized areas of expertise.
• Cultivate and maintain technical networks outside of COWI through participation in technical conferences, and publishing and presenting technical papers.
• Participate in periodic strategy meetings and contribute to achieving COWI NA and COWI Group's strategic priorities.
• Contribute to ensuring that COWI NA delivers and exceeds its budgeted financial performance.

Project Management:

• Manage assigned projects, ensuring adherence to the company's established Quality System.
• Carry out project management activities, including project scheduling, resource management, project budget controls, and client subcontractor management.

Business Development:

• Provide leadership in business development and marketing activities for COWI, including identifying, tracking, positioning, and pursuing project opportunities, and representing the company in external settings such as technical committees, conferences, seminars, professional bodies, and business groups.
• Build and leverage a network of engineering and construction partners to position for transportation projects.
• Be responsible for developing and maintaining relationships with specified key clients.

Your skills. Our team. Together we design the future.

Like us, you believe that leadership growth comes from setting clear and meaningful direction for your team and supporting them in taking ownership of their work. You will delegate responsibility, ensure an open and safe dialogue, and coach your people to achieve their aspirations through constructive, fact-based feedback. Attracting and nurturing a diverse group of high‑potential team members is a top priority, as is creating an inclusive, caring, and trusting culture in your team.

On top of that, you will:

• Hold a formal education in structural engineering; an advanced degree (Ph.D. or M.Eng.) is preferred.
• Have 15+ years of engineering, project management, and business development experience, with a strong emphasis on design, construction, maintenance, and rehabilitation of structures.
• Demonstrate experience with a wide range of complex bridge types, including arch, cable‑stayed, suspension, truss, and others.
• Maintain Professional Engineer status in CA; licenses in Canadian provinces and other US states are considered an asset.
• Actively participate in national and international professional societies.
• Have established experience and reputation with local clients, including government organizations, municipalities, contractors, and engineering partners.
• Possess comprehensive written and oral communication skills.
• Know how to prepare proposals and review agreement terms.
• Be able to work with remotely located staff and be willing to travel predominantly within North America

A place to work and so much more

At COWI, we work together with our customers to shape a sustainable and liveable world. We do it by applying our knowledge and curiosity – and sometimes even our courage – to create the solutions the world needs today to enable a better tomorrow. We support our customers’ transition towards increased sustainability. We strive to lead by example by embedding environmental management, social responsibility and good governance into our business practices and the options we provide to our customers.

We value differences and development and cultivate an environment of belonging and having fun. Because that is what brings out the best in you, at work and at home.

With offices primarily located in the Nordic region, the UK, North America and India, we are currently more than 7,500 people who bring their expertise in engineering, architecture, energy and environment into play.

What we also offer:

Being part of the COWI community offers more than just a competitive salary. We take care of our people both professionally and personally.

Some of our benefits include:

• Flexible working arrangement
• Top‑up parental and childbirth recovery leave
• Fantastic close‑kni​t team with a wealth of knowledge to share
• Full time hires get minimum 4weeks’ vacation to start
• Floating holiday to celebrate employee diversity
• Paid sick leave
• Annual fitness subsidy - yes, you can use this for a ski pass, yoga, or gym membership
• 401K contribution matching with generous company match
• Personal and professional development fund
• Parking or public transit allowance
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance 80% employer‑paid premiums
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• STD, LTD, AD&D, and Life Insurance
• Referral incentive program
• Frequent social events

Base compensation: $160,800 to $252,000 for the Seattle location. Actual compensation is subject to variations due to education, experience, skill set and/or location.

Got more questions?

If you have any unanswered questions about the role or what we have to offer, please reach out to Talent Acquisition Specialist, Joe Ursini at View email address on click.appcast.io .

Get to know us even better at our website, where you can learn more about our projects, our strategy, what we want to achieve and what life is like at COWI.

Before you apply

All you need to include in your application is your CV – no photo or application letter. At an interview, you can tell us everything we need to know about why you’re interested in joining COWI. As for the photo, we prefer to form our first impression in person rather than from a picture.

Equal opportunity employer

COWI provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, COWI complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

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