Senior Water Resources Engineer

Overview

ABOUT THE POSITION

Senior Water Resources Engineer | Vermont

Step into a role where your Hydraulics & Hydrology expertise can truly shape the future of New England's rivers, communities, and landscapes—backed by the full support of an award‑winning, multidisciplinary firm.

VHB’s Water Resources group is growing across New England, and we’re looking for a Senior level Engineer who’s ready to lead, innovate, and make a visible impact locally and regionally. If you’re a seasoned water resource engineer who values both the quality of life that Vermont offers and the opportunity to work on complex, high‑profile projects, this is an ideal moment to start a conversation with us.

In this role, you’ll help clients tackle some of the most pressing water resources challenges of our time—driven by climate change, aging infrastructure, and evolving regulatory expectations. You’ll develop strategic, cost‑effective, and forward‑thinking solutions for riverine systems, ecological restoration, and resilient infrastructure. Your work will range from detailed site‑scale designs to watershed‑level planning, with a mix of public and private sector clients that keeps your portfolio diverse and engaging.

You’ll be at the center of projects such as:

• Riverine and coastal resiliency planning and design
• Bridge hydraulics and scour analysis that directly influence community safety and connectivity
• Stream restoration and culvert replacement that restore habitat and improve flood resilience
• Dam rehabilitation and removal projects that balance safety, ecology, and community interests
• Flood mitigation and floodplain management that help communities adapt to changing conditions

What makes this especially compelling is the blend of autonomy and workload, which provides the satisfaction of working locally—close to the resources, landscapes, and communities you’re helping to protect—but also being involved in the greater regional projects of a recognized New England leader in water resources.

Responsibilities

• Supports multi-disciplinary projects including interaction with staff and clients
• Conducting hydrologic, hydraulic and scour studies for riverine and coastal environments using current modeling software including HEC-HMS, HEC-RAS, HydroCAD and others
• Using analysis to identify and design flood, scour and resiliency improvements including both hardened features and nature-based solutions and living shorelines
• Performing FEMA “no‑rise” analyses and assisting clients with FEMA map revisions
• Developing technical reports, design plans, construction documents, and specifications for water resources related projects
• Leading the construction administration for water resource projects
• Work with VHB’s integrated team to evaluate permit requirements and support the development of permit applications
• Aid and support the development of project proposals, scopes of work and fee estimates
• Mentoring and expanding the technical resources of our staff

Skills and Abilities

• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills
• Team-oriented with strong capability to motivate others
• Must demonstrate superior ability in collaborative problem solving with stakeholders, clients, and teammates
• Experience and interest in mentoring of junior staff
• Understanding of local, state, and federal permitting

Qualifications

• Minimum 8-11 years’ experience in related water resource engineering and analysis required
• BS in Civil/Environmental Engineering (a master’s degree may be substituted for 2 years of experience)
• PE license

Our best estimate of the salary range for this position located in Vermont, is $110,000-125,000. The final compensation will be based on a variety of factors such as individual qualifications, education, and experience.

Benefits

• Meaningful work on complex projects with real community impact
• A collaborative, inclusive culture that values curiosity and shared success
• Support to grow your skills and lead through change