Dam Safety Engineer

Applicants who are working toward their Professional Engineer (PE) license are encouraged to apply. We are open to hiring at different levels (Engineering Intern, Engineering Analyst, or Professional Engineer) and may consider a training assignment for well ‑ qualified candidates who do not yet meet all minimum qualifications.

Individuals who do not currently hold a PE license, but who have passed the FE exam and hold an Engineer Intern certificate and meet the educational requirements may be eligible for support with job ‑ related education and coursework, including tuition reimbursement, to help them progress toward licensure.

Those with a current Montana PE license are eligible for a $6,000 sign ‑ on bonus if they are new to State of Montana employment or have not worked for the State in the past six months.

Pay is based on education, experience, and licensure, with opportunities to advance to higher pay levels as you gain experience and meet performance benchmarks.

The State of Montana, through DNRC Water Resource Division’s State Water Projects Bureau, administers the operation, maintenance, management, and rehabilitation of State‑owned water projects including 23 dams and over 250 miles of irrigation canals. The Bureau provides oversight of these projects by delivering inspection, instrumentation, engineering, and operation services.

DNRC is seeking a dynamic and self‑motivated Professional Engineer or Engineer Intern to join our team for a physically demanding yet rewarding career. The role requires not just strong engineering skills but also the ability to work in challenging conditions, often outdoors on the dams and their appurtenant structures. This position requires a Montana PE license and civil engineering expertise to perform an extensive range of engineering functions relating to the operation, inspection, maintenance, repair, and modification of State‑owned dams.

Applicants holding an Engineer Intern certificate will also be considered.

The success of the State Water Projects Bureau dam safety program requires a strong and diverse engineering background including formal education, specialized training, and design experience specifically related to water conveyance, storage, and dams. The dam safety program exists to ensure continued safe and reliable dam operation, in accordance with state and federal dam safety regulations.

These job functions are the essential duties of the position and are not all‑inclusive of all the duties that may be assigned to the incumbent.

• Coordinate the Bureau’s annual dam safety and O&M inspection program.
• Conduct annual dam safety and O&M inspections on all State Water Projects Bureau owned dams.
• Coordinate the Bureau’s efforts for inspection, reporting, and submittal of Five‑Year Engineer’s Dam Evaluations on State‑regulated high‑hazard dams in support of operation permit renewals, and similar efforts for federally regulated dams. This includes managing contracts for Five‑Year Engineer’s Evaluations performed by private engineering consultants
• Conduct and prepare regulatory Five‑Year Engineer’s Evaluations for high‑hazard dams.
• Perform engineering design, project management, and contract management on maintenance, repair, modification, regulatory evaluation, and technical analysis projects.
• Responsible for assessing the condition and performance of State‑owned dams, identifying potential dam safety issues, and recommending corrective actions and repair alternatives to ensure continued safe and reliable operation.
• Responsible for identifying, prioritizing and recommending operations related maintenance and repair actions.
• Provide engineering support and technical assistance and oversight for ongoing project operations and modifications.
• Coordinate inspections, maintenance activities, and repair projects with other DNRC staff, water user associations, contractors, regulatory agencies, and other parties.

Work is typically performed in the office; however, this position requires extensive travel and fieldwork. Travel may occur under various weather conditions, extend beyond…