Associate Water Resources Engineer
Senior Mine Water Management Engineer Water Resources & Environmental Engineering · Multiple Locations · Full-time
📍 Midwest US (Multiple Locations) | ~25% Travel | Employee-Owned Firm
We are a leading, employee-owned engineering and environmental services firm seeking a senior mine water management professional to join our growing Environmental Services practice. This is a high-impact leadership role for an experienced technical practitioner who can guide clients through the full mining lifecycle - from planning and permitting through construction, operations, and closure.
You'll work at the intersection of technical rigor and project delivery, collaborating with engineering, construction, and environmental teams to develop fit-for-purpose mine water solutions that are constructable, defensible, and built to last.
What You'll Do
Technical Leadership
- Lead mine water management strategy across the full project lifecycle, including water balance development, water quality characterization, treatment, reuse, and long-term stewardship
- Direct hydrologic, hydraulic, and hydrogeologic analyses - including watershed-scale evaluations, probabilistic assessments, and scenario-based modeling
- Guide planning and design of mine water infrastructure: ponds, impoundments, conveyance systems, treatment systems, and control structures
- Participate in constructability reviews and integrated design efforts to ensure solutions align with construction means, methods, and schedules
Client & Business Development
- Serve as a trusted senior technical advisor to mining clients - translating complex analyses into clear, actionable recommendations
- Lead or contribute to technical proposals, scopes of work, work plans, and cost estimates
- Identify and develop follow-on opportunities through high-quality delivery and strong client relationships
Project Management & Delivery
- Manage mine water projects with full accountability for scope, schedule, budget, quality, safety, and client satisfaction
- Collaborate with design-build and EPC project teams to integrate mine water considerations into broader delivery strategies
- Proactively identify and manage technical, regulatory, constructability, and execution risks
Modeling & Risk-Informed Analysis
- Lead water balance modeling using spreadsheet tools and advanced simulation platforms (e.g., GoldSim, HEC-HMS, MODFLOW)
- Apply probabilistic and uncertainty-based approaches to inform design criteria and long-term decisions
- Integrate climate variability and extreme events into mine water strategies and closure planning
Mentoring & Team Development
- Mentor and develop engineers and scientists across the practice, sharing technical knowledge, practical judgment, and lessons learned
- Contribute to internal tools, standards, and best practices for mine water management
- Support recruiting and onboarding of mine water talent
What We're Looking For
Required
- Bachelor's degree in civil, environmental, chemical, or mechanical engineering (or related field) from an accredited program
- 13+ years of progressive experience in mine water management, water resources, hydrogeology, or closely related fields with direct mining application
- Demonstrated experience with mine water balance development, surface water and/or groundwater modeling, and hydrologic/hydrogeologic data interpretation
- Proven ability to manage projects with accountability for scope, schedule, and financial performance
- Experience supporting projects through design and into construction, including constructability reviews
- Strong technical writing skills; able to communicate complex analyses to both technical and non-technical audiences
Preferred
- Master's degree in a relevant technical discipline
- Professional licensure (PE or PG) or ability to obtain
- Familiarity with industry-standard tools: GoldSim, HEC-HMS, HEC-RAS, MODFLOW, or similar
- Experience with mine permitting, operations, closure, and reclamation from a water management perspective
- Background in tailings-related water considerations or long-term water stewardship strategies
- Experience applying probabilistic and risk-informed approaches to water management decisions
- Proven track record mentoring staff and developing technical teams
Compensation & Benefits
- Base Salary: $180,000 - $300,000 (commensurate with experience and location)
- Discretionary year-end incentive bonus eligibility
- Comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, vision, and disability coverage
- Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) + 401(k) - as a 100% employee-owned firm, eligible employees build real ownership stake
- Wellness programs and additional time-off benefits
We are an equal opportunity employer and encourage applicants of all backgrounds to apply. This posting will remain open until filled.
FAQs
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