Senior Project Engineer - Marine Structures

Job Description

At Mott MacDonald, we trust our brilliant people to do brilliant things in engineering, management, and development services, supporting multisector project work in over 150 countries. As one of the largest employee-owned companies in the world, we pride ourselves on our ability to deliver exceptional outcomes through our network of 20,000+ talented consultants. With sustainability and innovation at the heart of all our sectors in North America, including, Buildings, Energy, Transportation, and Water.

We believe in empowering our people to excel, learn, and grow, offering diverse opportunities to contribute to career-defining work. Join us and be part of a collaborative environment where your ambitions are united with ours, and you can truly shape your story.

Mott MacDonald seeking a Senior Project Engineer with in Marine Structures to lead and deliver challenging waterfront infrastructure projects. This role focuses on structural design and project management for ports and coastal facilities in the Pacific Northwest. You will be part of a collaborative ports, coastal, and offshore (PCO) practice that develops and modernizes port infrastructure, improves coastal resiliency, and supports emerging markets like offshore wind. Key responsibilities include:

• Plan and conduct condition assessments of piers, wharves, dolphins, and other marine structures, and prepare detailed inspection reports. This includes evaluating timber, concrete, and steel components for integrity and remaining life.
• Lead the structural analysis and design of port and waterfront facilities – such as piers, wharves, dolphins, bulkheads, fender systems, and ferry terminals – in both rehabilitation and new construction projects. Develop design concepts, perform calculations (including seismic and fatigue analysis), and produce engineering drawings and specifications. Ensure designs meet applicable codes (ASCE, AASHTO, UFC, IBC, City Codes, etc.) and client standards.
• Manage marine infrastructure projects from planning through delivery, including scoping, scheduling, and budgeting. Track progress and costs, implement quality control, and regularly report to senior management. Coordinate multidisciplinary teams (geotechnical, coastal, electrical, etc.) and subconsultants to keep projects on schedule and within budget.
• Provide technical support during construction, including resolving design issues encountered in the field, reviewing submittals/RFIs, and performing site visits or field inspections to ensure compliance with design intent. Assist in developing contracting strategies and construction sequencing to minimize operational impacts.
• Work closely with clients such as port authorities and naval facilities to understand needs and deliver timely solutions. Ensure client satisfaction through clear communication and reliable execution. Assist in proposals and presentations for new work, leveraging your technical expertise and past project experience to win future projects.
• Supervise and mentor junior engineers and CAD designers, providing guidance in analysis methods, design practices, and professional growth. Lead by example in fostering a safe, inclusive, and innovative team environment. You will often serve as the technical lead or task manager, coordinating contributions from various disciplines.
• Prepare high-quality engineering documents including calculation packages, technical memos, design criteria, technical specifications, and cost estimates for project designs. Author and review structural design reports and studies (e.g., basis of design, feasibility studies) and ensure deliverables meet both internal and client quality standards.

Candidate Qualifications & Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil or Structural Engineering (master’s degree preferred). Active PE license in Washington or Oregon is required (or ability to obtain promptly); a Structural Engineer (SE) license is a plus.
• 8–12 years of progressive experience in structural engineering in waterfront structures, bridges, or building design. This may include design of port structures (wharves, pier substructures, bulkheads, mooring dolphins, etc.), and should include overseeing projects from concept through final design and construction. Should have experience writing technical specifications or special provisions and working with cost estimators to develop cost estimates. Experience in both rehabilitation and new design is valuable.
• Proficiency in structural analysis and design for marine environments. Strong knowledge of concrete and steel in marine applications, pile/foundation design, and seismic design of main force resisting systems. Familiarity with design codes and guidelines: e.g., ASCE 61 (Seismic Design of Piers/Wharves), PIANC, ASCE MOP 130, ACI/AISC, and NAVFAC criteria for waterfront facilities. Experience performing condition assessments (timber, concrete, steel) and designing structural retrofits is important.
• Experience with industry-standard structural software such as SAP2000, LPILE, RISA, MathCAD, and AutoCAD or Revit for drafting. Familiarity with project management tools (MS Project) and spreadsheet analysis. Finite element modeling experience for dynamic loads (wave, seismic) is a plus.
• Project Management & Leadership: Demonstrated ability to lead engineering tasks and small project teams. Skills in scope development, scheduling, budgeting, and risk management for projects are required. Proven success in delivering projects on time and on budget, managing change, and coordinating multidisciplinary inputs. Experience reporting to senior managers or clients on project status.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Ability to draft clear technical reports and specifications, and to present engineering concepts to clients or stakeholders. Experience collaborating directly with clients is highly desirable, as is experience supporting proposal efforts.
• While not required, it is preferred that a candidate has road understanding of port and coastal infrastructure challenges. Knowledge of terminal operations, pier utility systems, dredging and waterfront construction constraints will inform practical designs. Familiarity with emerging trends like Offshore Wind foundations or electrification of ports is a plus, as our projects increasingly intersect with renewable energy and sustainability goals.
• Self-motivated and proactive approach to problem-solving. Strong organizational skills and attention to detail (for complex engineering calculations and contract documents). Leadership qualities to mentor junior staff and foster teamwork. An interest in innovative engineering solutions and continuous learning in the marine sector.

Note: This position may require occasional travel to project sites (mostly regional Pacific Northwest). Typical projects involve working around marine environments – the candidate should be prepared for on-site inspections (sometimes at piers, docks, or aboard vessels) and coordination meetings at client facilities.

Our teams are comprised of bright and enthusiastic people who wish to make a difference to the world that we live in. If you share that vision and don’t have all the experience outlined in this posting, we still want to hear from you!

Let’s discuss how we can help you take the next step in your career and how you can participate in an exciting new chapter for Mott MacDonald in North America.

At Mott MacDonald, we provide a comprehensive benefit package that includes 401k, medical, dental and vision insurance, short-term/long-term disability, paid holidays, PTO, parental leave and company paid life insurance.

The expected salary for this position is $142,000- $173,000 for Washington.

Individual pay is determined based on several factors such as work location, education, experience, and unique skills.

Equal opportunity is the law.

We seek to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they have the opportunity to contribute.

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All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, protected veteran status, creed, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship status or disability status.

Hybrid working policy

At Mott MacDonald, we believe it makes business sense for you and your manager to choose how you can work most effectively to meet your client, team, and personal commitments. We offer a hybrid working policy that embraces your well-being, flexibility, and trust.