Dam Safety Specialist

Job Description

AECOM is searching for a Dam Safety Specialist to be based in our Burnaby, BC office. The ideal successful candidate will have a minimum of one year of experience working on dam projects and a general understanding of dam safety.

In this newly created role, they will be expected to work successfully within a team environment and be able to communicate effectively with other project team members and clients. They will have a high level of initiative, motivation, and display drive, energy, and enthusiasm for getting things done! The successful candidate will be expected to support the delivery of dam safety reviews mostly to municipal, provincial and mining sectors clients.

The responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to:

• Assist with dam safety inspections (DSIs), dam safety reviews (DSRs), and condition assessments for embankment and concrete dams, tailings-retaining structures, water resource dams, and hydraulic structures.
• Support geotechnical investigations including drilling programs, borehole logging, instrumentation installation, soils/rock sampling, and field testing.
• Participate in field reviews, construction QA/QC, site monitoring, and dam surveillance activities.
• Conduct engineering analyses under supervision, including seepage and slope stability analyses, settlement and deformation assessments, and earthworks and foundation evaluations.
• Assist with preparation of technical reports summarizing findings and recommendations, proposals (technical and financial), drawings, specifications, design memoranda, and risk assessment documentation.
• Support instrumentation and dam safety monitoring programs and interpretation of piezometer, inclinometer, survey data, etc.
• Coordinate with multidisciplinary teams including civil, hydrotechnical, geological, mining, and environmental engineers.
• Assist with development of dam safety management plans, OMS manuals, dam emergency plans (EPPs and ERPs), and risk registers.
• Support project management tasks including scheduling, budgeting, tracking, and client coordination.
• Participate in site travel and field assignments throughout BC and Canada, often in remote or mining locations.

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Geotechnical, Geological, Civil, or Mining Engineering, with geotechnical specialization, or demonstrated equivalency of experience and/or education.
• Minimum two years of relevant experience in civil, geotechnical, hydrotechnical, mining, tailings, or dam-related projects.
• Valid Class 5 BC driver’s license.
• Ability to travel to remote sites and work in field conditions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Registered as an Engineer-in-Training, or eligible for EIT registration with Engineers and Geoscientists BC.
• Progression toward P.Eng. designation is strongly preferred.
• Master’s degree in Geotechnical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Mining Engineering, or related discipline is considered an asset.
• Minimum one year of experience supporting dam safety projects, dam inspections, dam reviews, dam assessments, tailings facilities, water-retaining structures, or related geotechnical/hydrotechnical work.
• Experience supporting dam safety inspections, dam safety reviews, or condition assessments, including preparation of draft reports, inspection summaries, deficiencies, recommendations, and supporting documentation.
• Field experience with geotechnical investigations, including drilling coordination, borehole/testhole logging, soil and rock sampling, in-situ testing, test pitting, groundwater/seepage observations, and laboratory testing programs.
• Familiarity with CDA Dam Safety Guidelines, BC Dam Safety Regulation, Ontario dam safety procedures, or other provincial dam safety requirements is considered a strong asset.
• Experience with slope stability, seepage, settlement, deformation, foundation recommendations, earthworks, or geotechnical design evaluations.
• Exposure to dams, reservoirs, embankments, concrete dams, tailings storage facilities, hydraulic structures, culverts, mining infrastructure, or remote project sites.
• Experience supporting construction QA/QC, field reviews, dam surveillance, instrumentation monitoring, or construction documentation.
• Experience preparing technical memoranda, geotechnical reports, dam safety reports, proposals, cost estimates, work plans, drawings, or specifications.

Preferred Technical Skills

• Basic understanding of soil mechanics, rock mechanics, earthfill and tailings dams, groundwater and seepage behaviour, and geotechnical design principles.
• Familiarity with geotechnical software such as GeoStudio SLOPE/W and SEEP/W, PLAXIS, Rocscience Slide2/RS2, FLAC, gINT/OpenGround, AutoCAD, Civil 3D, GIS, and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Ability to interpret field and laboratory geotechnical data, instrumentation data, piezometer/inclinometer readings, survey data, and field inspection observations.
• Strong technical writing, communication, organization, and coordination skills, with the ability to work with senior engineers, subcontractors, field teams, and multidisciplinary project teams.
• Understanding of dam safety practices, risk-informed engineering principles, and field safety requirements.

Additional Information

• Relocation is not available for this position.
• Sponsorship for Canadian employment authorization is not available for this position.

At AECOM, we are committed to maintaining a secure and trustworthy recruitment process and take any fraudulent hiring activity seriously. To support this commitment, all newly hired employees are required to attend an in-person Day 1 onboarding at an AECOM office location as a condition of employment.

About AECOM

AECOM is proud to offer comprehensive benefits to meet the diverse needs of our employees. Depending on your employment status, AECOM benefits may include medical, dental, vision, life, AD&D, disability benefits, paid time off, leaves of absences, voluntary benefits, perks, flexible work options, well-being resources, employee assistance program, business travel insurance, service recognition awards, retirement savings plan, and employee stock purchase plan.

AECOM is the global infrastructure leader, committed to delivering a better world. As a trusted professional services firm powered by deep technical abilities, we solve our clients’ complex challenges in water, environment, energy, transportation and buildings. Our teams partner with public- and private-sector clients to create innovative, sustainable and resilient solutions throughout the project lifecycle – from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm that had revenue of $16.1 billion in fiscal year 2025. Learn more at aecom.com.

What makes AECOM a great place to work

You will be part of a global team that champions your growth and career ambitions. Work on groundbreaking projects - both in your local community and on a global scale - that are transforming our industry and shaping the future. With cutting-edge technology and a network of experts, you’ll have the resources to make a real impact. Our award-winning training and development programs are designed to expand your technical expertise and leadership skills, helping you build the career you’ve always envisioned. Here, you’ll find a welcoming workplace built on respect, collaboration and community - where you have the freedom to grow in a world of opportunity.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in your potential and are here to help you achieve it. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines. Artificial intelligence will be used to support the screening, assessment, and selection of applicants for this role. Final hiring decisions are made by the hiring team.