Burns & McDonnell · 8 hours ago
Associate Water Resources Engineer - Mining (Multiple Locations)
Denver, CO
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level, Lead/Staff
$180K/yr - $300K/yr
13+ years expBurns & McDonnell is seeking a senior mine water management professional to serve as a technical and delivery-focused leader within our Environmental Services Global Practice. This role involves shaping mine water strategies and supporting mining clients across the full project lifecycle, while collaborating closely with various teams to deliver integrated solutions.
ArchitectureConstructionConsultingHuman Resources
Responsibilities
Provide senior technical leadership for mine water management planning and execution across the mining lifecycle, including permitting, operations, closure, and long-term water stewardship
Lead and oversee mine water management strategies and analyses, including water balance development, surface water and groundwater interaction, water quality characterization, treatment, reuse, and conservation approaches
Direct, review, and validate hydrologic, hydraulic, and hydrogeologic analyses, including watershed-scale evaluations, probabilistic and risk-informed assessments, and scenario-based modeling
Support the planning, evaluation, and design of mine water infrastructure, including ponds, impoundments, conveyance systems, treatment systems, and water control structures, with consideration for constructability, sequencing, and operational practicality
Participate in constructability reviews and integrated design efforts to ensure mine water solutions can be efficiently implemented and aligned with construction means, methods, and schedules
Serve as a senior technical interface with mining clients, participating in key meetings to explain technical concepts, evaluate alternatives, and guide sound decision-making
Support sales and business development efforts by contributing mine water expertise to client discussions, opportunity shaping, and pursuit strategies
Lead or contribute to the preparation of technical proposals, scopes of work, work plans, and execution approaches related to mine water management
Develop or support the development of cost estimates, schedules, and resource plans for mine water-related scopes, with consideration for construction complexity, risk, and lifecycle performance
Assist in identifying follow-on opportunities and expanding existing client relationships through high-quality technical delivery and trusted advisory support
Serve as a project manager or senior technical lead, as appropriate, for mine water-related projects, with responsibility for scope, schedule, budget, quality, safety, and client satisfaction
Manage project execution in alignment with financial performance goals, including monitoring labor, expenses, and overall project health
Collaborate closely with engineering and construction teams to integrate mine water considerations into broader project delivery strategies, including design-build and EPC delivery models where applicable
Partner with project teams to proactively identify and manage technical, regulatory, constructability, and execution risks throughout project delivery
Lead or oversee the development and application of mine water balance models using spreadsheet-based tools and advanced simulation platforms, as appropriate for project complexity
Apply statistical, probabilistic, and uncertainty-based analyses to inform risk assessments, design criteria, and long-term water management decisions
Integrate climate variability, extreme events, and long-term closure considerations into mine water strategies and technical evaluations
Translate complex technical analyses into clear, defensible recommendations to support client, regulatory, and internal decision-making
Mentor and technically develop engineers and scientists within Environmental Services, providing guidance, review, and coaching on mine water-related analyses, design, and project execution
Support the growth of junior and mid-career staff by sharing technical knowledge, practical judgment, and lessons learned from project delivery
Contribute to the development and refinement of internal tools, standards, and best practices for mine water management and integrated delivery
Support recruiting and onboarding efforts by helping evaluate and integrate new mine water talent into the practice
Collaborate closely with environmental permitting, remediation, engineering, and construction teams to deliver integrated mine water solutions that balance technical rigor, constructability, cost, and long-term performance
Work in partnership with project managers, discipline leads, and business development professionals to align technical execution with client objectives and business outcomes
Participate in internal knowledge sharing, technical forums, and lessons-learned discussions to continuously improve mine water services
All other duties, as assigned
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree in civil, environmental, chemical, or mechanical engineering, or related engineering degree from an accredited program
13 years of progressive experience in mine water management, water resources, hydrogeology, or closely related fields, with direct application to mining projects
Demonstrated experience with mine water balance development, surface water and/or groundwater modeling, and interpretation of hydrologic and hydrogeologic data
Experience interfacing directly with clients and supporting proposal development, scoping, and cost estimating for mine water-related work
Demonstrated ability to manage or support projects with accountability for scope, schedule, budget, and financial performance
Experience supporting projects through design and into construction, including participation in constructability reviews or coordination with construction teams
Strong technical writing and communication skills, with the ability to explain complex analyses clearly to technical and non-technical audiences
Proven ability to work collaboratively on multidisciplinary teams and provide senior-level technical judgment
Preferred
Master's degree in a relevant technical discipline
Professional licensure (PE, PG) or ability to obtain
Experience supporting mine permitting, operations, closure, and reclamation from a water management perspective
Familiarity with industry-standard modeling and analysis tools (e.g., GoldSim, HEC-HMS, HEC-RAS, MODFLOW, or similar platforms)
Experience applying probabilistic, risk-informed, or uncertainty-based approaches to water management decision-making
Experience mentoring staff and contributing to the development of technical teams and practices
Background in mine closure planning, tailings-related water considerations, or long-term water stewardship strategies
Benefits
Insurance and disability
Time off and wellness programs
Paid sick leave entitlements provided under the Colorado Healthy Families and Workplaces Act (HFWA)
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
401(k) retirement program
Company
Burns & McDonnell
Burns & McDonnell is an engineering design firm and it provides engineering, architecture, construction, and consulting services.
10001+ employees
H1B Sponsorship
Burns & McDonnell has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
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Funding
Current Stage
Late StageLeadership Team
Leslie Duke
Chief Executive Officer
Alissa Schuessler
Chief Financial Officer
Recent News
Missouri Business Alert
2025-11-07
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