Staff Civil Engineer

Schnabel is an employee-owned, professional engineering and consulting firm that focuses on solving problems related to the earth and environment through specialization in geotechnical, geostructural, tunnel, and dam engineering. Schnabel’s high standards for quality, business ethics, and concern for the communities in which we live are a vital part of who we are. Schnabel is an ENR Top 500 Design Firm with 700+ employees in 31 offices throughout the United States.

Recognized by CE News as one of the Best Engineering Firms to Work for, Schnabel provides employees with a competitive benefits package including maternity leave, tuition reimbursement for continuing education, health, dental, life and disability insurance and a wellness program. As an employee-owned company, through the Employee Stock Ownership Plan, Schnabel employees directly benefit from the success of our growing firm.

Benefit options include:

• Medical insurance


• Dental insurance


• Flexible spending accounts


• Employee life & ADD insurance (100% company-paid)


• Short-term disability (100% company-paid)


• Long-term disability


• Supplemental life insurance


• 401(k) and profit-sharing plan


• Employee stock ownership plan (ESOP)


• Bonus program


• Paid time off


• 9 Paid Holidays


• Wellness program


• Professional development and tuition reimbursement

Job Description:

Are you looking for interesting and meaningful work, a fun atmosphere, and opportunities to learn, grow, and excel? If so, then welcome to Schnabel! We approach problems with creativity and innovation.  Our Helena, Montana office is seeking a civil engineer to support our engineering group. We are looking for a motivated candidate with attention to detail, a passion to continue to develop as a professional, and a desire to be part of a strong multi-disciplinary team. 

The Helena office of Schnabel focuses on the evaluation and design of dams, structures, and facilities within our dams engineering group. Example projects include the evaluation and design of dams, fish hatcheries, surface water intakes, pump stations, outlet works, pipelines, and fabricated gates and valves for projects located across the United States.

Candidates must submit a cover letter describing why they are interested in working at Schnabel and believe they are a good fit for this role.

Job Responsibilities:

• Analyze and design components related to water infrastructure, including gates, valves, bulkheads, pipelines, pumps, steel fabrications, reinforced concrete, geotechnical evaluations, and hydrologic analysis.


• Perform inspections of dams and hydraulic structures and collect data and measurements in the field.


• Develop engineering recommendations and write technical reports.


• Assist in the preparation of complete engineering plans and specifications to be part of construction documents.


• Prepare 2D design drawings using AutoCAD.


• Prepare 3D design models and drawings using AutoCAD Civil 3D & Autodesk Revit.


• Prepare engineer’s estimate of probable construction costs.


• Perform construction inspection with opportunities for longer-term field assignments.


• Work as a team member within the local office and across other Schnabel offices to effectively balance workload among available resources.

Required Skills/Experience:

• 0-5 years of design- and/or construction-oriented consulting engineering experience.


• A Bachelor's degree focused in civil engineering, from an ABET-accredited institution is required.


• A master's degree in civil or structural engineering is preferred but not required.


• Successful completion of the EIT and future ability to become a Licensed Professional Engineer.


• Ability to lift 60 pounds and be physically able to negotiate construction sites, enter trenches, climb ladders, and work outside.


• Willingness and ability to perform field work and travel.  There is an opportunity for field inspection assignments associated with this opening for candidates with relevant qualifications.


• Experience and interest with the following types of projects:




• Dams


• Hydropower plants


• Pump stations


• Intakes


• Fish hatcheries


• Large diameter pipelines and appurtenances


• Machine design


• Fabricated steel structures




• Proficiency with the latest version of AutoCAD & AutoCAD Civil 3D (preferred).


• Experience authoring calculations to solve engineering problems in both MathCAD and Excel.


• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work independently or as part of a team.


• Strong technical writing ability.


• Have a positive attitude and work well in a team environment.


• A strong work ethic and the desire to perform professionally at a high level.

Other Requirements:

• Candidates must submit a cover letter describing why they are interested in working at Schnabel and believe they are a good fit for this role.


• Successful completion of background checks, including criminal history, motor vehicle records, and credit checks.


• Ability to pass pre-employment screenings, including drug screening.

The compensation range for this position is between $57,200 to $86,000. Compensation for this position may vary based on geographic location and other factors. We remain committed to providing competitive and equitable compensation to all employees, regardless of their location.