Principal Marine Structures Engineer

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 delivering exceptional outcomes through our network of 20,000+ talented consultants. With sustainability and innovation at the heart of our work in North America—including Buildings, Energy, Transportation, and Water—we empower our people to excel, learn, and grow, offering diverse opportunities to contribute to career-defining projects.

About the role

We are seeking a Principal Marine Structures Engineer to be located in the Washington DC area to lead the delivery and growth of complex federal waterfront and coastal infrastructure programs. This high-impact leadership role focuses on Design-Build delivery, federal client engagement, and technical excellence, with responsibility for major marine infrastructure programs and a strong pipeline of federal and public-sector opportunities. You will play a critical role in securing and delivering projects typically valued in excess of $100M–$300M+, while strengthening relationships with key federal agencies and delivery partners.

Responsibilities

• Lead the planning, design, and delivery of major marine and coastal infrastructure projects, including seawalls, waterfront structures, flood protection, and resilience works
• Serve as Design Manager and/or Engineer of Record (EOR) on large-scale, complex programs
• Provide technical leadership in the development of marine structural, waterfront infrastructure, coastal protection, and resiliency solutions—conceptualization, design, specifications, cost estimates, tender packages, and technical reports
• Act as a primary client interface with federal, state, and local agencies
• Lead Design-Build and Progressive Design-Build pursuits and delivery
• Ensure compliance with federal design standards, permitting requirements, and QA/QC processes
• Support federal pursuits and capture strategy, including scope and proposal development, SF330 submissions (Sections E, F, and G), and coordination of past performance and key personnel narratives
• Manage and coordinate multi-disciplinary teams
• Drive delivery excellence across schedule, budget, and risk management

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil or Structural Engineering (Master’s preferred)
• Professional Engineer (PE) license
• 15+ years of experience in marine/coastal structural engineering
• Proven experience delivering large-scale marine infrastructure projects ($100M+)
• Experience delivering projects for federal agencies such as USACE, NAVFAC, or National Park Service
• Familiarity with federal design and construction standards (e.g., USACE EM, UFC, or similar)
• Experience preparing or contributing to SF330 submissions, including project descriptions, organization charts, and key personnel resumes
• Experience working in highly regulated environments and multi-agency coordination
• Strong experience in Design-Build / Progressive Design-Build delivery
• Experience performing inspections and condition assessment of waterfront infrastructure
• Experience in construction engineering activities related to administration and review of contractor submittals

Skills

• Expertise in marine structures such as seawalls, bulkheads, piers, and waterfront systems
• Experience with structural analysis software such as SAP2000, STAAD, LPILE, CWALSH, DeepEX
• Knowledge of coastal resilience, flood protection, or shoreline stabilization practices and applications

Benefits

• Employee ownership with personal and group performance bonuses
• Comprehensive benefits package including 401k, medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Short-term/long-term disability coverage
• Paid holidays, PTO, and parental leave
• Company-paid life insurance

Pay

The expected salary for this position is $168,000 - $205,000.

Schedule

This is a full-time, hybrid role requiring a minimum of three days per week in the Arlington, VA office.