Structural FEA Specialist

• Legal Entity: AECOM Technical Services Inc
• Business Line:
  Water
• Work Location Model:
  Hybrid
• Primary
  
  Location:
  
  US - Germantown, MD - 12420 Mileston
• Compensation: USD 115,000 - USD 150,000 - yearly

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AECOM is seeking a candidate to work as part of our East Region Dams Practice located in our Germantown, Maryland office as a Structural Finite Element Analysis (FEA) Specialist in our Dam and Hydraulic Structures Team. This position will support a variety Dam and Hydraulic Structures Engineering projects across the East Region. The successful candidate will join the ENR consistently ranked #1 Dams and Reservoirs firm and have access to exciting career advancement opportunities.

We are seeking a Structural Finite Element Analysis (FEA) Specialist with experience in dams and hydraulic structures to support the evaluation, design, and rehabilitation of critical water infrastructure. This role focuses on advanced numerical modeling of concrete, embankment, and foundation systems under complex loading conditions including hydrostatic, uplift, thermal, and seismic effects.

The ideal candidate brings strong analytical capabilities, practical dam engineering experience, and the ability to translate complex analysis results into clear, defensible engineering decisions.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and maintain 2D and 3D finite element models for dams, spillways, outlet works, and associated structures.
• Perform linear and nonlinear analyses including Hydrostatic and uplift loading, Thermal loading and mass concrete behavior, Seismic loading (including response spectrum and time-history) and Soil-structure and fluid-structure interaction (as applicable)
• Evaluate structural response including cracking, stress distribution, deformation, sliding stability, and foundation behavior.
• Interpret material data and instrumentation trends to inform modeling assumptions and validate results.
• Perform sensitivity studies on key parameters (mesh size, uplift assumptions, drainage effectiveness, foundation stiffness, etc.).
• Communicate with multi-disciplinary teams on various projects related to dams and other hydraulic structures.
• Prepare technical memoranda, design calculations and reports suitable for regulatory and client review.
• Support dam safety inspections, risk assessments, and forensic evaluations
• Perform detail checks and quality reviews of other engineer's work.
• Lead and mentor junior staff.

• BA/BS in Civil Engineering with emphasis in Structural Engineering + 4years of related experienceor demonstrated equivalency of experience and/or education.
• Experience with dam or hydraulic structures projects.
• Strong understanding of concrete behavior, uplift, stability of concrete hydraulic structures.
• Strong understanding of FEA including modeling techniques that include linear and nonlinear properties, boundary conditions, etc.
• Proficiency in FEA software (e.g., ABAQUS, ANSYS, LS-DYNA or Similar). Ability to use experience and quickly learn ANSYS.
• Experience with soil-structure interaction modeling.
• Ability to critically evaluate and validate modeling assumptions and results (not just run software)
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Valid U.S. Driver’s License and as a condition of…