What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Civil Engineer/Technical Lead - Municipal Infrastructure position at ESP Associates?
ABOUT DITESCO
At Ditesco, an ESP Company, we don’t just manage projects – we deliver success. Based in Fort Collins, Colorado, we are a full-service engineering, program, project, and construction management firm dedicated to turning vision into reality. Since 2006, we’ve been the trusted partner bridging the gap between owners, engineers, architects, and contractors, ensuring seamless collaboration and exceptional results. From water and wastewater systems to transportation, utilities, municipal facilities, and fiber telecommunications, we drive infrastructure projects forward – on time, on budget, and beyond expectations.
POSITION DESCRIPTION
As a Senior Civil Engineer and Technical Lead at Ditesco, you will be the technical backbone of our civil municipal design practice across northern Colorado.
The Senior Civil Engineer / Technical Lead is a senior technical role responsible for the quality, accuracy, and constructability of Ditesco’s civil municipal design work. This position serves as the primary design reviewer for civil projects, providing independent quality control review of plans, specifications, calculations, and reports before they reach our clients. The Technical Lead also mentors and develops junior engineers, sharing technical knowledge and building the next generation of Ditesco’s engineering staff. This role works closely with project managers and the Division Manager to set design standards and ensure every deliverable meets Ditesco’s standard of excellence.
RESPONSIBILITIES
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Other duties may be assigned. Duties are varied in nature and include:
- Serve as the technical lead and senior design reviewer for civil municipal design projects, including water, sanitary sewer, storm drainage, roadway, and site/grading improvements.
- Perform and document independent quality control reviews of plans, specifications, calculations, reports, and cost estimates at each design milestone (e.g., 30%, 60%, 90%, and final).
- Verify that design deliverables comply with applicable municipal criteria manuals, state and federal regulations, and industry standards of care.
- Establish, maintain, and continuously improve design standards, checklists, CAD/drafting standards, and QA/QC procedures for the civil design group.
- Mentor, coach, and train junior and mid-level engineers and designers; provide technical guidance, constructive review feedback, and support for professional development and PE licensure.
- Provide technical direction to project teams on design approach, alternatives analysis, constructability, and value engineering.
- Stamp and seal engineering documents as Engineer of Record when assigned.
- Resolve complex technical issues and serve as the escalation point for design questions from project managers, clients, reviewing agencies, and contractors.
- Support construction phase services, including submittal and RFI review, design clarifications, and field problem-solving.
- Collaborate with project managers to develop scopes, level-of-effort estimates, and schedules for design work; support the technical content of proposals and interviews.
- Build and maintain professional relationships with municipal clients, reviewing agencies, and industry partners.
- Stay current with emerging design practices, software, and regulatory changes, and share that knowledge across the team.
- Comply with departmental and corporate internal controls, processes, and safety programs.
- Employ the highest ethical and business standards and always act in a professional manner with high integrity.
- Assist in the accomplishment of company objectives by performing other related duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering or a related degree from an accredited college or university.
- Registered Professional Engineer in the State of Colorado required.
- Minimum of 15 years of progressively responsible experience in civil engineering design, with emphasis in the following areas:
- Municipal infrastructure design for public agency clients
- Water distribution and transmission, sanitary sewer collection, and storm drainage systems
- Roadway, streetscape, pavement design, and site/grading design
- Pumped systems (water pump stations, sewer lift stations, etc.)
- Design QA/QC review and plan/specification preparation
- Demonstrated experience as a senior design reviewer or technical lead on multi-discipline civil projects.
- Proven ability to mentor, train, and develop engineering staff.
- Thorough knowledge of engineering principles, municipal design criteria, permitting requirements and compliance, and construction practices.
- Proficiency with civil design software (e.g., AutoCAD Civil 3D) and familiarity with hydraulic/hydrologic modeling tools.
- Ability to compile engineering data and statistics; evaluate and write technical reports.
- Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing, including presenting to clients, councils, and the public.
- Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, other agencies, clients, and the public.
- Ability to multi-task and provide review and oversight across multiple projects at one time.
- Candidate must be able to pass a drug screen, background check, and have a satisfactory driving record in accordance with the company’s driving (MVR) policy.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience with northern Colorado municipalities and their design criteria.
- Experience with water and wastewater treatment systems.
- Proficiency in ArcGIS.
- Construction phase services experience on municipal infrastructure projects.
- Experience developing or managing a formal design QA/QC program.
WHY WORK FOR DITESCO?
At Ditesco, we are committed to the customer experience; we focus on strong relationships, consistently provide high-quality service with unwritten value, and do whatever it takes to transform our communities. We achieve this by hiring the right people and investing in their growth and professional development, fostering long-term career opportunities and success.
Corporate Information:
ESP is a multi-discipline engineering design and consulting firm providing our clients with civil engineering, surveying, planning/landscape architecture, geosciences, environmental, subsurface utility engineering, and construction engineering inspection. Through years of dedicated service to our clients, ESP has received a designation of 186 on the 2026 ENR Top 500 Design Firm rankings. For the firm's primary territory, the ENR Texas & Southeast Top Design Firms, ESP received a 2026 ranking of 53.
ESP offers an excellent employee benefits package including:
- Competitive compensation with yearly performance reviews and discretionary annual bonuses
- 401(k) (Traditional & Roth plans) with a guaranteed employer match of 100% up to the first 3% and 50% on the next 2% (eligibility after 60 days)
- PTO (Paid Time Off) & 10 Paid Holidays
- VTO (Volunteer Time Off) of 4 hours each year (prorated during first year based on hire date)
- Tiered Health, Vision & Dental Insurance Options (eligibility after 30 days)
- Behavioral Medicine through Teladoc
- Short-Term Disability Insurance (Employer paid)
- Long-Term Disability Insurance
- Life Insurance
- Pet Insurance
- Education Reimbursement Opportunities
- Flexible and Dependent Benefits Plan
- Referral Bonuses
Salary : $145,000 - $175,000