Assistant Vice President, Plumbing Engineer - Buildings

This Opportunity

WSP is currently initiating a search for an Assistant Vice President, Plumbing Engineer for our San Francisco, CA office. This leadership role serves as a key technical and project delivery resource within our Property & Buildings practice, supporting the planning, design, and execution of complex building projects across multiple market sectors including commercial, healthcare, higher education, science & technology, civic, and mixed-use developments.

The selected candidate will be responsible for providing technical leadership, mentoring engineering staff, managing project delivery, and contributing to business development efforts. This position offers the opportunity to work with multidisciplinary teams on high-profile projects throughout California and across the United States while helping grow WSP's Plumbing Engineering practice.

Be involved in projects with our Property & Buildings Team and be a part of a growing organization that meets our clients' objectives and solves their challenges.

Your Impact

• Serve as a technical lead for plumbing system design on large, complex building projects.
• Lead the planning, design, and specification of plumbing systems and piping, including storm drainage, domestic water, sanitary waste and vent, natural gas, medical gases, and specialty systems.
• Oversee project delivery efforts, including technical quality, schedule, budget, and client satisfaction.
• Develop construction documents, engineering calculations, reports, specifications, and studies.
• Perform and oversee plumbing engineering analyses, hydraulic calculations, water demand calculations, and code compliance reviews.
• Coordinate with architects, structural engineers, mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, fire protection engineers, contractors, and owners throughout all project phases.
• Lead multidisciplinary project teams and provide technical guidance to engineers, designers, and BIM staff.
• Participate in QA/QC reviews and ensure compliance with WSP quality standards.
• Support project pursuits, proposal preparation, fee development, and client presentations.
• Build and maintain strong client relationships while identifying opportunities for additional services.
• Collaborate with local and national Property & Buildings leadership to support strategic growth initiatives.
• Mentor and develop junior and mid-level plumbing engineers.
• Remain current with emerging technologies, sustainability initiatives, and evolving plumbing codes and design practices.
• Exercise responsible and ethical decision-making regarding company funds, resources, and conduct and adhere to WSP’s Code of Conduct and related policies and procedures.

Who You Are

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical or closely related engineering discipline.
• 10+ years of relevant post-education experience in plumbing engineering and building systems design.
• Strong knowledge of plumbing engineering principles, building codes, regulations, and industry best practices.
• Significant experience designing plumbing systems for large commercial, healthcare, higher education, laboratory, mission-critical, or mixed-use facilities.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary project teams and managing project budgets and schedules.
• Proficiency with Revit, AutoCAD, Bluebeam, and related engineering design tools.
• Strong understanding of California Plumbing Code (CPC), California Building Code (CBC), and applicable federal regulations.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and client management skills.
• Ability to mentor staff and effectively lead technical teams.
• Proven experience delivering projects through all phases from concept through construction administration.

Preferred Qualifications

• Registered PE in California or ability to obtain California licensure through reciprocity.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license.
• LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP) 
• Experience with sustainable design, water conservation strategies, and decarbonization initiatives.
• Experience serving healthcare, higher education, science & technology, and commercial building clients.
• Demonstrated business development and client relationship management experience.
• Prior experience managing discipline-specific project revenue and contributing to practice growth.

WSP Benefits:  

WSP provides a comprehensive suite of benefits focused on a providing health and financial stability throughout the employee’s career. These benefits include coverage related to medical, dental, vision, disability, and life; retirement savings; paid sick leave; paid vacation (or other personal time); paid parental leave; and paid time off for purposes of bereavement, voting, and/or attendance at naturalization proceedings.  

Compensation: 

Expected Salary (all locations): $143,600 - $213,200 

WSP USA is providing the compensation range that the company in good faith believes it might pay and offer for this position, based on the successful applicant’s education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities in addition to internal equity and specific geographic location. WSP USA reserves the right to ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and offer additional benefits and other compensation, depending on circumstances not related to an applicant’s sex or other status protected by local, state, and/or federal law.

#LI-JM1