Following last week’s look at an opening for a Staff Architect at Greater Indy Habitat for Humanity, we are using this week’s edition of our Job Highlights series to explore an open role on Archinect Jobs for an Architect at the US Bureau of Reclamation.

The role, based in Denver, CO, calls for an individual to “make a difference in the West by assisting in meeting increasing water demands while protecting the environment.” Among the responsibilities for the position, which requires a degree in architecture or a related field, will be developing designs for typologies such as hydroelectric powerplants, pump stations, and water and wastewater and treatment facilities.

Why the role interests us

The open role at the US Bureau of Reclamation offers us the opportunity to explore the role of a federal body responsible for the development of water infrastructure in the United States. Established in 1902, the bureau has constructed over 600 dams and reservoirs in the western United States, making it the largest wholesaler of water and the second-largest producer of hydroelectric power in the United States.

“Our mission is to manage, develop, and protect water and related resources in an environmentally and economically sound manner in the interest of the American public,” the bureau says about its role. “We place great emphasis on fulfilling our water delivery obligations, water conservation, water recycling and reuse, and developing partnerships with our customers, states, and Native American Tribes. We also find ways to bring together various interests to address the competing needs for limited water resources.”

The topic of water infrastructure in the western United States is one that has generated several editorial pieces on Archinect in recent years. Last year, we covered a report that San Francisco is at dire risk of flooding without water infrastructure upgrades while highlighting how the country was about to begin its largest dam removal project in history on the Klamath River in Oregon and California.

Elsewhere, California announced that it would build solar panels over canals following research from the University of California Santa Cruz and UC Merced, while the late writer Mike Davis reflected on the slow-motion ecological demise of the state, including increased water shortages and droughts. Also in 2022, California unveiled a water security strategy to prevent a predicted 10% loss in supply by 2040.

Further reading for interested candidates

• San Francisco is at dire risk for flooding without water infrastructure upgrades, according to a new report (July 2023)
• San Diego engineering firm seeks an architect to help its clean water initiatives (May 2023)
• The U.S. is about to begin the largest dam removal project in history (March 2023)
• 'Despair is useless': Mike Davis reflects on California, the climate crisis, life, and legacy as he faces his own mortality (September 2022)
• California unveils water security strategy to prevent 10% loss in supply by 2040 (August 2022)
• China is building a massive new hydroelectric dam with AI-controlled robots and 3D printing technology (May 2022)
• California to build solar panels over canals following UC graduate’s research (February 2022)
• The Architect's Power in Tomorrow's Energy Infrastructure (October 2021)
• Archinect’s ongoing coverage of water infrastructure
• US Bureau of Reclamation’s Archinect profile
• Archinect Tips: Employment Edition

Job Highlights is one of a number of ongoing weekly series showcasing the opportunities available on our industry-leading job board. Our Meet Your Next Employer series profiles and interviews interesting studios with open positions currently available on Archinect Jobs, while our weekly roundups curate job opportunities by location, career level, and job description.