Juan Pablo Callejas Morales
Civil Engineer - Hydraulic Resources Specialist
Lisbon,11
Summary
I am a Civil Engineer with a Master of Science in Engineering, specializing in Water Resources and Environmental Engineering. I have over six years of experience in hydraulic and hydrological modelling, water resources management, water infrastructure diagnostics, stormwater system design, applied hydrogeology for the development of new water sources, and the preparation of River Management Plans. My work is based on the integration of advanced computational tools for modelling and data processing, including HEC-RAS (1D/2D), SWMM, EPANET, IBER 2D, MODFLOW, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) such as QGIS and ArcGIS, with a strong focus on sustainability, environmental regulations, and integrated water resources management. I am currently collaborating as a Hydraulic–Hydrological Engineer with the Wetlands Center of the Austral University of Chile (CEHUM) on the Curanilahue River Management Plan project, which assesses and proposes strategies to enhance channel sustainability through nature-based solutions and the incorporation of climate change considerations.
Overview
6
6
years of professional experience
2
2
Languages
Work History
Principal Hydrulic Civil Engiineer
CENTRO DE HUMEDALES RÍO CRUCES - CEHUM
07.2025 - Current
- Lead development and documentation of technical methodologies for Chile’s first wetland conservation-focused river management project, integrating climate change considerations and nature-based solutions.
- Preparation of terms of reference and oversight of topographic and bathymetric surveys, including LiDAR flights, geodetic networks, and cross-section acquisition, ensuring high-resolution input data for hydraulic modelling.
- Development of hydrological studies incorporating Global Climate Models (GCMs) to define design storms and generate design hyetographs for future hydraulic structures, using R for climate scenario processing and HEC-HMS for detailed, hourly-calibrated hydrological modelling.
- Definition and calibration of HEC-RAS 1D/2D hydraulic models to assess flood risk, erosion processes, and scour, using both traditional hydraulic performance indicators and innovative citizen-participation methodologies (Critical Success Index, CSI) to validate flood extents and enhance model reliability.
Conceptual design of channel management and hydraulic interventions with emphasis on nature-based solutions, wetland conservation, and ecosystem sustainability, ensuring alignment of interventions with the landscape and environmental regulations. - Technical field inspections for evaluation of channel morphology, landscape dynamics, and ecological sensitivities, supporting the adaptation of engineering solutions to wetland environments.
- Coordination of multi-disciplinary inputs and integration of diverse datasets (hydrology, topography, bathymetry, climate projections) into a coherent, implementable project framework.
- Advanced use of Python, R, QGIS, HEC-RAS, HEC-HMS, AutoCAD, and other engineering software for modelling, analysis, and visualization of flood hazards and sustainable hydraulic interventions.
Hydraulic Engineer - Intermediate Hydrologist
WOOD
12.2024 - 07.2025
- Development and review of Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDS) for major metropolitan transport projects, incorporating infiltration-based solutions, stormwater conveyance and pumping systems to control runoff, enhance groundwater recharge and reduce downstream impacts.
- Hydraulic and hydrological modelling using HEC-RAS 1D/2D, SWMM and EPANET for flood risk assessment, resilient infrastructure design and analysis of interactions between built infrastructure and surface water systems.
- Support to river and irrigation canal modification projects through field assessments, hydraulic modelling, risk evaluation and regulatory submissions, with attention to flow regimes and ecosystem protection.
- Design and verification of potable water and wastewater systems for technical facilities, managing utility feasibility processes and ensuring operational sustainability.
- Contribution to large-scale water infrastructure engineering (long-distance conveyance, storage, pumping and energy dissipation systems) at conceptual and basic design stages, focused on water resource efficiency and hydraulic safety.
- Application of geotechnical–hydrological integration to infiltration-based and nature-based stormwater solutions.
- Technical coordination within multidisciplinary teams and supervision of hydraulic drafting activities to deliver complex infrastructure projects.
- Advanced use of GIS, hydraulic software and BIM platforms for spatial analysis, modelling and project coordination.
Water Resources Infrastructure Engineer
ESVAL Y AGUAS DEL VALLE
08.2022 - 12.2024
- Management of a diverse portfolio of short- and long-term water resources infrastructure projects, including groundwater development, well rehabilitation, source protection, and strategic supply planning under prolonged drought conditions.
- Development of conceptual engineering for new water supply sources, integrating hydrogeological analysis, water quality considerations, pumping systems, and operational feasibility.
- Assessment of groundwater availability through hydrogeological interpretation, geophysical surveys, numerical modelling (MODFLOW), and management of water rights, ensuring sustainable abstraction and compliance with Chile’s unique water tenure system.
- Design and implementation of internal methodologies to evaluate groundwater–wetland interactions, ensuring compliance with environmental regulations and protection of urban wetlands and sensitive ecosystems.
- Application of GIS, data analysis, and modelling tools (QGIS, Python, Excel) to assess aquifer recharge, drawdown impacts, saline intrusion risks, and long-term water resource sustainability.
- Close collaboration with environmental teams to develop nature-based and low-impact water treatment and recharge approaches, including the use of constructed wetlands and biological treatment systems.
- Technical coordination across operational, legal, risk, hydraulic modelling, environmental, financial, and construction departments to deliver integrated, compliant, and cost-effective projects.
- Leadership in technical reviews and presentations to multidisciplinary technical and executive committees, translating complex hydrogeological and environmental analyses into clear decision-making frameworks.
- Execution of field investigations to validate hydrogeological conditions, infrastructure feasibility, and environmental constraints.
Hydraulic Project Engineer
ARRAU INGENIERÍA
11.2019 - 03.2022
- Development of large-scale stormwater master plans for multiple cities, including full infrastructure inventories (drainage networks, channels, infiltration systems and surveyed watercourses) and integrated hydrological–hydraulic analysis at basin and urban scales.
- Construction and calibration of city-wide SWMM models using GIS-based workflows (QGIS, Giswater, PostgreSQL) to efficiently assemble and manage complex drainage systems.
- Hydraulic diagnostics to identify flood-prone areas and system bottlenecks, incorporating field validation and inputs from public participation processes to prioritise risk reduction measures.
- Design and assessment of drainage improvement strategies with strong emphasis on nature-based solutions, ensuring environmental compatibility, particularly in protected wetland areas.
- Field campaigns to verify existing infrastructure, flood extents and feasibility of proposed interventions.
Preparation of hydrological and hydraulic studies and technical reports supporting engineering decision-making. - Coordination with drafting and environmental teams to resolve technical interferences and ensure constructible, environmentally coherent solutions across conceptual, basic and detailed design stages.
- Hydraulic modelling of open channels and natural watercourses using HEC-RAS to define flood surfaces and support risk management planning.
Education
Master of Science - Engineering Sciences – Water Resources
UNIVERSIDAD DIEGO PORTALES
Santiago De Chile 04.2001 -
Civil Engineering Degree - Civil Engineering
UNIVERSIDAD DIEGO PORTALES
Santiago De Chile 04.2001 -
Post-Graduate Certificate - Water Resources
Universidad De Chile
Santiago De Chile 04.2001 -
Post-Graduate Certificate - Hydrogeology
Geological And Mining Institute of Spain (IGME/CSIC-AECID)
España - Bolivia (Online) 04.2001 -
Skills
Hydraulic and hydrologic modeling (HEC-RAS, HEC-HMS), GIS, Python, Excel, project management
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Specialist (QGIS, ArcMap, BASINS, Google Earth)
Basic Hydrogeology and Numerical Groundwater Modelling (WEAP–MODFLOW)
Project Supervision and Management
Effective Communication and Leadership
Problem Solving and Negotiation
Timeline
Principal Hydrulic Civil Engiineer
CENTRO DE HUMEDALES RÍO CRUCES - CEHUM
07.2025 - Current
Hydraulic Engineer - Intermediate Hydrologist
WOOD
12.2024 - 07.2025
Water Resources Infrastructure Engineer
ESVAL Y AGUAS DEL VALLE
08.2022 - 12.2024
Hydraulic Project Engineer
ARRAU INGENIERÍA
11.2019 - 03.2022
Master of Science - Engineering Sciences – Water Resources
UNIVERSIDAD DIEGO PORTALES
04.2001 -
Civil Engineering Degree - Civil Engineering
UNIVERSIDAD DIEGO PORTALES
04.2001 -
Post-Graduate Certificate - Water Resources
Universidad De Chile
04.2001 -
Post-Graduate Certificate - Hydrogeology
Geological And Mining Institute of Spain (IGME/CSIC-AECID)
04.2001 -