Washington Group International wants to hire up to 200 people for its Denver office as part of a nationwide campaign to hire more than 1,000 engineers and related staff.

"We are seeing the strongest markets in our industry in at least 30 years," Stephen Hanks, CEO of the Boise, Idaho-based engineering and construction company, said in a news release.

He said the company expects to bring in $4.8 billion to $5.2 billion of new work in 2007.

"Opportunities are particularly strong in our power, oil and gas, industrial, and mining segments," Hanks added.

Spokesman Jerry Holloway said a "significant portion" of the new jobs are for engineers, notably structural and mechanical engineers. The company also wants to beef up its support staff.

With offices in the Denver Tech Center, Washington Group International employs about 800 locally. The Denver office serves as the headquarters for the company’s mining business unit.

Washington Group International plans to hold an open house on March 14, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in the Denver Tech Center. The company said job candidates should bring a current resume.

Information on job openings also is available at www.wgint.com/careers.