Join to apply for the Central / West Tunnel Practice Lead role at HDR
At HDR, our employee-owners are fully engaged in creating a welcoming environment where each of us is valued and respected, a place where everyone is empowered to bring their authentic selves and novel ideas to work every day. As we foster a culture of inclusion throughout our company and within our communities, we constantly ask ourselves : What is our impact on the world?
Watch Our Story : https : / / www.hdrinc.com / our-story
Each and every role throughout our organization makes a difference in our ability to change the world for the better. Read further to learn how you could help make great things possible not only in your community, but around the world.
We believe water is more than a resource, it's a shared responsibility. As part of our Water Business Group, you'll help shape how communities manage water for generations to come. From delivering safe drinking water and treating wastewater responsibly to developing sustainable water supplies and protecting lives and property through flood control, your work will directly support public health, environmental sustainability, and infrastructure resilience. We bring together experts across disciplines to solve complex challenges with bold thinking and technical excellence. Whether you're modernizing aging systems or pioneering innovative approaches, your contributions will make a meaningful difference in people's lives. This isn't just a job, it's a chance to lead change, drive progress, and leave a lasting legacy.
This is a key leadership role that functions in partnership with some of the best and brightest water professionals in the industry. The role focuses on hydraulic tunnel engineering and leads some of the largest and most significant infrastructure projects in the Central and West Regions.
The Central / West Tunnel Practice Lead is a professional that is well versed in all aspects of services for trenchless projects. We have a strong backlog of conveyance work and opportunities for continued growth.
The duties of the Central / West Tunnel Practice Lead are to support design teams and oversee all aspects of trenchless discipline and multi-benefit projects with a high degree of technical complexity. The position will help build and maintain client relations and participate in project development and contract document preparation. The person will support staff across a variety of disciplines. The position will participate in and provide oversight of a variety of project types including planning, design, inspection and construction management of tunnels and general site civil of major water, wastewater, stormwater and reclaimed water infrastructure. The position will also work in coordination with HDR's national Business Class Director, Tunnel Practice Lead, technical leads and advisors. You will participate in the technical advancement and corporate management of HDR's tunnel / trenchless program. HDR utilizes a robust workshare program, and it is common and expected that work is shared across the HDR network between our operational areas. This person will also be responsible for supporting HDR's risk awareness and management of the WBG tunneling portfolio, influencing the firm's geotechnical and tunneling / underground engineering practice, and participating in the development and implementation of HDR's strategic direction for our tunneling practice. The selected candidate will also support overall quality control, manage project delivery risk and participate in HDR's go / no go process during the project pursuit phase.
Primary Responsibilities
- Direct involvement and oversight on select projects to manage tunnel related services
- Advising on and review of alternatives analyses and feasibility studies related to tunnels
- Risk management and risk awareness of the WBG tunneling portfolio
- Subconsultant vetting and working with teams for subconsultant risk management including required Quality Assurance activities and scope provisions
- Assessment and enhancement of HDR's capabilities regarding tunnel construction and trenchless technologies including expertise with Sequential Excavation Method (SEM) and the New Austrian Tunneling Method (NATM)
- Collaboration with HDR's WBG Tunnel Practice Lead our Geotechnical Cross Sector
- Verify qualifications and training of field staff assigned to construction phase services related to tunnels
Secondary Responsibilities
Cost Engineering supportSkills and bench-depth management for tunnel instrumentation, mechanical, civil, and mechanical consulting and design support for projectsAssessing terrestrial and marine construction capabilitiesNumerical modeling to support tunnel projects including modeling of ground / structure interaction and underpinning of buildings and utilitiesTechnologies for coordination / production of design (calculations), design products, and contract documentsSite characterization and geotechnical evaluationsConstruction Engineering supportInspections and Condition AssessmentsResiliency, operations, and emergency response issuesPreferred Qualifications
Masters degreeAbility to communicate and coordinate work within an integrated multidisciplinary teamApplicable experience in :U.S. focused tunneling design and constructionLeading the design and construction of tunnels and underground facilities for major projectsRock mechanics, soil mechanics, and geotechnical engineeringWide varieties of ground conditionsApplications of various approaches and technologies such as SEM, NATM, SCL, EPBM, and cut-and-cover techniques.Track record of industry facing publication and presentation of technical papers and active participation in professional organizationsPh.D. in engineering or related fieldPrevious experience managing staff, clients and contracts, and hiring staff for an engineering consulting firm, is desiredExcellent marketing and business development skills in addition to contacts / relationships in respective business class disciplineExperience in numerical analysis such as FLAC, UDEC, PHASES2, PLAXIS 2D & 3D, MIDAS GTS, MODFLOW, etc. is a plus.Ground-structure-interaction modelling (FEM or similar)Experience in large scale underground projects, urban tunneling, tunnel rehabilitationPrior working experience in construction or working for a contractorRobust interpersonal skills and professional demeanor appropriate for interacting with clients, other design professionals and colleaguesRequired Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Engineering10 years related experienceA minimum 5 years project management experienceRequires professional engineering license recognized by the licensing board for the location of the position offered. Example : Professional Engineer (PE or P.Eng) license.MS Office and MS Project experience (Access experience would be plus)Demonstrated leadership, business development and strategic planning skillsAn attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee-owned culture is a mustWhat We Believe
HDR is our company. Together, we build on each other's life experiences and perspectives to make great things possible every day. This shapes our collaborative culture, encourages organizational trust and connects us closer to the clients and communities we serve.
Our Commitment
As employee owners, we all have a role in creating an inclusive environment where each of us is welcomed, valued, respected and empowered to bring our authentic selves to work every day.
Our eight Employee Network Groups (Asian Pacific, Black, Hispanic / Latino(a), LGBTQ+, People with Disabilities, Veterans, Women, Young Professionals) help create a sense of belonging and foster a supportive environment where everyone is empowered to engage and contribute. Each group has an executive sponsor and is open to all employees.
We provide a comprehensive benefits package that promotes employee ownership, employee health, performance, and success, which includes medical, dental, vision, short and long-term disability, life insurance, an employee assistance program, paid time away, parental leave, paid holidays, a retirement savings plan with employer match, employee referral bonus and tuition reimbursement. The expected compensation range for this position is $116,802 - $231,750 depending upon skills, experience, education and geographical location. (Stated benefits are for full-time regular positions. Temporary and part-time roles eligible for limited benefits.)
Primary Location
United States-Wisconsin-Madison
Other Locations
United States-OklahomaUnited States-Texas-Round RockUnited States-South Dakota-Rapid CityUnited States-MinnesotaUnited States-Washington-BellevueUnited States-Wyoming-CheyenneUnited States-Missouri-Kansas CityUnited States-South Dakota-Sioux FallsUnited States-OregonUnited States-California-Long BeachUnited States-Minnesota-Saint Louis ParkUnited States-HawaiiUnited States-WyomingUnited States-Oregon-SalemUnited States-Louisiana-New OrleansUnited States-Texas-Fort WorthUnited States-Montana-MissoulaUnited States-WisconsinUnited States-New Mexico-AlbuquerqueUnited States-Texas-HoustonUnited States-MichiganUnited States-California-IrvineUnited States-Missouri-ColumbiaUnited States-Washington-TacomaUnited States-NevadaUnited States-Nevada-RenoUnited States-Colorado-Fort CollinsUnited States-ColoradoUnited States-Iowa-Des MoinesUnited States-California-FolsomUnited States-Oregon-PortlandUnited States-WashingtonUnited States-Montana-BozemanUnited States-Texas-El PasoUnited States-ArizonaUnited States-Colorado-DurangoUnited States-UtahUnited States-Alaska-AnchorageUnited States-Texas-Corpus ChristiUnited States-LouisianaUnited States-Minnesota-MinneapolisUnited States-Washington-SeattleUnited States-New MexicoUnited States-Nevada-Las VegasUnited States-Montana-BillingsUnited States-Texas-DallasUnited States-CaliforniaUnited States-Washington-SpokaneUnited States-California-San DiegoUnited States-Iowa-Cedar RapidsUnited States-Michigan-LansingUnited States-Washington-PascoUnited States-NebraskaUnited States-California-RiversideUnited States-Texas-AustinUnited States-TexasUnited States-Nebraska-OmahaUnited States-Colorado-DenverUnited States-Oregon-BendUnited States-Illinois-SpringfieldUnited States-California-SacramentoUnited States-Texas-BrownsvilleUnited States-Missouri-St LouisUnited States-AlaskaUnited States-California-PasadenaUnited States-South DakotaUnited States-Arizona-TucsonUnited States-Michigan-Ann ArborUnited States-IndianaUnited States-Utah-Salt Lake CityUnited States-North DakotaUnited States-Washington-OlympiaUnited States-Colorado-Colorado SpringsUnited States-Wisconsin-MilwaukeeUnited States-Hawaii-HonoluluUnited States-Michigan-DetroitUnited States-Arizona-PhoenixUnited States-North Dakota-BismarckUnited States-IdahoUnited States-Washington-EverettUnited States-MontanaUnited States-California-Walnut CreekUnited States-IllinoisUnited States-Louisiana-Baton RougeUnited States-Illinois-ChicagoUnited States-California-Los AngelesUnited States-MissouriUnited States-Idaho-BoiseUnited States-IowaUnited States-Texas-San AntonioUnited States-Washington-EdmondsUnited States-California-VenturaIndustry
Water
Schedule
Full-time
Employee Status
Regular
Business Class
Pump Stations and Pipelines
Job Posting
Oct 13, 2025
At HDR, we are committed to the principles of employment equity. We are an Affineuative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer (https : / / www.hdrinc.com / equal-employment-opportunity-employer). We consider all qualified applicants, regardless of criminal histories, arrest and conviction records.
Seniority level
Mid-Senior level
Employment type
Full-time
Job function
Management, Consulting, and Engineering
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