Senior Design Manager

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. We foster a culture of inclusion throughout our company and within our communities, constantly asking ourselves:
What is our impact on the world?

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 waste is more than management; it’s also an opportunity to innovate. As part of our Waste sector, you’ll help shape solid‑waste infrastructure and environmental stewardship. With a top‑tier industry ranking, our team delivers comprehensive solutions that span waste planning, remediation, engineering and implementation. You’ll collaborate closely with clients and communities to design sustainable, cost‑effective systems that contribute to cleaner environments and healthier communities.

This isn’t just a job—it’s a chance to drive meaningful changes in the waste industry and build a legacy of sustainability.

HDR’s Northern California Water Business Group is recognized throughout Northern California for the planning, design, and delivery of complex water/wastewater/water resources projects. As a Sr Wastewater Design Manager in our group, you will play an integral part on various multidisciplinary teams to support highly visible, impactful public infrastructure projects across the region and country.

In this role, you will work closely with other team members to prepare calculations, write specifications, reports, and construction documents; determine appropriate design methods; conduct equipment sizing and selection; perform engineering design; and support project closeout.

You will be supported by senior engineers and/or project managers who will provide guidance and mentorship throughout the project lifecycle. Having the ability to function effectively in a variety of roles on integrated project teams is key for this role. Candidates with strong self‑motivation and the ability to work independently will excel.

We are committed to promoting employees’ physical and mental wellness and delivering meaningful employee experiences. Whether you are interested in advancing your technical skill set, learning more about business development, or eager to step into a project management role, we provide endless growth and training opportunities that match your skill set and interests.

• Perform complex assignments exercising judgment in evaluating, selecting, and modifying standard engineering techniques and procedures
• Make decisions on significant design and engineering procedures as needed
• Act as technical specialist or project manager on mid‑size projects as needed
• Delegate to and mentor junior staff as needed
• Supervise a small staff of professionals and technicians as needed
• Maintain professional engineering registration
• Perform other duties as needed
• Support the development and implementation of strategies/initiatives for municipal water/wastewater clients
• Oversee and lead water/wastewater treatment design projects
• Conduct work sessions for design development in conjunction with other staff and stakeholders
• Serve as interface between design and client teams
• Coordinate staffing and workload of engineers across disciplines
• Work with Accounting, Operational and Business leadership for periodic project reviews
• Implement QA/QC procedures

• Master’s degree in Civil or Environmental Engineering or equivalent
• Active area water/wastewater industry associations (strong plus)
• Strong technical background and experience in designing water distribution systems
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, AutoCAD, Micro Station and hydraulic modeling software
• Project engineering experience is necessary
• Software knowledge:
  AutoCAD/Civil 3D, Microsoft Office, scheduling software; hydraulic or process modeling software experience

• Bachelor’s degree in…