West Tunnel Practice Lead

Central / West Tunnel Practice Lead

Apply to join HDR as a Central / West Tunnel Practice Lead. This leadership role focuses on hydraulic tunnel engineering for large‑scale infrastructure projects across the Central and West Regions.

As part of HDR’s Water Business Group, you will shape how communities manage water for generations to come. You will lead and support the design, planning, inspection, and construction management of tunnels and related infrastructure. The role requires expertise in trenchless technology and will involve client relations, project development, and strategic management of HDR’s tunneling practice.

• Direct involvement and oversight on select projects to manage tunnel related services.
• Advising on and reviewing alternatives analyses and feasibility studies related to tunnels.
• Risk management and risk awareness of HDR’s WBG tunneling portfolio.
• Subconsultant vetting and risk management, ensuring Quality Assurance activities and scope provisions.
• Assessment and enhancement of HDR’s capabilities in tunnel construction and trenchless technologies (SEM, NATM).
• Collaboration with HDR’s WBG Tunnel Practice Lead and Geotechnical Cross‑Sector.
• Verify qualifications and training of field staff assigned to construction‑phase tunnel services.

• Cost engineering support.
• Bench‑depth and capacity management for tunnel instrumentation and design support.
• Assess terrestrial and marine construction capabilities.
• Numerical modeling to support tunnel projects (ground/structure interaction, underpinning).
• Technology coordination for design products and contract documents.
• Site characterization and geotechnical evaluations.
• Construction engineering support, inspections, and condition assessments.
• Resiliency, operations, and emergency response issues.

• Master’s degree.
• Ability to communicate and coordinate work within an integrated multidisciplinary team.
• U.S. focused tunneling design and construction experience.
• Leading design and construction of tunnels and underground facilities for major projects.
• Rock mechanics, soil mechanics, and geotechnical engineering expertise.
• Experience with SEM, NATM, SCL, EPBM, cut‑and‑cover.
• Industry publication and presentation track record.
• Ph.D. in engineering or related field.
• Past experience managing staff, clients, contracts, and hiring for an engineering consulting firm.
• Excellent marketing and business development skills.
• Experience with numerical analysis (FLAC, UDEC, PHASES2, PLAXIS 2D/3D, MIDAS GTS, MODFLOW, etc.).
• Ground‑structure‑interaction modelling (FEM or similar).
• Experience in large‑scale underground, urban tunneling, tunnel rehabilitation.
• Prior contractor construction experience.
• Robust interpersonal skills and professional demeanor for client interaction.

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering.
• 10 years related experience.
• A minimum of 5 years project management experience.
• Professional engineering license (PE or P.Eng) recognized in the applicable location.
• MS Office and MS Project experience;
  Access experience is a plus.
• Demonstrated leadership, business development, and strategic planning skills.
• Commitment to being an active participant in HDR’s employee‑owned culture.

HDR provides a comprehensive benefits package for full‑time employees, including medical, dental, vision, short‑ and long‑term disability, life insurance, employee assistance program, paid time away, parental leave, paid holidays, 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 on skills, experience, education, and geographical location.

United States - Wisconsin - Madison

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