West Tunnel Practice Lead

Job Title

Central / West Tunnel Practice Lead – HDR

HDR is a leading global provider of water, infrastructure, and environmental solutions. Our employee‑owned culture and commitment to inclusion empower teams to innovate and deliver impactful projects worldwide.

The Central / West Tunnel Practice Lead leads hydraulic tunnel engineering projects across the Central and West regions. This leadership position supports design teams, oversees trenchless discipline, and drives business development for major tunneling projects.

• Direct involvement and oversight on select tunnel projects.
• Advise on alternatives analyses and feasibility studies.
• Manage risk for the WBG tunneling portfolio.
• Vet subconsultants and coordinate risk‑management activities.
• Enhance tunneling capabilities via SEM, NATM, and other trenchless technologies.
• Collaborate with HDR’s WBG Tunnel Lead and Geotechnical Cross‑Sector.
• Verify qualifications and training of field staff for tunneling services.

• Cost engineering support.
• Manage bench‑depth for tunnel instrumentation and design.
• Assess terrestrial and marine construction capabilities.
• Numerical modeling of ground‑structure interaction.
• Support tunnel design production and contract documentation.
• Site characterization and geotechnical evaluations.
• Construction engineering support and inspections.
• Address resiliency, operations, and emergency response issues.

• Master’s degree.
• Effective communication and coordination in multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience in U.S. tunneling design and construction.
• Leading design of tunnels and underground facilities for large projects.
• Rock mechanics, soil mechanics, and geotechnical expertise.
• Proficiency with SEM, NATM, SCL, EPBM, cut‑and‑cover techniques.
• Publication record and active participation in professional societies.
• Ph.D. in engineering or related field.
• Staff, client, and contract management experience.
• Marketing and business‑development skills.
• Experience with numerical analysis (FLAC, UDEC, PHASES2, PLAXIS 2D/3D, MIDAS GTS, MODFLOW).
• Ground‑structure interaction modeling (FEM or similar).
• Experience with large‑scale underground, urban tunneling, or rehabilitation projects.
• Construction or contractor experience.
• Robust interpersonal skills for client and internal engagement.

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering.
• 10 years related experience.
• Minimum 5 years project management experience.
• Professional Engineering license (PE or P.Eng) required.
• MS Office and MS Project proficiency (Access a plus).
• Leadership, business development, and strategic planning skills.
• Commitment to employee‑owned culture.

Medical, dental, vision, short/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.

$116,802 – $231,750 (dependent on skills, experience, education, and location).

Primary:
United States – Wisconsin – Madison. Other locations include Oklahoma, Texas (Round Rock), South Dakota (Rapid City), Minnesota, Washington (Bellevue), Wyoming (Cheyenne), Missouri (Kansas City), North Dakota, Oregon, California (Long Beach), Illinois (Springfield), and additional cities across the U.S.

Water – Full‑time regular employee.

Pump Stations and Pipelines.

Oct 13, 2025.

HDR is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants are considered regardless of criminal history.