West Tunnel Practice Lead

Overview

HDR is an employee-owned company focused on inclusion and impact. This role is a key leadership position in the Central/West Tunnel Practice, concentrating on hydraulic tunnel engineering and leading large infrastructure projects in the Central and West Regions. The position supports design teams, oversees trenchless disciplines, maintains client relations, and participates in project development and contract document preparation. Regular travel is expected to support project execution and business development.

The primary responsibilities are as follows:

• 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 SEM and NATM
• Collaboration with HDR’s WBG Tunnel Practice Lead and Geotechnical Cross Sector
• Verify qualifications and training of field staff assigned to construction phase services related to tunnels

• Secondary Responsibilities
• Cost engineering support
• Skills and bench-depth management for tunnel instrumentation, civil and mechanical design support
• Assessing terrestrial and marine construction capabilities
• Numerical modeling to support tunnel projects including ground/structure interaction and underpinning
• Technologies for coordination/production of design, calculations, contract documents
• Site characterization and geotechnical evaluations
• Construction engineering support
• Inspections and condition assessments
• Resiliency, operations, and emergency response issues

This role focuses on execution, supervision, and planning of tunneling projects and on managing client relationships. Regular travel can be expected to support project execution and business development, and to meet with internal and external stakeholders.

• Masters degree
• Ability to communicate and coordinate work within an integrated multidisciplinary team
• Applicable experience in U.S. tunneling design and construction
• Leading the design and construction of tunnels and underground facilities for major projects
• Rock mechanics, soil mechanics, and geotechnical engineering
• Experience with SEM, NATM, SCL, EPBM, and cut-and-cover techniques
• Track record of industry-facing publications and professional involvement
• Ph.D. in engineering or related field
• Experience managing staff, clients, and contracts in an engineering consulting firm (desirable)
• Marketing and business development skills and industry contacts
• Experience with numerical analysis tools (e.g., FLAC, UDEC, PHASES2, PLAXIS 2D/3D, MIDAS GTS, MODFLOW) is a plus
• Ground-structure-interaction modelling (FEM or similar)
• Experience in large-scale underground projects, urban tunneling, and tunnel rehabilitation
• Prior construction or contractor experience
• Excellent interpersonal skills and professional demeanor for client interactions

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering
• 10 years of related experience
• Minimum 5 years of project management experience
• Professional engineering license (e.g., PE or P.Eng) recognized by the licensing board
• MS Office and MS Project experience (Access a plus)
• Demonstrated leadership, business development, and strategic planning skills
• Active participation in HDR’s employee-owned culture

HDR is our company. We build on each other’s life experiences and perspectives to make great things possible every day, shaping our collaborative culture and trust with clients and communities we serve.

As employee owners, we create an inclusive environment where everyone is welcomed, valued, respected, and empowered to bring their authentic selves to work. Our Employee Network Groups support belonging and contribution. HDR provides a comprehensive benefits package and a competitive compensation range. Primary location:
United States-Wisconsin-Madison;
Other locations across the U.S. as listed.