Dam Computational Modeling Technical Lead

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? 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.

About the role

This role bridges high-end computational mechanics, consulting practice needs, and owner-facing implementation across feasibility studies, final design, issue evaluations, risk assessments, and applied research initiatives. You’ll lead structural analyses, design hydraulic structures, coordinate with multi-disciplinary teams, and mentor junior staff. The position may include leadership and expansion of HDR’s structural engineering services, including client and strategic project development with Federal and State government agencies, water agencies, utilities, and power utilities.

Responsibilities

• Supervise or conduct structural analyses including linear and nonlinear FEA modeling, evaluations, and designs; develop design options or recommendations.
• Lead, assist with, or provide oversight for preparation of contract documents including drawings, specifications, design documentation and criteria, and cost estimates.
• Lead design of various new and/or rehabilitation of hydraulic structures, including dams, spillways, gates, outlet works, diversion structures, retaining walls, cofferdams, floodwalls, water conveyance structures, and foundations.
• Perform engineering assignments that may require critical thinking and creativity to address unique structural elements with limited or no specific code-based guidance.
• Coordinate structural design with multi-disciplinary teams.
• Work independently as a project manager and provide oversight and mentorship of project and junior staff.
• Review tasks undertaken by others in the group to ensure each design receives a complete check of design assumptions, calculations, criteria, load cases, code review, and compliance with design standards.
• Perform inspections and structural assessments of existing structures and structures under construction.
• Prepare inspection and design documentation including critical reports.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Civil or Structural Engineering.
• A minimum of 10 years of structural engineering experience as it relates to building design.
• Professional engineering license recognized by the licensing board for the location of the position (e.g., Professional Engineer (PE or P.Eng) license).
• Experience with Microsoft Office, AutoCAD, RAM, ETABS, SAFE, or similar analytical software.
• Experience in design calculations and layouts.
• Ability to design and detail in steel, concrete, masonry, and wood.
• Understanding of gravity analysis and lateral analysis.
• Previous experience with an architectural/engineering or engineering consulting firm.
• Strong interpersonal, speaking, and writing skills.
• Commitment to being an active participant in our employee-owned culture.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrable experience leading structural design projects, including analysis, reporting, and drawing production.
• Demonstrated knowledge of structural, seismic, inspection, remediation, and construction.
• Strong background in finite element modeling and knowledge of computer-based design tools (e.g., SAP2000, ANSYS, Abaqus, LS-Dyna, ADINA or equivalent; meshing software such as Altair Hypermesh or equivalent).
• Experience with dynamic response spectrum or seismic time history analysis using commercially available programs.
• Experience with programming in Python, Matlab, or other languages.
• Experience with machine learning.
• Structural Engineering (SE) license is a plus.
• PhD is a plus.

Future Opportunities

Serve as HDR’s national technical leader for advanced numerical modeling of dams and hydraulic structures, supporting design, dam safety evaluation, rehabilitation planning, risk- and resilience-informed design, design optimization, data- and AI-enabled safety assessment, quality management, and strategic growth.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package promoting employee ownership, health, performance, and success, including medical, dental, vision, short- and long-term disability, life insurance, and an employee assistance program.
• Paid time away, parental leave, paid holidays.
• Retirement savings plan with employer match.
• Employee referral bonus and tuition reimbursement.
• Eight Employee Network Groups (Asian Pacific, Black, Hispanic/Latino(a), LGBTQ+, People with Disabilities, Veterans, Women, Young Professionals) to foster inclusion and belonging.

Pay

Colorado: $129,899.00 - $185,570.00 (depends on skills, experience, education, and geographical location).

Schedule

Full-time.