Geotechnical Engineer - Hydropower
About the role
HDR is growing our Hydropower team across the Southeast and we're looking for engineers at all experience levels who want to make a lasting impact. Whether you're an experienced hydropower professional or an engineer looking to apply your skills in a new industry, you'll have the opportunity to work alongside HDR's nationally recognized Hydropower Practice, ranked #2 in Hydro Plants by Engineering News-Record in 2026. Across the U.S., hydropower facilities that have powered communities for generations are becoming increasingly critical to grid reliability and the region's energy future. Join an employee-owned firm where you'll help modernize and sustain this vital infrastructure, develop leadership skills, accelerate your career growth, and contribute to meaningful projects that keep the lights on and strengthen communities.
Responsibilities
- Drive project workflows and planning
- Conduct geotechnical field investigations and laboratory testing programs
- Prepare geotechnical analysis, design calculations and reports
- Review and evaluate dam safety instrumentation data
- Perform finite element modeling of dams
- Prepare design drawings and construction specifications
- Participate in dam safety inspections
- Participate in marketing efforts for internal and external clients
- Serve as Project Manager for mid-size initiatives
- Support other tasks as required to support project goals and other HDR business activities
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Geotechnical or Geological Engineering (or related field)
- Professional Engineering license (PE or P.Eng) recognized by the licensing board for the location of the position offered
- Experience with Microsoft Office applications, MicroStation or other software as appropriate
- Experience with GeoStudio/Ensoft slope stability, settlement, seepage and deep foundation response software
- Experience with Bentley suite of geotechnical data management and visualization software (gINT/OpenGround/LeapFrog)
- Attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee-owned culture
Preferred Qualifications
- Bachelor's or M.S. degree in Geotechnical or Geological Engineering
- PE license in NC
- 5 years of related experience in geotechnical engineering
- Experience using AutoCAD, MicroStation or GIS applications
- Experience using other industry standard geotechnical and geological engineering software
- Experience planning, performing, and documenting subsurface explorations
- Experience reviewing and interpreting field and laboratory testing results
- Experience reading, reviewing, and interpreting geotechnical instrumentation
- Experience with dam safety inspections and dam engineering
- Ability to work independently on smaller projects and the desire to work on larger projects as part of a multi-discipline project team
- Ability to handle multiple simultaneous tasks effectively
- Receptive to technical mentoring, passionate about meeting new, complex challenges
- Good problem solving and reasoning skills
- Strong technical writing and verbal communication skills
- Ability to perform field work and overnight travel (some field work and travel will be required)
- Local candidates are preferred
Primary Location: United States-North Carolina-Charlotte
Other Locations: United States-Kentucky-Louisville, United States-Georgia-Atlanta, United States-South Carolina-Greenville, United States-South Carolina-Charleston, United States-South Carolina-Columbia, United States-Tennessee-Memphis, United States-Alabama-Birmingham, United States-Alabama-Mobile, United States-North Carolina-Wilmington, United States-North Carolina-Asheville, United States-Tennessee-Nashville, United States-Georgia-Savannah, United States-North Carolina-Raleigh, United States-Tennessee-Brentwood, United States-South Carolina-Fort Mill, United States-North Carolina-Winston-Salem, United States-Tennessee-Chattanooga, United States-Kentucky-Lexington
Industry: Power
Schedule: Full-time
Employee Status: Regular
Business Class: Hydropower Engineering