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. Whether you're modernizing aging systems or pioneering innovative approaches, your contributions will make a meaningful difference in people's lives. This isn't just a job, it's a chance to lead change, drive progress, and leave a lasting legacy.

Watch Our Story:' https://www.hdrinc.com/our-story'

Each and every role throughout our organization makes a difference in our ability to change the world for the better. Read further to learn how you could help make great things possible not only in your community, but around the world.

Office

• 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, foundations
• Perform engineering assignments that may require critical thinking and creativity to address unique structural elements that have limited or no specific code-based guidance
• Coordinate structural design with multi-disciplinary teams
• Work independently as project manager and provide oversight and mentorship of project and junior staff. This role 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 and utilities, and power utilities.
• Review tasks undertaken by others in the group such that each design receives a complete check of design assumptions, calculations, criteria, load cases, code review and compliance with design standards

Field

• Perform inspections and structural assessments of existing structures and structures under construction
• Prepare inspection and design documentation including critical reports
• Perform other duties as needed

Preferred Qualifications

• Must possess strong interpersonal, speaking, and writing skills and an attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee-owned culture is a must
• Demonstrable experience with 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 (such as SAP2000, ANSYS, Abaqus, LS-Dyna, ADINA or equivalent. Meshing software such as Altair Hypermesh or equivalent). Use of commercially available programs that can be used for advanced analysis such as dynamic response spectrum or seismic time history analysis.
• Experience with programming in Python, Matlab or other.
• Experience with machine learning.
• SE a plus
• PhD a plus

Future

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. The 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.

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