Tunnel Design Lead - Principal

WSP; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 135,000 - 185,000; Full time

Job summary

WSP seeks a Tunnel Design Lead for mining sector-based underground infrastructure in Canada. Based in Toronto or Mississauga, hybrid work, leading complex tunnelling design from feasibility to construction support while guiding client relationships and expanding WSP’s market presence.

The role requires 15+ years in tunnelling, 5+ years in team leadership, PE/O licensing, and advanced expertise in tunnel alignment, ground support, geostructural design, and risk management.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in civil, geotechnical, or geological engineering with a focus on tunnelling; a master's degree is preferred.
• 15+ years of experience delivering tunnelling and underground infrastructure design, including at least 5+ years leading or managing underground design projects.
• Proven experience serving as a technical design lead on complex, multidisciplinary tunnelling assignments across mining, hydropower, transportation, or comparable underground infrastructure sectors.
• Active membership with Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO).
• Advanced expertise in tunnel alignment, excavation methods, ground support systems, geostructural design, constructability, and underground project risk management.
• Demonstrated capability leading work from feasibility through detailed design and construction support while maintaining technical quality, safety, schedule, and commercial performance.
• Strong client advisory, business development, proposal, and stakeholder communication skills, with the ability to translate complex engineering issues into clear decisions.
• Experience mentoring and developing multidisciplinary professionals, along with willingness to travel to project sites as required and legal authorization to work in Canada.

Responsibilities

• Lead the technical delivery of tunnelling and underground design assignments from concept and feasibility through detailed design and construction support.
• Deliver integrated solutions for tunnel alignment, excavation methods, ground support, and geostructural design that balance safety, performance, constructability, and value.
• Strengthen trusted client relationships as a senior technical advisor and primary interface for complex underground infrastructure decisions.
• Drive sustainable business growth through strategic pursuits, proposal leadership, project scoping, and meaningful engagement with clients and partners.
• Champion quality, safety, risk management, and technical governance across every project phase.
• Develop multidisciplinary teams through mentorship, collaboration, and knowledge sharing, building technical depth and succession across WSP's underground practice.

Skills

Tunnel design leadership

Geotechnical engineering

Geostructural design

Client advisory

Mentorship

Travel to project sites

Education

Civil/geotechnical/geological engineering (tunnelling focus)

Master's degree preferred

Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) license

Job description

What if you could redefine what's possible?

With us, you can. You want Purpose. Growth. Opportunity. People who get it.

We are the home of ambitious, passionate, and innovative world shapers.

With an unmatched breadth and depth of engineering, advisory and science-based expertise, our global minds unite to power local solutions.

We are pathfinders and impact makers.

We are Visioneers.

We are WSP.

The Opportunity

Engineering What Lies Below

Bring technical depth and strategic leadership to underground infrastructure that enables communities and industries to move, connect, and grow. Your expertise will help turn complex ground conditions into resilient, constructible solutions.

Based in Toronto or Mississauga in a hybrid work environment, you will serve as our Tunnel Design Lead within the mining sector, shaping the delivery and growth of complex tunnelling and underground projects. You will provide technical and people leadership throughout the project lifecycle—from feasibility and detailed design through construction support—while strengthening client relationships, guiding proposals, and expanding WSP's market presence and long‑term technical capability.

Your Impact

Lead the technical delivery of tunnelling and underground design assignments from concept and feasibility through detailed design and construction support.

Deliver integrated solutions for tunnel alignment, excavation methods, ground support, and geostructural design that balance safety, performance, constructability, and value.

Strengthen trusted client relationships as a senior technical advisor and primary interface for complex underground infrastructure decisions.

Drive sustainable business growth through strategic pursuits, proposal leadership, project scoping, and meaningful engagement with clients and partners.

Champion quality, safety, risk management, and technical governance across every project phase.

Develop multidisciplinary teams through mentorship, collaboration, and knowledge sharing, building technical depth and succession across WSP's underground practice.

The Skills That Set You Apart

A bachelor's degree in civil, geotechnical, or geological engineering with a focus on tunnelling; a master's degree is preferred.

15+ years of experience delivering tunnelling and underground infrastructure design, including at least 5+ years leading or managing underground design projects.

Proven experience serving as a technical design lead on complex, multidisciplinary tunnelling assignments across mining, hydropower, transportation, or comparable underground infrastructure sectors.

Active membership with Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO).

Advanced expertise in tunnel alignment, excavation methods, ground support systems, geostructural design, constructability, and underground project risk management.

Demonstrated capability leading work from feasibility through detailed design and construction support while maintaining technical quality, safety, schedule, and commercial performance.

Strong client advisory, business development, proposal, and stakeholder communication skills, with the ability to translate complex engineering issues into clear decisions.

Experience mentoring and developing multidisciplinary professionals, along with willingness to travel to project sites as required and legal authorization to work in Canada.

Why Choose WSP?

We exist to shape communities to advance humanity. The brightest engineers, advisors and scientists from across the globe call WSP home.

Proudly Canadian – we are a Top 100 Employer in Canada for 2026

A global community of brilliant minds – your next idea, mentor, or opportunity is always within reach.

Limitless opportunities start here. Whether it's across the country or around the globe, we'll help you tailor your role to match your ambition—because your growth drives ours.

Flexible work, real balance – we recognize the importance of balance in our lives and encourage you to prioritize the balance in yours.

#WeAreWSP

Compensation

AB, BC, NT, NU, SK & YT: $147,500 - $195,400

MB & ON: $134,600 - $184,600

NB, NL, NS, PE & QC: $133,200 - $176,900

Disclosure: The final salary awarded for this role may vary from the above range based on several factors including, but not limited to, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, and business or organizational needs. The wage range provided in this job posting may be subject to change for business purposes.

Lead Mining Forward Underground

Transform demanding ground conditions into resilient underground infrastructure that helps mining projects advance safely and sustainably. Your leadership will connect technical excellence, client confidence, and the development of future tunnelling specialists.

Set a stronger standard below ground.

Job Info

• Job Identification 94960
• Posting Date 09/11/2026, 08:22 PM

About Us

At WSP, we exist to shape communities to advance humanity.

It’s why we bring people together who are wired to solve complex challenges - engineers, scientists, advisors, and technical experts who are driven by a common passion - to redefine what’s possible and shape what comes next. We are Visioneers.

As one of the world’s leading professional services firms, we partner with clients across transportation, infrastructure, environment, buildings, energy, water, mining and metals. We pair deep local knowledge with global insights to pioneer solutions designed to leave a lasting, positive impact.

At WSP, you’ll join a community of brilliant minds that push boundaries every day - applying deep expertise and fuelling innovation to help create a more connected and resilient future. Here, your ideas are valued, your growth is supported, and you are encouraged to bring your authentic self to work. We empower our people to collaborate across disciplines, challenge the status quo, and shape a career with purpose.

Join us.

Please Note:

Health and Safety is a core paramount value of WSP. Given the importance of keeping one another safe it is expected that you comply with our Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) policy at all times as well as client HSE policies when working at client locations. Full details here .

Some safety-sensitive positions involve fieldwork and may include work in a variety of environmental conditions, such as remote or isolated areas, working alone, and in inclement weather (within safe and reasonable limits).

WSP welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.

WSP is committed to the principles of employment equity. Only the candidates selected will be contacted.

WSP does not accept unsolicited resumes from agencies. Full details here .