Area Waterfront Infrastructure Leader

Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

HDR is seeking an Area Waterfront Infrastructure Leader to direct and coordinate multi-discipline projects in heavy industrial seaports, riverports, and related waterfront facilities. You will work with project managers, engineers, and specialists to deliver compliant, high-quality design and construction documents.

The role emphasizes QA/QC, mentorship of junior staff, and leadership across business class planning and pursuits.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or closely related field.
• 10 years of professional experience in maritime or waterfront infrastructure.
• Licensed Professional Engineer (state licensure) or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Lead multi-discipline projects for heavy industrial seaport, riverport, and waterfront infrastructure.
• Oversee design production and coordination with project managers and specialists.
• Ensure deliverables meet client HDR requirements and industry standards.
• Develop and implement QA/QC procedures for complex projects.
• Mentor junior engineers and lead major pursuits in maritime projects.
• Collaborate with area operations, marketing and project management on business class efforts.
• Help advance HDR's maritime and waterfront design capabilities.

Skills

Project leadership

Maritime infrastructure

Civil engineering

QA/QC

Mentoring

Stakeholder management

Design coordination

Cross-functional leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field

Job description

Area Waterfront Infrastructure Leader - ( 196540 )

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?

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.

We believe transportation is more than movement, it’s the foundation of connected, thriving communities. As part of HDR’s Transportation Business Group, you’ll help shape the systems that move people and goods safely, efficiently, and sustainably. From designing resilient highways and iconic bridges to advancing transit, passenger and freight rail, aviation, federal transportation ports and marine infrastructure, your work will directly support economic vitality, public safety, sustainable and resilient communities and quality of life. We bring together planners, engineers, architects, construction management staff, environmental, strategic communications, economists, management consultants and specialists across disciplines to solve complex mobility challenges with innovation, technical excellence, and a deep understanding of community needs. Whether you're modernizing aging infrastructure or pioneering next-generation transportation solutions, your contributions will help define the future of mobility.

This isn’t just a job, it’s a chance to lead progress, drive meaningful impact, and leave a legacy of smarter, more connected transportation networks.

We are all employee-owners at HDR, which is the foundation of our collaborative culture that connects employees around the world.

In the role of Area Waterfront Infrastructure Leader, we’ll count on you to:

• Planning, directing and monitoring all aspects of multi-discipline projects related to heavy industrial seaport, riverport, and private cargo and passenger terminals and other waterfront infrastructure including, though not limited to, municipal, federal, state, and DOD seawalls, flood walls and gates, marinas, piers, and shipyards.
• Demonstrate extensive design experience in local maritime and waterfront infrastructure projects.
• Be involved with the oversight and coordination of several projects concurrently.
• Involved with design and production efforts, conducts schematic, design development and contract document work in conjunction with Project Managers, appropriate technical professionals and other disciplines.
• Ensure project deliverables and supporting documentation are complete, understandable, conform to applicable and industry standards relative to their intended purpose, including client and HDR requirements.
• Take responsibility for area coordination, monitoring and improvement of technical competencies of business class staff and products to meet client needs and market drivers, all within direction and goals of business class plans.
• Participate in business class strategic planning, budgeting and plan implementation.
• Collaborate on business class efforts with area operations, marketing and project management.
• Overseeing and/or serving in a lead technical role or problem-solving role in maritime projects.
• Being comfortable being viewed as a leader on these types of projects to participate in business class practice and professional discipline groups, project teams and activities to continually improve standards and best practices and implement effective quality assurance and quality control reviews.
• Supervise more junior engineers in the performance of engineering tasks.
• Serve in a capacity of managing, supporting or leading major pursuits.
• Responsible for implementing QA/QC procedures and completing reviews of complex projects.
• Acts as mentor/supervisor for less experienced designers.
• Ensure that emerging technologies are being implemented and that HDR is continually advancing Maritime and Waterfront Infrastructure design capabilities.

Preferred Qualifications

• California PE license and ability to gain additional state licensure as deemed beneficial to the program
• Experience with heavy industrial and ports and maritime related projects along with construction observation or administration experience.
• Demonstrated understanding of construction methods and logic of civil, industrial, coastal, and other types of related subject matter.
• Familiarity with structural and marine design codes, including but not limited to: AASHTO, ACI 318, AISC, ASCE 7, IBC, NDS for Wood Construction, API, OCIMF, MOTEMS, PIANC, UFC and USACE design manuals
• Established client relationships with Southern California Port or San Diego, Long Beach, and Los Angeles.
• Actively engaged in professional or industry associations to enhance HDR technical expertise and brand.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a Professional, Architecture, Engineering or closely related field
• 10 years of experience
• Committed to quality, improvement and HDR values
• Maintains a professional or engineering registration and has related technical experience
• Experienced in development and management of diverse teams
• Works cooperatively with other area business class leaders, operations managers, technical directors and marketing managers on business class efforts
• An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee-owned culture is a must

What We Believe

HDR is our company. Together, we build on each other's life experiences and perspectives to make great things possible every day. This shapes our collaborative culture, encourages organizational trust and connects us closer to the clients and communities we serve.

Our Commitment

As employee owners, we all have a role in creating an inclusive environment where each of us is welcomed, valued, respected and empowered to bring our authentic selves to work every day.

Our eight Employee Network Groups (Asian Pacific, Black, Hispanic/Latino(a), LGBTQ+, People with Disabilities, Veterans, Women, Young Professionals) help create a sense of belonging and foster a supportive environment where everyone is empowered to engage and contribute. Each group has an executive sponsor and is open to all employees.

Industry

Maritime/Ports

Schedule

Full-time

Employee Status

Regular

Business Class: Waterfront Infrastructure

Job Posting

Oct 1, 2026

At HDR, we are committed to the principles of employment equity.

We are an affirmative action and equal opportunity employe r.

We consider all qualified applicants, regardless of criminal histories, arrest and conviction records.

Ready to learn more? Let's work together to make great thingspossible.

We design solutions to the world's greatest challenges. We'realways looking for great talent to join our global teams.