Civil Engineering Lead (Civil Works)

HDR, Inc.; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

HDR, Inc. in Irvine, CA seeks a Civil Engineering Lead for the Dam, Levee, and Civil Works program. You will lead multi-discipline analyses, manage projects, and mentor engineers while expanding client relationships in Southern California.

You bring a Masters in Civil Engineering, a PE license, and 7+ years of experience in site development, water management, and hydraulic design. Strong leadership and communication skills are essential.

Qualifications

• 7+ years related experience including project management
• Experience coordinating multiple disciplines
• California PE registration encouraged / willing to obtain

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage multi-discipline civil works analyses for dams, levees and civil projects
• Provide project management, mentorship, and business development
• Coordinate with design teams and stakeholders to ensure high-quality deliverables

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Project management

Education

Master of Science in Civil Engineering

Professional Engineer license

Tools

Bentley MicroStation

InRoads

Open Roads

AutoCAD Civil3D

Job description

Civil Engineering Lead (Civil Works) - ( 196522 )

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 water is more than a resource, it's a shared responsibility. As part of our WaterBusiness 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.

Primary Responsibilities

HDR is currently in need of a Civil Engineering Lead for its Dam, Levee, and Civil Works program supporting Southern California. This Civil Lead will fill a strategic role responsible for leading and managing multi-discipline analysis within HDR’s growing Civil Engineering Lead (Civil Works) program. A track record in applying multi-disciplinary coordination, including site land development, structural engineering, geotechnical engineering, and hydraulic engineering, is a plus. As the Civil Lead, the individual will also provide project management, business development, and mentoring to their team of supporting civil engineers and designers.

Civil design analysis and technical project execution responsibilities will include project design development, including project planning, scheduling, and preparation of final design analysis. Projects may include various aspects of dams, spillways, outlet works, stormwater management systems, and other critical structures subject to hydraulic and earthquake forces. Position will support project delivery activities through the delivery of high-quality services and technological development. Previous experience or familiarity with State Dam Safety, US Bureau of Reclamation, US Army Corps of Engineers and/or FERC regulated projects and standards is a plus.

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Keywords: Civil Engineering Lead (Civil Works), dams, levees, civil works, State Dam Safety, US Bureau of Reclamation, US Army Corps of Engineers, FERC, site land development, structural engineering, geotechnical engineering, hydraulic engineering

Preferred Qualifications

• Master of Science or higher in Civil Engineering /or equivalent level of experience
• Willingness to obtain California PE registration (Multiple state/province registrations will be encouraged).
• 15+ years of progressive experience in civil engineering projects involving site land development, water management, structural, geotechnical, and hydraulic disciplines.
• Construction experience to identify potential claims is a plus.
• Communicate effectively and able to coordinate tasks with multiple disciplines.
• Experience with Bentley MicroStation, InRoads, Open Roads, AutoCAD Civil3D, and other civil engineering software as appropriate

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering
• 7 years related experience inclusive of a minimum 2 years experience in project management
• Requires professional engineering license recognized by the licensing board for the location of the position offered. Example: Professional Engineer (PE or P.Eng) license.
• MS Office and MS Project experience is required
• Demonstrated leadership skills
• 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.

Primary Location

United States-California-Irvine

Industry

Water

Schedule

Full-time

Employee Status

Regular

BusinessClass : Dams Levees Civil Works

Job Posting

Oct 27, 2026

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

We are an Aff…

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.