Civil Engineering Lead (Civil Works)

HDR; Ventura (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 215,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee ownership

Job summary

HDR is seeking a Civil Engineering Lead to guide dam, levee, and civil works projects in Southern California. You will oversee multi-discipline analysis, project management, and mentoring for a growing team of engineers and designers.

Ideal candidates bring 15+ years in civil engineering across site development, water management, and hydraulic disciplines, plus California PE registration or the drive to obtain it. Strong leadership and coordination are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering is required.
• Master's degree in Civil Engineering or higher is preferred.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license is required or must be obtained for the location.
• Minimum 7 years of related civil engineering experience.
• At least 2 years in project management is required.
• Proficiency in MS Office and MS Project is required.

Responsibilities

• Lead multi-disciplinary analysis within dam, levee, and civil works program.
• Provide project management, business development, and mentoring to engineers.
• Coordinate with structural, geotechnical, hydraulic, and land development teams.
• Develop project planning, scheduling, and final design analysis.
• Support delivery of high-quality services and engineering software usage.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Master of Science in Civil Engineering

Professional Engineer (PE) license

Willingness to obtain California PE registration

Leadership experience

Communication across disciplines

Tools

Bentley MicroStation

InRoads

Open Roads

AutoCAD Civil3D

Job description

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 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.

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 dam, levee, and 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.

Additional Positive 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
• A minimum 2 years project management experience
• 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 (Access experience would be plus)
• 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.

We provide a comprehensive benefits package that promotes employee ownership, employee health, performance, and success, which includes medical, dental, vision, short and long-term disability, life insurance, an employee assistance program, paid time away, parental leave, paid holidays, a retirement savings plan with employer match, employee referral bonus and tuition reimbursement. The expected compensation range for this position depends upon skills, experience, education and geographical location. (Stated benefits are for full-time regular positions. Temporary and part-time roles eligible for limited benefits.) {California}: $140,000 - $215,000 Primary Location:United States-California-Irvine Other Locations:United States-California-Los Angeles, United States-California-Santa Ana, United States-California-Long Beach, United States-California-San Diego, United States-California-Ventura, United States-California-Riverside Industry:Water Schedule:Full-time Employee Status:Regular BusinessClass:Dams Levees Civil Works Job Posting:Nov 20, 2025

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.