Senior Digital Designer

HDR, Inc.; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 61,000 - 99,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision

Retirement savings plan with employer

Paid time away

Parental leave

Paid holidays

Employee assistance program

Tuition reimbursement

Life insurance

Disability insurance

Employee referral bonus

Job summary

HDR, Inc. seeks a Senior Digital Designer to lead model-based design for transportation and linear infrastructure projects.

The role focuses on establishing repeatable digital workflows, coordinating multidisciplinary model information, and producing consistent 2D and 3D outputs that align with project and client requirements. You will lead the development, coordination, and delivery of complex 2D and 3D design models from project setup through final delivery and closeout, translating

Qualifications

• Technical degree or related industry experience.
• 5+ years of related industry experience.
• Advanced proficiency in 3D design software and document management.
• Advanced proficiency with 3D coordination tools.
• Experience with Bentley, Autodesk, ProjectWise, Autodesk Forma, CAD/BIM, GIS.
• Excellent communication, attention to detail, and organization.

Responsibilities

• Act as digital design and modeling lead for projects of varying size.
• Lead the development and delivery of complex 2D/3D design models.
• Translate direction and data into consistent model-based solutions.
• Define model structure, file architecture, and delivery milestones.
• Lead BIM Execution Plan implementation and coordination reviews.
• Oversee model health checks and multidisciplinary coordination.
• Ensure alignment between design intent, models and deliverables.

Skills

3D design software

3D coordination tool

Microsoft Office

Engineering concepts

Industry standards

Communication skills

Education

Civil/Geomatics degree

CAD/BIM degree

Tools

Bentley

Autodesk

ProjectWise

Autodesk Forma

GIS

Job description

HDR is seeking a Senior Digital Designer to lead model-based design delivery for transportation and linear infrastructure projects. This role focuses on establishing repeatable digital workflows, coordinating multidisciplinary model information, and producing consistent 2D and 3D outputs that align with project and client requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as digital design and/or modeling lead for small to large projects, major disciplines, corridors, facilities, or segments of megaprojects.
• Lead the development, coordination, and delivery of complex 2D and 3D design models and related design data from project setup through final delivery and closeout.
• Translate engineering direction, survey and existing-conditions information, calculations, design criteria, and multidisciplinary requirements into consistent model-based design solutions.
• Convert project requirements into model breakdown structures, file architecture, naming conventions, model responsibilities, information exchanges, expectations for level-of-development and level-of-information, and delivery milestones.
• Lead or coordinate the implementation of the Digital Delivery and BIM Execution Plan, including BIM uses, model responsibilities, information requirements, model production and delivery tables, and milestone tracking.
• Lead federated model and multidisciplinary coordination reviews, including issue-management processes, assignment of resolution responsibilities, and verification of closure for clashes, gaps, data issues, and workflow constraints.
• Lead model-based quality reviews, model health assessments, and audits to confirm compliance with client, project, and HDR requirements.
• Oversee model-derived plans, sheets, quantities, visualizations, data exchanges, and construction-support information to maintain alignment between approved design intent, models, and published deliverables.
• Evaluate and apply managed workspaces, common data environments, automation, interoperability methods, and emerging technologies that improve quality and efficiency.
• Collaborate with project managers and technical leads to define and manage digital design scope, fee, schedule, staffing, quality, risk, and delivery expectations.
• Provide technical guidance and mentoring to digital designers and model authors, supporting repeatable practices and resolution of complex modeling and coordination issues.

Required Qualifications

• Technical degree, or a combination of education and related industry experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of related industry experience.
• Advanced proficiency in 3D design software and document management infrastructure.
• Advanced proficiency with a 3D coordination tool.
• Competency with Microsoft Office products and communication tools.
• Advanced understanding of engineering or architectural concepts.
• Knowledge of industry standards and practices, including discipline codes and specifications.
• Excellent communication skills, attention to detail, and strong organizational traits.

Technologies

Bentley, Autodesk, ProjectWise, Autodesk Forma, CAD/BIM, GIS, reality capture, clash detection, 4D sequencing, model-based quantities, visualization, digital twins, digital asset information, Microsoft Office, CAD, BIM, document-control platforms

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision
• Short- and long-term disability
• Life insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Paid time away
• Parental leave
• Paid holidays
• Retirement savings plan with employer match
• Employee referral bonus
• Tuition reimbursement

Preferred Qualifications

• Associate or bachelor’s degree, technical degree, or certificate in civil engineering technology, engineering, geomatics, digital design, CAD/BIM, or a related field, or an equivalent education and experience combination.
• Advanced experience delivering model-based roadway, rail, transit, aviation, bridge, utility, site, or other linear infrastructure design.
• Understanding of transportation design concepts, engineering drawings, spatial relationships, file organization, model standards, and document-management practices.
• Advanced proficiency or certification in relevant Bentley, Autodesk, or other transportation design and coordination platforms.
• Experience working in common data environments such as ProjectWise or Autodesk Forma, implementing CAD/BIM standards, model-based quality processes, and multidisciplinary coordination workflows.
• Experience exchanging information across CAD, BIM, GIS, analysis, visualization, and document-control platforms, including reality capture, GIS integration, clash detection, 4D sequencing, model-based quantities, visualization, digital twins, and/or digital asset information.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and communication tools, including strong attention to detail, organization, collaboration, and written and verbal communication skills.
• Preference for candidates in the Mid-Atlantic (VA/MD/DC) Area.

Location, Schedule, and Employment Details

• Location: Washington, DC (onsite)
• Primary location: United States-Virginia-Vienna
• Other locations: United States-District of Columbia-Washington DC; United States-Virginia-Glen Allen; United States-Maryland-Baltimore; United States-Maryland-Fulton
• Schedule: Full-time
• Employee status: Regular
• Posting date: Nov 2, 2026
• Industry: Freight Rail
• Business class: Railway Design
• Job posting code: #LI-MJ1

Compensation

USD 60,638 to 99,000 per year