Senior Geotechnical Engineer

HDR; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

HDR is seeking a Sr. Geotechnical Engineer in Houston, TX, to lead geotechnical investigations, analyses, and project management for major transportation and infrastructure programs.

You will supervise teams, coordinate with design professionals, and apply advanced numerical modeling to complex projects. Qualified candidates bring 10+ years of geotechnical experience, a PE license, and proficiency with Bentley, GeoStudio, PLAXIS, and other geotechnical tools.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in civil/geotechnical engineering or equivalent.
• Master of Science degree in civil/geotechnical engineering preferred.
• Professional engineer (PE) license or equivalent.
• 10+ years of geotechnical experience.
• Proficiency with geotechnical software and CAD/GIS tools.

Responsibilities

• Plan and perform geotechnical investigations and design activities.
• Lead or participate in large-scale projects with cross-functional teams.
• Supervise professionals and technicians as needed.
• Prepare geotechnical reports and coordinate with designers.
• Apply advanced numerical modeling techniques to project analyses.

Skills

Geotechnical engineering

Project management

Team supervision

Technical analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil/Geotechnical Engineering

Master of Science in Civil/Geotechnical Engineering

Tools

Bentley gINT/OpenGround/LeapFrog

GeoStudio/Ensoft

PLAXIS

Itasca FLAC

GIS

CAD

Microsoft Office

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 work to weave diversity, equity, and inclusion into our work and foster a sense of belonging throughout the 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

At HDR, our employee‑ownership model shapes everything we do, including how we support and care for our people. Our diverse service lines, including Water, Architecture, Building Engineering Services, Field Services, Power, Waste, Industrial, and Transportation reflect our commitment to shaping resilient, sustainable, and forward‑thinking communities around the world. Across these disciplines, our teams design and deliver solutions that safeguard public health, enhance quality of life, power innovation, and drive responsible growth. Whether advancing clean water, creating healing and learning environments, engineering next‑generation facilities, or building the infrastructure that moves people and energy, our work is rooted in technical excellence and a shared sense of purpose. Our employee‑owners collaborate across specialties, combining creativity, precision, and deep expertise to solve the most complex challenges facing our clients and communities.

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.

Primary Responsibilities

In the role of Sr. Geotechnical Engineer, we'll count on you to:

• Plan and prepare geotechnical investigations or design activities that have significant impact on major company programs
• Participate in marketing efforts of both internal and external clients
• Organize, conduct, and coordinate or manage geotechnical investigations for transportation and other projects
• Perform geotechnical technical analyses, prepare geotechnical reports and coordinate with designers to implement recommendations
• Perform complex engineering assignments exercising judgment in evaluation, selection and modification of standard engineering techniques and procedures
• Make decisions on design and engineering procedures as needed
• Function as a Technical Specialist or Project Manager on large-size projects as needed, but project management is not the sole focus of this position
• Supervise professionals, technicians and design teams, as needed
• Perform other duties as needed

Preferred Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of Geotechnical Experience
• Master of Science Degree in Civil/Geotechnical Engineering
• Knowledge of advanced numerical modeling techniques such as Finite Difference, Finite Element, Discrete Element, etc. and commercial software for advanced numerical modeling (Bentley, PLAXIS, Itasca FLAC)
• Experience with large-scale TxDOT projects

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree
• 10 years of 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.
• Experience with Microsoft Office applications, GIS, and CADD, as appropriate
• Experience with GeoStudio/Ensoft slope stability, settlement, seepage, and deep foundation response software, as appropriate
• Experience with Bentley suite of geotechnical data management and visualization software (gINT/OpenGround/LeapFrog)
• Knowledge of advanced numerical modeling techniques such as Finite Difference, Finite Element, Discrete Element, etc. and commercial software for advanced numerical modeling (Bentley, PLAXIS, Itasca FLAC)
• 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-Texas-Houston

Other Locations: United States-Texas-Austin

Industry: Power

Schedule: Full-time

Employee Status: Regular

BusinessClass: Geotechnical

Job Posting: Sep 21, 2026

At HDR, we are committed to the principles of employment equity. We are an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer (https://www.hdrinc.com/equal-employment-opportunity-employer). We consider all qualified applicants, regardless of criminal histories, arrest and conviction records.