Senior Tunnel Engineer (Senior SEM Engineer) [US]

Dr. Sauer & Partners Corporation; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 105,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Extended health care

Group retirement plan

10 vacation days and 10 personal days

Professional development allowance

Annual performance bonus scheme

Job summary

Dr. Sauer & Partners is seeking a Senior Tunnel Engineer to lead SEM supervision on a major US project. You will manage a site team, implement RES processes, and coordinate with stakeholders to ensure quality, safety and progress.

The role requires a civil engineering degree, extensive tunnelling experience, and strong communication skills to deliver technical solutions and robust QA/QC across all excavation and support activities.

Qualifications

• Completed degree in Civil Engineering or a comparable field of study.
• Proven experience leading and managing high-profile tunnelling projects.
• Demonstrable experience in tunnel design and/or supervision across multiple projects, including urban environments and soft ground SEM/NATM tunnelling.
• Strong analytical and structural engineering background in heavy civil construction and tunnelling.
• Thorough understanding of tunnel structural design and the behaviour and theory of SEM tunnelling, supported by a sound knowledge of geotechnical engineering principles.

Responsibilities

• Timely production of monthly reports, RES Sheets and additional documentation.
• Managing and supervising a team of SEM Inspectors working in a 24/7 shift pattern.
• Providing construction support solutions to the contractor’s representatives in line with the design.
• Carrying out geological and geotechnical assessments of the encountered ground and water conditions.
• Assisting in the development of construction processes and logistics planning such as excavation sequences in line with design documents and / or design intent.
• Comply with DSP’s ISO 9001:2015 quality procedures and Quality Management Plan.
• Report construction activities and issues to the Dr. Sauer & Partners' Project Director (PE on record).

Skills

Tunnel design

SEM tunnelling

Geotechnical engineering

Leadership

Communication

QA/QC

Report writing

Education

Civil Engineering degree

Job description

Job Title: Senior Tunnel Engineer (Senior SEM Engineer)

Reporting to: Project Director

Hours: Up to 40 hours per week (Permanent full time)

Location: USA (Site Office)

Company Overview:

Working on major projects both in the US and overseas, Dr. Sauer & Partners is a leading underground and geotechnical specialist and has a passion for perfection, a dedication to quality and a commitment to innovation. Our company ethos and objective are to continuously discover better ways of solving a project's most technical issues and we look for individuals who can work efficiently across our teams to deliver technical excellence to our clients.

Purpose of the role:

The Senior SEM Engineer leads the SEM supervision team on a construction site, taking overall responsibility for the implementation of the “Required Excavation and Support” (RES) process. The role involves managing a site team of SEM and geotechnical engineers, alongside senior inspectors, to ensure that all works are carried out in accordance with the design and that robust QA/QC procedures are maintained throughout excavation and support activities. Working closely with the Contractor’s construction and engineering teams, the Senior SEM Engineer coordinates with the Tunnel Manager, client representatives and other stakeholders to maintain alignment and resolve technical matters efficiently. The role also includes overseeing the documentation and interpretation of geological conditions, monitoring data and construction progress. In addition, the Senior SEM Engineer reviews daily, weekly and monthly reports, monitors programme performance, and provides input to optimise production, quality, safety and logistics. The position requires regular reporting, including the preparation of monthly status updates, and active participation in project meetings.

Responsibilities and duties:

General duties are:

Timely production of monthly reports, RES Sheets and additional documentation.

Managing and supervising a team of SEM Inspectors working in a 24/7 shift pattern.

Providing construction support solutions to the contractor’s representatives in line with the design.

Carrying out geological and geotechnical assessments of the encountered ground and water conditions.

Assisting in the development of construction processes and logistics planning such as excavation sequences in line with design documents and / or design intent.

Comply with DSP’s ISO 9001:2015 quality procedures and Quality Management Plan.

Report construction activities and issues to the Dr. Sauer & Partners' Project Director (PE on record).

Qualifications and Experience required:

Completed degree in Civil Engineering or a comparable field of study.

Proven experience leading and managing high-profile tunnelling projects.

Demonstrable experience in tunnel design and/or supervision across multiple projects, including urban environments and soft ground SEM/NATM tunnelling.

Strong analytical and structural engineering background in heavy civil construction and tunnelling.

Thorough understanding of tunnel structural design and the behaviour and theory of SEM tunnelling, supported by a sound knowledge of geotechnical engineering principles.

Ability to develop, influence and deliver innovative technical solutions to complex engineering challenges.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with multidisciplinary teams and stakeholders.

Ability to build strong collaborative relationships and leverage team expertise and diversity to enhance overall performance.

Highly self-motivated, with the ability to work independently and take initiative.

Training and Development

Dr. Sauer & Partners values the professional career development of our staff members, and we aim to provide them with the technical and managerial expertise they will require throughout their career.

Benefits

We offer the below employment benefits:

• Extended Health Care
• Group Retirement Plan
• 10 vacation days and 10 personal days
• Professional development allowance
• Annual company performance bonus scheme – subject to company profitability.
  

Equal Opportunities

The teams across our offices are dynamic and hardworking. They inspire great ideas, strive for innovation and seek solutions to the most complex and challenging projects, and help make Dr. Sauer & Partners a rewarding place to work. We ensure that we recruit, retain, and promote a diverse mix of colleagues who are representative of the diversity of our local communities. This enables us to access a wide range of ideas, knowledge and experience and allows us to deliver technical excellence across our projects.