Transportation Geotechnical Business Class Leader

HDR; Oakland (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Parental leave

Retirement savings plan with employer match

Job summary

HDR is looking for a Geotechnical Business Class Lead in Oakland, CA, to drive national engagement in deep foundation design. The successful candidate will coordinate staff, improve technical competencies, and manage project production.

Candidates should have a Bachelor's degree, 10 years of experience, and strong leadership skills. A comprehensive benefits package is offered, promoting employee ownership and well-being.

Qualifications

• 10 years of experience in related field.
• Active professional or engineering registration required.
• Experience developing and managing diverse teams.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and improve technical competencies of geotechnical business class staff.
• Drive continuous process refinement to increase technical competence.
• Act as project manager or geotechnical task lead.

Skills

Geotechnical design leadership

Deep foundation expertise

Project management

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Professional, Architecture, Engineering or closely related field

Master of Science or higher in Engineering (Geotechnical/Geologic) or equivalent experience

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 weave diversity, equity, and inclusion into our work and foster a sense of belonging throughout the company, we constantly ask ourselves: What is our impact on the world?

HDR is seeking a Geotechnical Business Class Lead to drive national engagement in deep foundation design and construction, develop a cohesive south‑east US geotechnical community of practice, and represent HDR geotechnical engineering to clients and partners. The role includes hiring and leading geotechnical staff, building relationships across business groups, and supporting strategic and profitable growth.

Primary Responsibilities

• Coordinate, monitor, and improve technical competencies of geotechnical business class staff in deep foundation design and construction to meet client needs and market drivers.
• Engage alternate delivery projects to provide deep foundation expertise, including project approach and resource reviews.
• Select, train, mentor, and manage geotechnical personnel.
• Promote the geotechnical practice and establish partnerships to advance innovative concepts and mitigate risks.
• Participate in geotechnical strategic planning and implementation.
• Confirm geotechnical work is planned, organized, controlled, and evaluated through proactive project management systems.
• Drive continuous process refinement to increase technical competence, design efficiency, and product quality.
• Act as project manager or geotechnical task lead and take responsibility for project production.
• Develop marketing plans, proposals, and represent HDR in client interviews.
• Collaborate with the geotechnical services director to align strategies and drive the geotechnical community of practice.
• Facilitate national training programs and maintain NHI certified instructor credentials.

Preferred Qualifications

• Active, or ability to obtain within 6 months, PE registration in AL, FL, MS, SC, and TN.
• Proficiency in deep foundation construction and claim mitigation.
• Master of Science or higher in Engineering (Geotechnical/Geologic) or equivalent experience.
• 15+ years of progressive experience leading geotechnical design efforts for public and private clients.
• Comprehensive knowledge of rock and soil mechanics and ability to apply advanced solutions.
• Experience with geotechnical engineering software for static, dynamic, and seismic analysis, including numerical modeling.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a Professional, Architecture, Engineering, or closely related field.
• 10 years of experience in related field.
• Active professional or engineering registration with relevant technical experience.
• Experience developing and managing diverse teams.
• Cooperative collaboration with regional directors, operations managers, technical directors, and marketing managers.
• Commitment to quality, improvement, and HDR values.
• Active participation in an employee‑owned culture.

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 play 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.

We provide a comprehensive benefits package that promotes employee ownership, health, performance, and success, including medical, dental, vision, disability insurance, life insurance, employee assistance, paid time off, parental leave, holidays, a retirement savings plan with employer match, referral bonus, and tuition reimbursement. Compensation depends on skills, experience, education, and location.

Industry: Highway + Road | Schedule: Full‑time | Employee Status: Regular

At HDR, we are committed to the principles of employment equity. We are an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants, regardless of criminal histories, arrest, and conviction records.