Underground Works Engineering Lead

Bechtel Corporation; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

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Job summary

Bechtel is seeking an Underground Engineering Lead for the SRP project in Phoenix, AZ. You will act as the senior technical authority for all underground works, guiding design development, governance, and construction support across civil, structural, geotechnical, and hydraulic disciplines.

You will lead integration with the JV partner, consultants, and stakeholders, ensuring safety, constructability, and compliance with codes and SRP criteria throughout the underground scope.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Civil Engineering/Structural/Geotechnical engineering from a recognized institution.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the Underground engineering authority for the project, providing technical leadership and governance for all underground works.
• Lead and integrate engineering for tunnels, shafts, caverns, and underground structures with close coordination across disciplines.
• Ensure compliance with design criteria, codes, and SRP requirements; review and approve design calculations and drawings.
• Provide senior engineering support during construction and resolve RFIs and field-driven changes.

Skills

Underground engineering leadership

Project governance

Civil engineering

Geotechnical

Stakeholder liaison

Construction support

Technical judgement

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Civil/Structural/Geotechnical engineering

Job description

Requisition ID: 295634

• Relocation Authorized: None

• Telework Type: Full-Time Office/Project

• Work Location: Phoenix, AZ, Various Work Locations USA

Extraordinary teams building inspiring projects:

Since 1898, we have helped customers complete more than 25,000 projects in 160 countries on all seven continents that have created jobs, grown economies, improved the resiliency of the world's infrastructure, increased access to energy, resources, and vital services, and made the world a safer, cleaner place.

Differentiated by the quality of our people and our relentless drive to deliver the most successful outcomes, we align our capabilities to our customers' objectives to create a lasting positive impact. We serve the Infrastructure; Nuclear, Security & Environmental; Energy; Mining & Metals, and the Manufacturing and Technology markets. Our services span from initial planning and investment, through start-up and operations.

Core to Bechtel is our Vision, Values and Commitments . They are what we believe, what customers can expect, and how we deliver. Learn more about our extraordinary teams building inspiring projects in our Impact Report .

Project Overview:

We are building high performing teams to deliver complex EPC heavy civil project and looking for motivated, hands-on, collaborative innovators, doers, and problem solvers. The projects are hydro power generation with scopes including roadway development, significant structures including dams, spillways, tunnel waterways, inlet/outlet structures, hydromechanical equipment, mechanical and electrical systems, and site facilities and buildings. This is your opportunity to be part of history making projects.

Job Summary:

The Underground works engineering lead is the senior technical authority responsible for overall engineering leadership, integration, and assurance of all underground works for the SRP project. The role spans design development, discipline integration, technical governance, and construction support for underground scope.

The position requires extensive experience in underground works, strong leadership capability, and the exercise of advanced professional judgment to ensure that underground designs are safe, constructible, risk‑managed, and compliant with SRP requirements and applicable codes and standards.

The Underground Engineering Lead provides single‑point accountability for underground engineering across civil, structural, geotechnical, hydraulic, and construction interfaces, and leads engagement with the JV partner, design consultants, SRP, lenders’ engineers, and other stakeholders.#LI-JL1

Major Responsibilities:

• Serve as the Underground engineering authority for the project, providing technical leadership and governance for all underground works.

• Lead and integrate engineering for access, headrace, and tailrace tunnels, vertical and inclined shafts, underground caverns, underground hydraulic structures, galleries, and permanent concrete works, Temporary and permanent ground support systems and linings.

• This role will include working with the Design Subcontractor and discharging responsibilities as set out in the Management of Third-Party Engineering, 10G-M41-00013 as part of the BTJV Engineering team.

• Ensure effective integration between civil, structural, geotechnical, hydraulic, and construction disciplines for underground scope.

• Approve underground design criteria, assumptions, methodologies, and key technical decisions.

• Lead the review and acceptance of design calculations, technical reports, specifications, and drawings produced by design consultants.

• Ensure compliance with project design criteria, applicable codes and standards (e.g., ACI, AISC, Eurocode, USACE/USBR where applicable), and SRP requirements.

• Oversee underground design maturity planning and alignment with EDD / design stage gateways.

• Identify, manage, and mitigate underground‑specific risks, including geotechnical uncertainty, groundwater, excavation stability, constructability constraints, and interface risks.

• Ensure alignment between design assumptions and construction methodologies, excavation sequencing, and support classes.

• Provide technical oversight on temporary works interfaces affecting underground construction.

• Provide senior engineering support during construction, including resolution of complex RFIs and technical queries, evaluation of non‑conformances and approval of field‑driven design changes related to underground works

• Support resolution of unforeseen ground conditions in coordination with construction, site engineering, and geotechnical teams.

• Lead and participate in constructability reviews, safety‑in‑design workshops, risk reviews, and HAZID/HAZOP studies relevant to underground works.

• Apply Bechtel’s Engineering Quality Management System, including independent reviews and verification requirements.

• Interface with SRP, JV partners, Owners’ engineers, and regulatory stakeholders on underground technical matters.

• Chair underground engineering and discipline‑specific meetings, ensuring actions are recorded and closed.

• Represent the project in technical reviews and value engineering exercises related to underground scope.

Education and Experience Requirements:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Civil Engineering/Structural/Geotechnical engineering, or a closely related discipline from a recognized institution.

• Minimum 20+ years overall experience, including at least 12 years in underground works for pumped storage, hydropower and/or tunneling projects.

Required Knowledge and Skills:

• Strong experience leading the design and construction support of tunnels, shafts, and large underground caverns.

• Professional/Chartered engineer preferred with broad knowledge of US government compliance standards.

• Excellent understanding of underground excavation methods, support systems, permanent linings, groundwater control, and constructability.

• Experience working within EPC or large JV execution models.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage credibly with senior stakeholders and owner’s engineers including preparation of technical narratives and reports.

• Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and take ownership of critical underground scope.

• Able to work within a multi-disciplinary, multi-cultural team and manage challenging multi-cultural relationships across a range of entities.

• Flexible and able to adapt to working in a demanding environment, including traveling and working remotely if / when required.

• Exposure to lenders’ technical advisor or independent engineers

• Collaborative mindset with the ability to interface effectively with diverse stakeholders.

• Commitment to quality, safety, and ethical engineering practice.

Total Rewards/Benefits:

For decades, Bechtel has worked to inspire the next generation of employees and beyond! Because our teams face some of the world's toughest challenges, we offer robust benefits to ensure our people thrive. Whether it is advancing careers, delivering programs to enhance our culture, or providing time to recharge, Bechtel has the benefits to build a legacy of sustainable growth. Learn more at Bechtel Total Rewards

Diverse teams build the extraordinary:

As a global company, Bechtel has long been home to a vibrant multitude of nationalities, cultures, ethnicities, and life experiences. This diversity has made us a more trusted partner, more effective problem solvers and innovators, and a more attractive destination for leading talent.

We are committed to being a company where every colleague feels that they belong-where colleagues feel part of "One Team," respected and rewarded for what they bring, supported in pursuing their goals, invested in our values and purpose, and treated equitably. Click here to learn more about the people who power our legacy.

Bechtel is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, national origin, disability, citizenship status (except as authorized by law), protected veteran status, genetic information, and any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. Applicants with a disability, who require a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, may e-mail their request to [e-mail]