Trenchless Technology Specialist

Brown and Caldwell•Alexandria, VA

39d

About The Position

Brown and Caldwell (BC) is seeking a Trenchless Technology Specialist / Design Consultant at the Senior Associate career stage to support planning, design, and construction of trenchless conveyance infrastructure projects. This role is a senior technical position focused on delivery excellence, risk management, and application of best practices for trenchless technologies, including microtunneling, tunneling, horizontal directional drilling (HDD), jack-and-bore, pilot tube methods, and related underground construction techniques. The Senior Associate will serve as a technical lead and subject matter resource on trenchless and geotechnical aspects of complex water, wastewater, and utility projects. The role emphasizes hands-on technical contribution, mentoring of staff, and participation in business development—without the enterprise-wide leadership, governance, or people-management expectations associated with Managing Principal or National Specialty Leader roles.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Civil or Geotechnical Engineering (Master’s degree preferred).
Professional Engineer (PE) license required; ability to obtain licensure in multiple states as needed.
Typically 10–15+ years of progressive experience supporting trenchless and underground infrastructure projects.
Demonstrated experience with one or more trenchless methods, such as microtunneling, HDD, jack-and-bore, or tunneling.
Strong understanding of geotechnical engineering principles as applied to underground construction, including soil/rock behavior, groundwater, ground improvement, and excavation support.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience preparing technical memoranda, reports, specifications, and client-facing deliverables.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting Design-Build, CMGC, or alternative delivery
Familiarity with trenchless-related industry standards and guidance (e.g., ASCE, ASTM, AWWA, AREMA, FHWA).
Experience with construction support, claims avoidance, and dispute-related technical documentation.
Willingness to travel periodically (approximately up to 20%) in support of projects and client needs.

Responsibilities

Serve as a technical lead or senior contributor for trenchless and underground components of projects, from planning and alternative evaluation through design and construction support.
Provide expert input on method selection, alignment development, ground behavior, constructability, and risk identification for trenchless installations.
Support development and review of geotechnical data reports (GDRs), geotechnical baseline reports (GBRs), trenchless design criteria, specifications, and contract documents.
Apply industry standards and best practices to trenchless design and construction support, with attention to risk allocation and standard-of-care considerations.
Support construction-phase services including submittal review, RFIs, NCRs, and technical consultation during installation.
Identify and evaluate trenchless-specific risks (ground conditions, mixed-face tunneling, obstructions, groundwater, settlement, heave, loss of ground, and installation tolerances).
Contribute to project risk registers and mitigation strategies related to trenchless construction and geotechnical uncertainty.
Provide constructability input during early design and alternative evaluation to reduce cost, schedule, and performance risks.
Act as a technical mentor and resource for junior and mid-level engineers supporting trenchless and underground work.
Collaborate with civil, structural, and construction teams to integrate trenchless solutions into overall project delivery.
Coordinate with specialty subconsultants and support their scopes, deliverables, and quality.
Support proposal development, including technical approaches, risk narratives, and participation in client interviews as needed.
Contribute to development and refinement of trenchless technical guidance, tools, and best practices in coordination with BC’s Trenchless Technology leadership.
Participate in professional organizations and industry activities related to trenchless technology and underground construction.