Underground Works Engineering Lead

Bechtel•Phoenix, AZ

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

Our customer is a utility in central Arizona looking to add 2000MW of pumped energy storage to its storage capacity to meet growing demand on its network. We are building a high performing team to deliver this complex EPC heavy civil project and looking for motivated, hands-on, collaborative innovators, doers, and problem solvers. The project will involve the use of the existing Apache lake as the lower reservoir and creation of an upper reservoir by building dams in the Alchesay Canon, the reservoirs will be connected by underground waterways tunneled into the rock, channeling water down the ~1,200ft drop between the two reservoirs. The project scope includes significant access roads work development, construction of the upper reservoir with dams and an overflow spillway, underground tunnel waterways in challenging geological and hydrogeological conditions, upper and lower reservoir inlet/outlet structures, hydromechanical equipment, an underground powerhouse, and surface site facilities and buildings. This is your opportunity to be part of a truly historic project. The position will be based in the Design Subcontractor offices in Denver, Colorado with regular visits to the BTJV Central Design Office in Mesa, Phoenix, Arizona. 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.

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.
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.

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.