Dams Engineering Lead

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Project Overview:

Join us for an extraordinary opportunity

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.

Job Summary:

The Dam Design Manager is a senior engineering leadership role within the project engineering organization, responsible for the overall technical governance, coordination, and delivery of dam and associated hydraulic structures for the SRP Pumped Storage Project. This role will include working with the Design Subcontractor and discharging responsibilities as set out in our Management of Third-Party Engineering procedures as part of the Project’s Engineering team.

The position requires a proven track record in large dam and pumped storage projects, with deep technical expertise and strong leadership capability. The Dam Design Manager ensures that dam design and engineering activities are executed in accordance with applicable codes, regulatory requirements, Bechtel engineering procedures, and industry best practice, while meeting project objectives for safety, quality, schedule, and cost certainty.

The role provides technical leadership across internal and external engineering teams, interfaces closely with Owners’ engineers, designers of record, regulatory authorities, construction teams, and supports disciplined engineering execution through all phases of the project lifecycle.

The position operates with significant autonomy, exercising independent judgment in resolving complex technical, regulatory, and execution challenges.#LI-JL1

Major Responsibilities:

• Serve as the engineering focal point for all dam and hydraulic structure scope, including appurtenant structures and interfaces with power waterways and underground works.
• Establish and implement dam engineering execution strategies and design maturity plans.
• Ensure compliance with U.S. federal, state, and local regulatory requirements (including dam safety regulations) and applicable international and industry standards.
• Provide technical review and approval of dam design deliverables across all design stages.
• Lead and manage designers of record and specialty dam consultants; monitor progress, quality, and compliance with contract scope and schedule.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary interfaces (geotechnical, structural, hydraulic, geological, seismic, construction, and environmental).
• Ensure design deliverables are constructible, optimized, and aligned with construction sequencing and means & methods.
• Recommend and implement design optimizations, value engineering initiatives, and alternate technical solutions where appropriate.
• Provide engineering input to project planning, estimating, risk management, constructability reviews, and change management.
• Support construction activities through technical clarification, field engineering support, and resolution of non-conformances.
• Participate in risk assessments, hazard analyses, and dam safety reviews, ensuring risks are identified, mitigated, and documented.
• Interface with SRP, Owners’ Engineers, regulatory authorities, and other stakeholders on dam engineering and safety matters.
• Represent Bechtel technically and professionally in meetings, reviews, audits, and regulatory engagements and chair discipline specific meetings and recording actions.
• Support change negotiations and claims resolution related to dam engineering scope.
• Prepare and contribute to periodic engineering progress reports, metrics, and executive briefings.
• Capture lessons learned and support continuous improvement of dam engineering practices and procedures.

Education and Experience Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree (required) or Master’s degree (preferred) in Civil Engineering or related discipline with specialization in dam, hydraulic, or water resources engineering.
• Minimum 20+ years of relevant experience, including senior leadership roles on large dam and/or pumped storage projects.

Required Knowledge and Skills:

• Broad and in-depth knowledge of dam engineering, pumped storage facilities, hydraulic structures, and associated balance-of-plant interfaces.
• Experience of Concrete Faced Rockfill Dam [CFRD] design and construction.
• Strong understanding of geotechnical, structural, hydraulic, seismic, and dam safety principles.
• Knowledge of U.S. dam safety regulations, federal and state permitting requirements, and environmental compliance.
• Familiarity with industry design standards and guidelines (e.g., USACE, USBR, FERC, ICOLD, ACI, AASHTO where applicable).
• Experience with engineering work planning, design development, scheduling, and cost control.
• Understanding of construction methods, temporary works, and field execution considerations for large dams.
• Familiarity with engineering analysis and design software commonly used in dam and hydraulic engineering
• Demonstrated experience in managing engineering on major dam projects.
• Strong leadership, organizational, and decision-making skills.
• Able to communicate technical information in writing and orally; to interrelate effectively with individuals and teams and have presentation skills.
• Able to work within a multi-disciplinary, multi-cultural team and manage challenging multi-cultural relationships across a range of entities. 
• Self-driven and able to plan and execute work without direct supervision from senior management and/or peers. 
• Flexible and able to adapt to working in a demanding environment, including traveling and working remotely if / when required. 

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

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