Position Description
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.
Key Responsibilities
Project Delivery & Technical Leadership
- 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.
Risk Management & Constructability
- 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.
Collaboration & Mentorship
- 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.
Business Development & Practice Support
- 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.
Qualifications
Required
- 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.
Preferred
- 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.
Why Brown and Caldwell
At Brown and Caldwell, you will work on some of the most challenging trenchless and underground infrastructure projects in the industry, alongside nationally recognized experts. We offer a collaborative culture, flexibility in work location, and opportunities to deepen your technical expertise while shaping meaningful infrastructure solutions.
Salary Range: The anticipated starting pay range for this position is based on the employee’s primary work location and may be more or less depending upon skills, experience, and education. These ranges may be modified in the future.
Location A: $97,000 - $132,000
Location B: $106,000 - $145,000
Location C: $116,000 - $158,000
You can view which BC location applies to you here. If you have any questions, please speak with your Recruiter.
Benefits and Other Compensation: We provide a comprehensive benefits package that promotes employee health, performance, and success which includes medical, dental, vision, short and long-term disability, life insurance, an employee assistance program, paid time off and parental leave, paid holidays, 401(k) retirement savings plan with employer match, performance-based bonus eligibility, employee referral bonuses, tuition reimbursement, pet insurance and long-term care insurance. Click here to see our full list of benefits.
About Brown and Caldwell
Headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, Brown and Caldwell is a full-service environmental engineering and construction services firm with 50 offices and over 2,100 professionals across North America and the Pacific. For more than 75 years, we have created leading-edge environmental solutions for municipalities, private industry, and government agencies. We strive to be the company of choice—to our clients, who benefit from our passion for delivering exceptional quality, and to our employees, present and future, who share our commitment to client service, collaboration, and innovation. Join us, and you will find a home where you can do your best work, reach new levels of expertise, and enjoy exceptional development opportunities. For more information, visit www.brownandcaldwell.com
This position is subject to a pre-employment background check and a pre-employment drug test.
Notice to Third Party Agencies: Brown and Caldwell does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies. In the event a recruiter or agency submits a resume or candidate without a previously signed agreement and approved engagement request with Brown and Caldwell, Brown and Caldwell reserves the right to pursue and hire those candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency.
Brown and Caldwell is proud to be an EEO/AAP Employer. Brown and Caldwell encourages protected veterans, individuals with disabilities, and applicants from all backgrounds to apply. Brown and Caldwell ensures nondiscrimination in all programs and activities in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.
