Freese and Nichols, Inc. (FNI) is seeking a senior technical leader to help shape and strengthen our national Water Resources Design(WRD)practice in dams, levees, hydraulic structures, coastal infrastructure, and relatedappurtenances. This role provides a firmwide technical platform for a recognized specialist who wants to influence complex, high-consequence projects; advance practice standards; mentor the next generation of technical leaders; support strategic pursuits; and represent FNI in national technical forums.
The National Technical Specialist(NTS)reportsto the Water Resources Design National Technical Leader and may be based in anyFNIoffice. The role is intended for a professional who is deeply technical, collaborative, and motivated by solving difficult engineering problems while elevating the quality, consistency, and reputation of FNI's work.The NTS will serve as a trusted technical resource across regions and project teams, helping FNI deliver solutions that are technically sound, constructible, risk-informed, and responsive to clients, regulators, and communities.
Technical areasextensivelyusedin the practiceinclude civil engineering, structural engineering, geotechnical engineering, hydraulics engineering, coastal/ocean engineering,numerical modeling, risk-informed decision making (RIDM), risk-informed design (RID),construction document preparation, and construction management.Strong candidates will bring recognizedexpertiseintwo or moreof theseareas and theability to collaborate effectively across disciplines.
Keyresponsibilitiesandexpectationsfor this role include:
Technical leadership:Serve as a senior technical advisor, technical lead, or quality reviewer on complex water resources design assignments, including high-hazard dams, levees, flood risk reduction systems, spillways, outlet works, hydraulic structures, canals, coastal structures, bank protection, and related appurtenances.
Risk-informedanalysis anddesign:Provide technical leadership for risk assessments, PFMA facilitation or support, alternatives evaluations, dam and levee safety studies, constructability reviews, and design decisions where life safety, regulatory compliance, performance,cost,scheduleand long-term operationsmust be balanced.
Quality and technical delivery:Support practice-wide quality by developing and applying standards, tools, review processes, lessons learned, and technical guidance. Serve as a senior reviewer or advisor for high-risk or strategically important deliverables.
Mentorship and technical staff development:Mentor engineers and technical professionals across offices and regions. Support training,technicalexcellenceorganizations,andtechnicalcommitteestodevelopfuturetechnical leaders,senior advisors,QCreviewers, and subject matter expert.
Strategic pursuits and client support:Support strategic pursuits through technical approach development, senior review of proposals, interview preparation, technical teamselection, and client-facing technical strategy.Help position FNI for work that advances the WRD practice's technical reputation and long-term client relationships.
Industry leadership and external recognition:Represent FNI through technical societies, committees, conference presentations, papers, publications, peer reviews, and award submittals.
Practice advancement and innovation:Identifytechnical gaps, emerging methods, regulatory changes, and opportunities for R&D, innovation, improved workflows, and cross-practice collaboration.
QualificationsAbout Freese and NicholsAt the heart of our culture is our LEADS values (Learn continuously, Engage as family, Act with integrity, Deliver quality, and Serve always). Each year, our employee engagement survey confirms that our leaders and our employees live our values.
We strive to be the firm of choice for clients and employees through innovative approaches, practical results, and outstanding service. For more than 130 years, we have been planning and designing the infrastructure our communities need: developing water supplies, designing roadways and bridges, preparing for natural disasters, and much more.
Besides our comprehensive benefits package (see more at Benefits That Work for You), we offer paid overtime for salaried employees, an annual bonus, and access to company cabins in Red River, New Mexico and Banner Elk, North Carolina. We are proud of our flexible work environment which includes a hybrid schedule with up to 40% of remote work, and an alternative work schedule program which provides a day off every other Friday.
Join our team of 1,300+ employees as we grow from Virginia to Colorado. Learn more about working here at Working at Freese and Nichols.
Freese and Nichols is firmly committed to Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and prohibits employment discrimination for employees and applicants based upon race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected category under applicable federal, state, and local laws.
#LI-Hybrid