Underground Utility Contractor Jobs in Texas (NOW HIRING)

UNDERGROUND WET UTILITY PROJECT MANAGER

Austin, Texas | Direct Hire | $95,000-$150,000 Base + Profit Sharing

This is a senior-level opportunity for an underground utility professional who understands how wet-utility work is actually built in the field. Direct experience with water, wastewater/sanitary sewer, and storm-drain scopes is required. The strongest candidate will combine boots-on-the-ground field knowledge with estimating, project management, job-cost control, and crew coordination experience.

The Opportunity

A well-established Central Texas plumbing and utility contractor is seeking an experienced Wet Utility Project Manager to lead projects from bid review and estimating through mobilization, execution, change management, and closeout. You will work closely with field superintendents and foremen to make sure crews arrive prepared with approved plans, permits, materials, equipment, manpower, and current project information.

This position is ideal for someone who came up through underground utility construction - as a laborer, equipment operator, foreman, superintendent, estimator, or project manager - and knows production rates, man-hours, equipment capabilities, excavation conditions, soil compaction, constructability, and what it takes to complete the work safely and profitably.

Required Wet Utility Experience

Direct experience with underground wet utilities, including water, sanitary sewer/wastewater, and storm drainage.

Ability to review plans, specifications, bid invitations, and geotechnical reports and identify scope, risk, constructability issues, and missing information.

Working knowledge of excavation, trenching, soil conditions and compaction, production rates, crew capacity, man-hours, equipment selection, and project sequencing.

Experience preparing or reviewing takeoffs, cost estimates, supplier and subcontractor quotes, project schedules, and change-order pricing.

Experience coordinating field operations, materials, equipment, permits, inspections, subcontractors, and project documentation.

Strong communication, organization, accountability, and job-cost awareness.

Key Responsibilities

Review bid invitations and prepare detailed takeoffs and cost estimates for underground wet-utility scopes.

Solicit and analyze supplier, subcontractor, and specialty-vendor quotes for accuracy and conformance with plans and specifications.

Evaluate work locations, right-of-way restrictions, adjacent structures, occupied facilities, access, soil conditions, and other constructability or cost impacts.

Calculate phase durations, manpower needs, production rates, and equipment requirements; prepare complete proposals before bid deadlines.

Develop RFIs and practical recommendations to resolve plan conflicts, missing information, and design ambiguities before work begins.

Prepare submittals, schedules of values, procurement schedules, startup checklists, permits, and inspection requirements for awarded projects.

Partner with field leadership on mobilization, sequencing, material orders, deliveries, offloading needs, crane services, survey control, GPS layout, and coordination with other trades.

Monitor project progress and job costs; review invoices, quantities, quoted pricing, commitments, and subcontractor costs for accuracy.

Key Responsibilities - Continued

Prepare and track change proposals, change orders, pay applications, and related AIA project documentation.

Keep superintendents and foremen current on approved plans, city-stamped drawings, RFI responses, revisions, and changes affecting field execution.

Maintain organized electronic job files and complete as-built drawings, warranty letters, maintenance bonds, and other closeout documents.

Preferred Background

Career progression through underground utility field operations into foreman, superintendent, project management, or estimating responsibilities.

Experience managing wet-utility projects for commercial, civil, municipal, or site-development construction.

Strong relationships with field teams and the ability to translate plans and estimates into practical field execution.

Comfort working with electronic project files, takeoff/estimating tools, project-management systems, CAD files, and GPS layout information.

What This Role Offers

$95,000-$150,000 base salary, depending on experience.

Profit-sharing opportunity with strong total-compensation potential.

Direct-hire leadership role with an established Central Texas contractor.

The opportunity to influence estimating, planning, field execution, and project profitability from start to finish.

How to Apply

Apply with a current resume that clearly shows your underground wet-utility experience. Please identify the types of water, sewer/wastewater, and storm-drain projects you have estimated or managed, along with your field leadership background. Qualified candidates will be contacted promptly and treated with confidentiality and discretion.

All resumes received are strictly confidential and reviewed exclusively by our HR & Recruiting team. All communications, including calls, are handled with complete discretion.

Your information and resume will only be shared with the hiring management team after your initial qualification call and with your explicit approval to move forward.

Some roles may involve multiple steps in the application and interview process. Our team will walk you through each stage, providing a detailed overview of the position while ensuring it aligns with your career goals.