National Technical Specialist – Dams, Levees, Hydraulic Structures, & Coastal Infrastructure

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 related appurtenances. 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) reports to the Water Resources Design National Technical Leader and may be based in any FNI office. 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 areas extensively used in the practice include 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 recognized expertise in two or more of these areas and the ability to collaborate effectively across disciplines. 

Key responsibilities and expectations for 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-informed analysis and design: 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, schedule and long-term operations must 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, technical excellence organizations, and technical committees to develop future technical leaders, senior advisors, QC reviewers, and subject matter expert.

• Strategic pursuits and client support: Support strategic pursuits through technical approach development, senior review of proposals, interview preparation, technical team selection, 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: Identify technical gaps, emerging methods, regulatory changes, and opportunities for R&D, innovation, improved workflows, and cross-practice collaboration.