[6] Bechtel chairs the infrastructure committee of the Business Roundtable,[3][1] a lobbying group representing CEOs of some of the largest companies in the country.

[8][10] Starting in 2010, Brendan followed a career path within the Bechtel Group designed by the board of directors to test his abilities as a potential future CEO,[8] taking on increasing responsibility in field construction, project management, and executive leadership.

[1] One of the megaprojects he helped to manage was the Dulles Corridor Metrorail,[6] the only project he ever "overlapped on" with his sister Katherine, who also works for the company.

[6] From 2012 to 2013, he oversaw the construction of a $10 billion liquefied natural gas plant on Curtis Island in Queensland, Australia, living part-time in a workers' camp.

[10] Before taking over as CEO, Brendan was featured in Fortune magazine, as part of an effort to rebuild the company's image and recruit talent.

[14] More recently, he joined the board of two regional business groups, including the Federal City Council and The Economic Club of Washington, D.C.[10] A strong supporter of nuclear energy, Brendan Bechtel has stated that he believes it is the only long term alternative to fossil fuels.

[17] In April 2020, he was named to President Donald Trump's panel of advisers on economic recovery from the global coronavirus pandemic.

[18][3] In 2021, he was vocal in opposing President Joe Biden's proposed corporate tax hikes to pay for new public infrastructure.