In industry, Schuhmann worked as a marine geophysicist mapping submarine hazards and cultural resources (e.g. shipwrecks, Paleolithic sites) off the coast of New England; he excavated three Colonial era shipwrecks. In the Gulf of Mexico Schuhmann worked on hydrocarbon exploration and drilling operations, and the construction of production platforms and pipelines. As a consulting environmental engineer Schuhmann currently specializes in modeling the fate and transport of chemicals in the environment; he works with community groups and has testified as an expert witness.

In 2002 Schuhmann received the GE Learning Excellence Award for “Promoting learning across the traditional college boundaries”. In 2009 he received the W. LaMarr Kopp International Achievement Award for “Extraordinary contributions to the advancement of the international mission of the University”.

Schuhmann's teaching has reached across the engineering, STS, entrepreneurship and leadership curricula with a focus on sustainability and global collaborations. He is also active in both local and international water resource engineering projects.