Associate Geotechnical Engineer

Description

As an Associate Geotechnical Engineer, you will be technical experts in the geotechnical discipline who actively manages the company’s business groups and/or market the company’s services. You will be responsible for the timely, accurate, and profitable completion of projects. Associates have the authority to enter into professional services contracts, and they set an example of technical excellence and leadership to clients. As an Associate Geotechnical Engineer, you will be expected to exhibit strength in a combination of the responsibilities and attributes noted below, and it should be noted that each Associate likely has a slightly different combination of strengths in these areas. No Associate is expected to excel in every aspect of this role. However, the typical Associate has a broad skill set and strength in most of these areas. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities 

Technical 

• Promotes safe work practices through adherence to task safety assessments, site safety plans, company and client safety procedures and guidelines, and taking immediate action when necessary to avoid and/or mitigate hazards.
• Assumes final responsibility for the technical accuracy and loss prevention for projects. 
• Assumes final responsibility for project completion in accordance with contractual agreements. 
• Serves as a senior technical expert in geotechnical and performance-based design, maintaining accessibility for ongoing advice and support to staff and clients on complex geotechnical challenges.
• Develops field, analytical, numerical modeling, and project management skills in technical staff, including seismic design, liquefaction evaluation, code compliance, and nonlinear deformation analysis.
• Maintains ongoing knowledge of geotechnical, seismic design, and performance-based design trends and uses that knowledge to determine the most effective ways to meet business and client needs.
• Actively pursues ongoing learning opportunities to maintain updated knowledge and expertise in advanced geotechnical analysis, numerical modeling, and performance-based design methods.

Leadership and Collaboration 

• Assumes final responsibility for the scoping, scheduling, and budgeting of projects, billing, and account collection. 
• Serves as project manager for larger multi-disciplinary and/or multi-location projects, including managing geographically distributed team members 
• Presents and negotiates contracts with clients. 
• Actively supports the profitable operations of the company through appropriate use of time and designated resources. 
• Encourages open and constructive dialog and interaction with other staff and clients. Clearly and effectively expresses information in written and verbal communications. 
• Consistently reflects the company’s purpose and values, earning the trust and confidence of others and demonstrating loyalty, honesty, and integrity. 

Business Development 

• Collaborates with other senior staff to achieve company-wide goals. 
• Develops and maintains a strong business network and participates in external activities and professional associations. 
• Represents the company as a leader in the profession by participating and assuming leadership responsibilities in community, industry, and client-driven events and organizations. 
• Presents technical papers and research at conferences and other appropriate venues. 
• Leads proposal processes and collaborates with Marketing staff in proposal development and promotion. 
• Develops and uses an ongoing process to successfully identify and secure new clients. 
• Establishes positive working relationships and maintains client confidence to support continuing partnerships. 
• Directly accountable for development and/or management of a book of business to meet or exceed individual annual financial contribution goals. 

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering required; Master’s degree or PhD in Geotechnical Engineering preferred.
• 10 years of related professional experience, including 8 years of project management experience and 2 years successfully leading others on a project and/or direct report basis. 
• P.E. license required
• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with individuals at all levels of responsibility. 
• Strong business acumen and ability to translate complex geotechnical, seismic, and performance-based design needs into practical technical and client solutions.
• Strong interpersonal, written, verbal, and presentation skills, with the ability to clearly communicate geotechnical analyses, seismic risk evaluations, and performance-based design recommendations to clients and project teams.
• Exceptional ability to build credibility quickly through technical leadership in advanced geotechnical engineering, numerical modeling, and seismic design.
• Experience leading high-performance, results-driven teams with a focus on client satisfaction, technical rigor, mentorship, and delivery of complex geotechnical and performance-based design projects.
• Strong proficiency with FLAC, PLAXIS, and related tools, including experience with static and dynamic analyses, dynamic soil-structure interaction, liquefaction and lateral spreading evaluations, seismic slope stability, ground improvement design, and nonlinear deformation modeling.
• Valid driver’s license. 

Physical Requirements / Work Environment

• Normal office environment with moderate noise levels, occasional lifting of up to 50 lbs., prolonged sitting and regular walking, bending, standing and reaching. 
• Ability to perform consistent work on a PC with prolonged view of a monitor/screen. 
• Willingness and ability to engage in site visits, at times hiking over strenuous terrain in varying weather conditions. 
• Ability to travel locally and long distances to serve clients, perform business development activities, and visit various company offices as necessary. 

Our best estimate of the salary range for this position, located in Seattle WA, is $147,000 – $222,000 annually. Compensation offered will be based on a variety of individual factors, including education and experience, as well as internal equity. GeoEngineers’ salary ranges are reviewed and updated each year and employees are eligible for pay increases based on individual performance. As part of our competitive total rewards package, employees in this role may also be eligible for our annual year-end bonus offering, subject to program eligibility requirements.

At GeoEngineers, investing in our people is a top priority. In addition to competitive and equitable pay, we are proud to offer a wide range of benefits to support employees and their families, including healthcare (with travel benefit for care not locally available), 401(k) with company match, short-term and long-term disability, life insurance, wellbeing benefits, paid vacation and sick time and paid holidays, among others. View our full listing of benefits here.

Our Commitment to Belonging at GeoEngineers

When people feel they can bring their whole selves to work, that they have a voice and are supported and respected, it creates trust and a feeling of belonging— employees then flourish, grow their careers, and do the best work of their lives. A culture of belonging allows our employees to thrive and our company to prosper. This is a journey, and we are committed to doing the work, learning and evolving as we go.

GeoEngineers is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations, and ordinances.

GeoEngineers is also committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with physical and mental disabilities. If you need special assistance or accommodation while seeking employment, please contact Human Resources at [email protected] or by phone at (425) 861-6000. We will then make a determination regarding your request for reasonable accommodation on a case-by-case basis.

We welcome and encourage individuals from all backgrounds and experiences to apply for openings on our team. We would love for you to join us!

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