Sr. Consultant, Geotechnical Engineer - WSP USA

Our Business

We are a global leader in environmental consulting - made stronger with the recent acquisition of Wood’s Environment & Infrastructure business and Golder - with world-class expertise in environmental, social and governance (ESG), climate resiliency & sustainability (CRS), and earth sciences. Combined we have over 20,000 multidisciplinary professionals worldwide collaborating daily to protect and conserve natural landscapes, create firm foundations for communities to stand on, and champion sustainable development to combat climate change. 

As part of the team, you will have access to an unparalleled network of resources and endless opportunities to collaborate on exciting projects with diverse teammates from across the globe.

This Opportunity

WSP is currently initiating a search for a Senior Consultant Geotechnical Engineer for our Roseville, CA office. Be involved in projects with our Earth & Environment Team and be a part of a growing organization that meets our client’s objectives and solves their challenges. 

Provides geotechnical engineering assistance and guidance for due diligence, investigation, remediation, impact assessment, permitting, improvement, and construction of infrastructure projects and systems in the public and private sector.  Tasks may include assisting with the research, design, analysis, concept development, planning, and construction of open pit surface mines, roads, buildings, tunnels, dams, canals, levees, bridges, water supply systems, underground storage, and sewage treatment. Generates accurate and concise reports and documentation regarding material, installations, and construction specifications.  Ensures that responsibilities are delivered and adhered to with a level of quality that meets or exceeds acceptable industry standards for design, safety, and functionality.

Your Impact

• Lead the development and scoping of small- to medium-sized projects.
• Contribute to if not lead the preparation of technical reports and presentations that explain research and findings to improve, prevent, control, restore, or address design and/or construction issues or problems.
• Assist with providing direction and technical guidance to junior staff.
• With minimal assistance, collect, compile, and analyze data from the physical work site, soil/rock samples, surveys, blueprints, GIS data, subsurface information, maps, geotechnical data, and other matrices for project development, design, and construction.  
• Maintain quality control standards and procedures for accurate and precise measurements, statistical analysis of rock and soil environmental data, and reporting.
• Perform professional geotechnical engineering work and assist with proposed and existing site conditions, including subsurface investigations, soil foundation engineering, settlement analysis, earthquake engineering, soil erosion, lateral earth pressures, geological hazards, underground water, and slope stability to determine conformance with applicable rules, standards, construction, or operating permits for commercial, industrial, building, environmental, infrastructure, and transportation projects.
• Participate in incorporating advanced modeling techniques, concept development, design requirements, and operating strategies to account for the safety and functionality of end-users, sites and facilities, transportation systems, structures, and the incorporation of future-ready solutions with geotechnical engineering design standards.
• Work as an individual or as part of a cross-functional team of engineers, planners, and scientific professionals to execute project work, assisting with laying out installations, foundations, slopes, retaining structures, embankments, and other systems that are made or supported by soil or rock, calculating costs and quantities of material/equipment/labor, and ensuring project work conforms with specifications, permit applications, compliance documentation, and regulatory and technical analysis memos.
• Verify the characteristics of a site, providing technical assistance on whether any various environmental, surface or subsurface conditions, stress-bearing factors, erosion, settlement, or slope will pose a safety risk to the proposed project.
• Prepare data and visualizations such as tables, charts, accurate reports, sketches, calculations, and illustrations for the interpretation or presentation of data, findings, or analyses.
• Conduct geotechnical engineering studies and surveys to gain further information on a particular design, issue, and/or to plan for future needs.
• Assist in the analysis, evaluation, and interpretation of data obtained during field investigations, offering input with developing action plans for mitigation activities.
• Assist in the preparation and implementation of site Health and Safety Plans.  
• Exercise responsible and ethical decision-making regarding company funds, resources, and conduct, and adhere to WSP’s Code of Conduct and related policies and procedures.
• Perform additional responsibilities as required by business needs.
   

Who You Are

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering or Geotechnical Engineering, or closely related discipline.
• Minimum 5 years of relevant post education experience in engineering discipline and prior geotechnical design experience.
• Engineer in Training and ability to obtain professional licensure in California within one year.
• Technical knowledge of geotechnical engineering, including: geotechnical explorations, site characterization, design of deep foundations, shallow foundations, evaluating slope stability, earthquake engineering, retaining wall design, earth retention, rock mechanics, settlement of compressible soils, ground improvement techniques, support of excavation, dewatering, and the application to permitting and project work-related issues.
• Sound understanding of the disciplines of rock and soil mechanics to investigate subsurface and geologic conditions to design and build stable cut and fill slopes, foundations, earth structures, and pavement sub-grades.
• Ability to effectively help senior personnel train entry level employees on how to adequately complete geotechnical explorations, data acquisition, site characterization, analysis, and reporting. 
• Proficiency with determining appropriate scope of services and preparing scope and fee proposals for small to medium sized geotechnical projects.
• Familiar with different geotechnical exploration methods. 
• Experience with coordinating and overseeing various drilling and sampling techniques and competent in logging soil and rock samples.
• Experience with assigning geotechnical laboratory testing and interpreting results, including shear strength determination.
• Experience with performing conventional geotechnical analyses including slope stability, seepage, settlement, and bearing capacity, and experience with discipline-specific design software (i.e., SLIDE, Settle3, SlopeW, SeepW, LPILE, Plaxis, FLAC).
• Critical thinking and problem-solving skills required to apply technical knowledge to reach conclusions from testing results, data collation, statistical analysis and arriving at the most effective, economical, and logical solution.
• Strong and demonstrated technical writing abilities. 
• Ability to independently prepare geotechnical reports, technical memorandums, and/or letters with moderate to minimal assistance.
• Proficiency with office automation, software, technology, math principles, predictive models, spreadsheets, and tools.
• Experience with preparing and understanding grading plans and earthworks related construction drawings and construction specifications. 
• Experience with performing construction quality assurance inspection and testing including excavations, soil type recognition, fill placement and compaction, slope and channel armoring, surface and subsurface drainage installations, concrete.
• Experience with geotechnical instrumentation and monitoring methods and subsequent data acquisition and interpretation.
• Experience managing small to medium sized projects.
• Ability to coordinate with agency regulators and understand requirements.
• Knowledge of relevant remediation, permitting, improvement, and construction laws, codes, regulations, compliance practices, and record-keeping requirements.
• Capable interpersonal and communication skills when interacting with others, expressing ideas effectively and professionally to an engineering and non-engineering audience.
• Effective self-leadership with attention to detail, results orientation, and managing multiple priorities in a dynamic work environment.
• Ability to learn new techniques, perform multiple tasks simultaneously, follow instruction, work independently, and comply with company policies.
• Proven track record of upholding workplace safety and ability to abide by WSP’s health, safety and drug/alcohol and harassment policies.
• Ability to work schedules conducive to project-specific requirements that may extend beyond the typical work week.
• Travel will be required to support geotechnical explorations and other field work and will likely include multiple day projects that require overnight stay. Overall project related travel is expected to be 25% but will vary depending on project-specific requirements.

Preferred Qualifications 

• Master’s or Doctorate Degree in geotechnical engineering, or related field.
• Experience performing numerical modeling related to geotechnical design.
• Licensed Civil Engineer in the State of California
• Experience with AutoCAD Civil 3D
• Mine Safety and Health Administration training 
• Experience managing and delivering projects on time and budget.
• Basic First Aid and Adult CPR training desired.
   

WSP Benefits: 

WSP provides a comprehensive suite of benefits focused on providing health and financial stability throughout the employee’s career. These benefits include coverage related to medical, dental, vision, disability, and life; retirement savings; paid sick leave; paid vacation (or other personal time); paid parental leave; and paid time off for purposes of bereavement, voting, and/or attendance at naturalization proceedings. 

Compensation

Expected Salary (California): $91,800-$133,870

WSP USA is providing the compensation range that the company in good faith believes it might pay and offer for this position, based on the successful applicant’s education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities in addition to internal equity and specific geographic location. WSP USA reserves the right to ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and offer additional benefits and other compensation, depending on circumstances not related to an applicant’s sex or other status protected by local, state, and/or federal law.