Senior Geotechnical Engineer

Job Description

Job Description

Job Description

PND Engineers is seeking a Senior Geotechnical Engineer to support our Seattle and Juneau offices on waterfront, marine, transportation, industrial, and civil infrastructure projects throughout the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. This role is ideal for an experienced geotechnical engineer who can lead investigations, develop practical design recommendations, and prepare and stamp geotechnical reports supporting complex infrastructure design and construction.

At PND, you’ll work closely with structural, civil, waterfront, and coastal engineers on ports, terminals, ferry facilities, industrial waterfronts, bridges, retaining structures, and other challenging infrastructure projects. We are looking for a technically strong, self-directed engineer who can lead geotechnical efforts from project planning and field investigation through engineering analysis, reporting, and practical final recommendations.

What You’ll Do

• Maintain and develop client relationships and actively support the identification, pursuit, and development of new geotechnical work, including proposal preparation, scoping, budgeting, and project planning.
• Lead geotechnical investigation programs for waterfront, marine, transportation, industrial, and civil infrastructure projects.
• Develop subsurface exploration plans, including borings, test pits, in-situ testing, and related field investigation programs.
• Coordinate and oversee field investigations, drilling contractors, sampling programs, and geotechnical field staff.
• Develop laboratory testing programs and interpret soil and rock testing results.
• Perform and oversee geotechnical engineering analyses, including:
  • Foundation design recommendations
  • Axial and lateral pile design parameters
  • Shallow and deep foundation evaluations
  • Slope stability and embankment analyses
  • Retaining wall and bulkhead design parameters
  • Seismic site response considerations
  • Liquefaction, lateral spreading, and seismic deformation evaluations
  • Settlement and bearing capacity analyses
  • Construction considerations and constructability recommendations
• Prepare, review, and stamp geotechnical reports, technical memoranda, calculations, and design recommendations.
• Provide geotechnical input for plans, specifications, estimates, and construction documents.
• Coordinate closely with PND’s structural, civil, and marine engineering teams to support integrated project delivery.
• Support construction-phase services, including submittal reviews, RFIs, field observations, and construction recommendations.
• Mentor junior engineering staff and help development of geotechnical capabilities within the Seattle and Juneau offices.

What We’re Looking For

• Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, geotechnical engineering, geological engineering, or related field from an ABET-accredited program. Master’s degree in geotechnical engineering preferred.
• Washington P.E. license required, or ability to obtain within 6 months. Oregon and Alaska P.E. license preferred or ability to obtain.
• 10+ years of geotechnical engineering experience preferred.
• Experience leading geotechnical investigations, laboratory testing programs, engineering analyses, and preparation of geotechnical reports.
• Demonstrated ability and willingness to prepare and stamp geotechnical reports and engineering recommendations.
• Strong technical background in soil mechanics, foundation engineering, seismic geotechnical engineering, and construction support.
• Experience with waterfront, marine, port, ferry, bridge, industrial, or heavy civil infrastructure projects preferred.
• Experience with deep foundation construction and inspection preferred.
• Experience developing geotechnical design parameters for steel pipe pile foundations, retaining structures, bulkheads, and waterfront structures is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with seismic design, liquefaction evaluation, lateral spreading, slope stability, and deep foundation design.
• Strong written communication skills and the ability to prepare clear, practical, and defensible engineering reports.
• Strong business development, project management, client coordination, and team leadership skills.
• Valid U.S. driver’s license with a good driving record.
• Willingness to occasionally travel for fieldwork, site visits, and project coordination, including travel to Alaska.
• Permanent authorization to work in the United States without employer sponsorship.

Why Choose PND Engineers?

For more than 45 years, PND Engineers has built a reputation for delivering practical, innovative, and technically sound engineering solutions for challenging infrastructure projects. We are a nimble and technically focused firm where engineers are trusted with meaningful responsibility and encouraged to continue developing their expertise.

What You’ll Find at PND

• Challenging Projects: Work on complex waterfront, marine, civil, industrial, and infrastructure projects with visible, lasting impact.
• Technical Depth: Join a team that values practical engineering, constructability, high-quality design, and sound technical judgment.
• Leadership Opportunity: Help lead and grow geotechnical engineering services for PND’s Seattle and Juneau offices.
• Professional Growth: Work closely with experienced engineers across multiple disciplines while continuing to develop your technical expertise and project leadership skills.
• Collaborative Culture: Be part of a supportive, team-oriented environment where practical solutions and strong project delivery matter

Benefits, Perks, and Office Culture:

PND offers one of the strongest employee benefit packages in the industry, including:

• Comprehensive medical plans
• Employer-paid dental, vision, and life insurance
• Disability insurance
• 18-22 days of paid time off and 9 paid holidays annually
• All overtime paid at 1.5x the regular hourly rate
• Discretionary bonuses
• Exceptional, employer-funded 401(k) profit-sharing retirement plan—no match required. 
  

Our Seattle office is conveniently located on Eastlake Avenue with easy access to the University of Washington, downtown Seattle, and surrounding neighborhoods.

If you’re a senior geotechnical engineer who enjoys leading investigations, developing practical design recommendations, supporting complex waterfront and infrastructure projects, and seeing your work applied in the field, we’d like to hear from you.

PND Engineers is an Equal Opportunity Employer.