Principal Geotechnical Engineer (GE - California Licensed)

Job Description

Job Description

Description

Seeking a Principal Geotechnical Engineer (GE) to provide senior-level technical leadership supporting transportation and public works projects across California.

This role is both a backfill and strategic growth hire, designed to expand technical leadership capacity ahead of anticipated project ramp, including major infrastructure pursuits (e.g., transportation/rail programs).

This is a primarily technical leadership role (NOT a pure seller-doer) with responsibility for review/stamping, project oversight, and construction support, complemented by selective client interaction.

Key Responsibilities:

Lead geotechnical design, investigation, and technical oversight across transportation and infrastructure projects

Review, stamp, and sign engineering reports and deliverables

Provide high-level construction support (RFIs, technical issue resolution, guidance to field teams)

Support project delivery and quality assurance across multiple concurrent projects

Participate in proposals, client meetings, and industry engagement (~20–30%)

Help position firm for future transportation and public works opportunities

Mentor junior staff and support development of the geotechnical team

Additional Skills & Qualifications

TOP SKILLS (Must-Haves)

California Licensed Geotechnical Engineer (GE) ✅ REQUIRED

15+ years of geotechnical engineering experience

2. Strong transportation / infrastructure experience (Caltrans or similar public agency experience preferred)

3. **Construction support experience (RFIs, field engineering)**

4. Ability to **sign and stamp work**

5. Strong geotechnical design (foundations, earthwork, seismic)

➕ NICE TO HAVES

* Instrumentation or seismic experience

* Experience with:

* rail / highways

* public infrastructure

* Previous Principal-level leadership

* Ability to support proposals / networking

Experience Level

Expert Level

This is a Permanent position based out of Santa Fe Springs, CA.

The pay range for this position is $150000.00 - $225000.00/yr.

Employment Benefits:Family Support: Offers up to 12 weeks of fully paid parental leave for new parents.Retirement Match: Features a 401(k) program that matches 100% of the first 3% of contributions, and 50% of the next 2%.Paid Time Off: Grants 15 days of foundational PTO from the start, supplemented by 13 annual paid holidays.Engineering & Project Benefits:Risk Reduction: Utilizing their geophysical engineering tools early on a job site minimizes unexpected subsurface conditions and reduces exploration costs.Advanced Data Modeling: Access to crosshole shear wave studies and 3D seismic/resistivity visualizations ensures complex geological profiles are mapped accurately.

This is a fully onsite position in Santa Fe Springs,CA.

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 18, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email View email address on ziprecruiter.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.